PROHIBITION v. SOCIALISM.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 32, 13 October 1911, Page 17

PROHIBITION v. SOCIALISM.

Sir, —I believe that Socialists should come fo some definite conclusion, on. this subject. The position of the Socialists generally on this question, of Prohibition has been very undefinite, so much so j that it was the most difficult thing in the world to know where many of them wero. In the past we have had our advocates of municipal or looal oontrol and State control of the liquor traffic as the cure for the drinking evil. It must, however, now be conceded, even amongst Socialists, that either of these methods are virtually out of court. That being so, tho , question beforo Socialists is, liquor or no liquor. The issue is a very simple one. It does not matter one iota whether no-lioeiioe will do all that; is claimed for it by its advocates or not. This is beside the question: Socialists liave to face th© question of whether t ho " t raffio is boiiencial or' not. ,-; Do os it mako towards tho larger lifeP I»

it likely to forward the Socialist movement ? Is it likely to usher in tho Socialist State? He would be a very, sanguine man indeed who would answer, these questions in the affirmative. It is quite true that Prohibition is no cure for tho social evils society is suffering from. I have yet to hear of aaiy ono piece of legislation that will effect such a cure. Deprecate the no-licens© advocates' claims as much as we may, the advocates are only incidents, the real thing is the legislative opportunityafforded of applying the principle of the direct vote on this question. The question of whether Prohibition would cure the poverty that exists or not is one we may well leave < out df our consideration. One thing is plain —liquor will never cure poverty; if we could be as emphatic wdth Prohibition then we might cry a plague on both your houses. We may speculate as to what will exist under Prohibition, or what its effects may be, but it will only remain, a speculation until some--thing tangible is able to be recorded of its results —much in th© same vyay, as non-Socialists speculate on Social-ism.-—I am. eto., Woodylllo. J. J>. MAOFAEIiAJfE.