“PUSSYFOOT” AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2512, 30 November 1922, Page 2

“PUSSYFOOT” AT FOXTON.

Despite the unusual hour of mootin'?' there was a good attendance in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon to hear an address by Mr “Pussyfoot” Johnson. Those present included not only prohibitionists but representatives of the licensed trade. There were a few interjections, of a harmless nature. The Mayor occupied the chair and accorded a welcome to the visitor.

Mr Johnson paid a tribute to New Zealand’s social legislation which, lie claimed, led the world. He was not here to discuss X.Z. problems, however, but to give them facts and to correct the wild and bogus statements concerning prohibition in the United States. He outlined the various methods tried to remedy the evil for 10U years until at last the people in their millions had declared that National prohibition was the only remedy and is adoption was a great success. When they in America were able to study the liquor problem rationally. they found that the curse of the liquor Ira (lie must be removed. Nothing had been done in America for Prohibition but by the people themselves. People had suggested that Prohibition had been carried “whilst thousands were asleep,” but it had been tried city by city, state by state, and found a success. (Applause.) American people were a smart people and quickly scrapped a. failure, but they were equally quick to see when a tiling was a success, and therefore had adopted Prohibition. He spoke of some of the “wild stories” told by the liquor Irallic. The speaker dealt with the United States Brewers’ Association and Dr. Fritz, of Philadelphia, who was looking after the liquor trade’s interests. Mr Johnson said he was asked every day about crime in America. Two years ago one of the wealthiest men in Scotland, Lord liowallon, offered £I.OOO to anyone who could show to the satisfaction of the Koval Statistical Society that crime had increased since Prohibition in America, but this money had never been claimed. (Applause.) It was certainly not correct that crime had increased. He referred to the manner in which 000 gaols had been closed within three years, and when the people elected a new Congress they had elected it- three to one “dry." (Applause.) In the matter of drugs, Mr Johnson said that under the old licensing system, there developed a peculiar business —that of treating those who had been affected by drink. This was such a big business that no fewer than 300 institutions had sprung into existence to deal with this matter, but since the enforcement of prohibition, these had now dsappeared and there were only aitoiil 12 to 1.5 of these institutions left, v Applause.) Mr Johnson repudiated the suggestion that prohibition in America had raised the tax rates. As an illustration, the speaker showed how an inebriates home in the State of lowa, containing several hundred acres of land, had cost the taxpayers over 100,000 dollars, but when prohibition came they ran out of drunkards and as a consequence, could not keep the home going and thus has leased it, so that the State actually made money out of the lease and strictly speaking, front prohibition. Mr Johnson read letters from Governors of various States stating that the coming of prohibition hud been one of the greatest things ever done for the benefit of a State.

Air Johnson quoted further authorities dealing' with the effect of prohibition in America. Miss Evangeline Booth, who for 17 years had been head of the Salvation Army in the United States, a woman who could surely speak with authority, had stated that the drunkenness had almost disappeared and hundreds of men now had banking accounts who never before had possessed them. (Applause.) He dealt with the revenue question and showed that those who worried about that aspect were the interested parties in the trade and that the loss to the Sate was more than counterbalanced hi other directions by the closing of asylums, gaols, etc. and the increased prosperity of the masses to provide homes of their own.

His address was interspersed with humourous items and upon resuming his seat he was accorded a round of applause. The Rev. J. W. Kemp also spoke. The Mayor moved the following motion which was seconded by Mr Byers, of Shannon, and carried unanimously : — "That this meeting- of citizens re-allirins its determination to secure the success of Prohibition at the forthcoming poll.” On the motion of Air Humble w, a vote of thanks wars accorded the speakers. During the meeting Alls B. M. Kendall, of Auckland, had to respond to encores for the rendition of two vocal items which were much appreciated. The meeting closed by the singing of the National Anthem.