THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1905. THE STATE CONTROL LEAGUE.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 197, 24 February 1905, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1905. THE STATE CONTROL LEAGUE.

Tire State Control League, initiated in Nelson, has issued a very interesting pamphlet setting forth ite platform. Hitherto the two great parties were divided as to whether facilities should bo allowed for the licensing of public bars, or, as the prohibition party thought, whether no such license should be granted. The League formulates another striking programme. Private interest in the sale of liquor is the root of all evil. While the vendor hes an interest in selling as many drinks as be can—and almost all of them depend on the quantity sold—the temptation to push that eale and to buy in the cheapest, and sell in the dearest market, is always present, no matter how good the intention of the eeller may be. But if the drink seller is in no way dependent on the amount Bold—if on the other hand he is encouraged by bia employer to minimise the. sales—the reverse is the case;

and that more especially so should the employee receive a bonus on the sale of temperance drinks. He would then have no inducement to sell liquor to a drunken -man, nor to vend after prohibited hours, nor indeed to do anything which tends to increase intemperance. The attraction of the drinking bar is due largely to the social instinct of the community ; young men are rarely drawn to the bar by the lovs of drink Ln the first place. The habit of drinking grows quickly, and the accursed custom of “ shouting,” or standing treat, fosters intemperance to an oinbelieveable extent. Once formed, heredity and inclination make it difficult and often impossible to destroy. Counter attractions to the bar, snob as theatres, social and concert balls, debating societies, etc., and those innocent amusements where the youth and manhood of the race can meet the opposite sex, would do much to make the bar lose its attractiveness and to remove the centres of social life from ita influence. To maintain these places of amusement would cost a great deal, but by getting rid of the private influence and placing the sale in the bands of the State, the profits would supply the necessary capital, By getting, rid of the- private interest drunkenness is made all but impossible, and by providing the counter at tractions the bar loses ita place as a social centre. The question as to bow this is to be brought about is the problem that the State Control League undertakes to solve, and the platform may be epitomised as follows: 1. Th. State to acquire by purehare alliutereets in hotel., browen.., distilleries and stock, of Hqnor In Now Zoalard. 2 The enure traffic to be. managed and controlled by a board of non-politic »1 oommiMioners, an.worablo only to ferliamoat. 3. All profits alter providing a sinking land tor capital invested by the State to be used for the provision ot the aforesaid healthy entertainment of the people M counter attractions. Tbs financial aspect laid out by the pamphlet after careful investigation shows that £4,000,000 would purchase all interests; that instead of being a fresh burden to the people —and allowing that the sales would be decreased by one-third—there would be remaining 15 per cent., which it is suggested should be devoted I bus : 10 per cent, for interest and sinking fund and 5 par cent, or £200,000, for the entertainment of the people. The brochure then sots forth the danger of the liquor ‘interest as it is, becoming a party weapon and adding to the power of the Government of the day ; in the suggested scheme there would be no room for such a possibility. The commissioners ohosen would naturally be men of irreproachable character with business knowledge and habits, and they would be paid a salary proportionate to tb.sir high and responsible work. The referendum is suggested as a moans of knowing the wishes of ibe people, and the argu-

MMMteeto thorn at present in the trade, and nn other proposal offer* these advantages. Home very interesting statutiqs are given in th* appendices s At the last Local Option Poll 105,880 vitere did not record any vole, 806,959 p.rsons voted, 151,521 veM3 no-license, 182,880 voted reduction, 148,449 voted continuance, and 9988 for redaction only—thus showing that although 51,521 voted for no-license, it is fair to assume that 864,265 elec bra are strongly opposed to prohibition, and as a matter of ar.' gament it is thought that State control would therefore have still greater support. An estimate i* made of She tnnual income under State control, based on the consumption for 1908. Without detail, the income is put down at £8,995,807 ; expenditure, inlluding cost of liquor and 15 per cent toe working expenses, £1,880,119: gross profits, £1,115,188 : interest on £4,000,000 at 5 per tent, d k. tandat 10 per tent, £600,000, leaViidg £515,108 available tor distribution. The question bristles with debateable pointe, and although agreeing with the promoters of the League to a certain extent, we would like to see much modification .in the scheme. The question of dispensing drinks should be elaborated and in tbe direc tion ot making it more public. The bars, to our mind, should be facing the main road and should open on to it. i Persons should not be allowed to nit down inside whilst obtaining-drink, noe should one person be allowed to pay for another's drink, with certain exceptions, such as drink procured for an invalid and such. The distribution ot the profits might be extended to tbe maintenance of roads and bridges where these were more urgently required than places of amusement; or even to find provision for children and invalids unable to get the necessaries of life. Still the scheme even without modification is well worth a careful study,,Some reform is absolutely necessary and the question arises: Is it better to get it this way or by waiting till general prohibition is carried ? We would recommend those interested in this matter to communicate with Mr A, A. Grace, ot Nelson.