THE PROHIBITION QUESTION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2973, 10 December 1925, Page 4

THE PROHIBITION QUESTION

The following’ is an extract from the November publication of ‘-'Grit.” (From our own Correspondent). New York September 22. Here are some snap-shots of American life. As a matter of fact snap-shots pretty well describe the views that one gets as he travels over this Continent. Here are a few such views: I met yesterday the Rev. Dr. Orr, of Wellington, N.Z. He has been in America several months in exchange with an American pastor —a good plan. He said: “I would give a good deal if I knew what to tell my people when I go home about the working of Prohibition.” I smiled, but did not presume to tell him what to tell them. But I offered him a suggestion. He said that the chief of police, whose family was in his congregation, had given him some information. I remarked that the average American would resort to the police force last, if seeking information concerning law enforcement. “But suppose you ask the leading elder of your church to call together fifteen or twenty representative citizens and give you the liberty of quizzing them freely for two or three hours. You will know pretty well what, or what not, to say to your people.” I am persuaded that their conclusions would run somewhat as follows: Since the introduction of Prohibition the people are more prosperous as shown in less poverty, more automobiles and larger and more savings accounts; no one would return to the days of the saloons (public bars); there is a distressing amount of lawbreaking by the making of home brew or by bootlegging; those who drink are compelled to satisfy themselves with frightful, sometimes poisonous liquor; the cost of enforcing the law is enormous, although this is met for bv the fines; the law is in the federal constitution, and therefore will never lie repealed; while the situation, especially in the big cities, is deplorable, yet the people will stick to it, and after a decade or so the law will be accepted as one of the regular laws ot. the statute bocks. The next, generation will see Prohibition effectively enforced. 1 think Dr. On- may safely take these words back to his people. —The “Age,” Thursday, October, 1025.

(The Melbourne “Age” is perhaps the most hostile daily paper in Australia towards Prohibition. —Ed. “Grit.”)