SOCIALISM AND PROHIBITION.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 33, 20 October 1911, Page 17

SOCIALISM AND PROHIBITION.

Sir,—ln' response to your invitation re the above, I send a few lines. For hundreds of years almost ©very country has been up"against the liquor traffic. All men admit, even the liquor deal-era themselves, that the evils of intemperance are great. Endeavours have been made again and again to regulate the trade, but in no case has success attended the efforts made. The question now is not one of the evil of the trade, but one of remedy. Prohibitionists are desirous of trying total abolition. Some say it will not prohibit. But it does. This is proved by our no-liceiise districts: consumption, 2 gallons per head; Dominion, 18 gallons per head. Some argue that the increasing consumption of liquor is an argument against prohibition, whereas looking at the above figures, it is a. strong argument in its favour. I think aid workers, whether Socialists or not, should vote for prohibition for the following reasons: (1) Because its use has'a tendency to degrade and in many instan.ce3 does degrade; (2) because it is a huge monopoly which gives no adequate return for profits received, and if wiped out; will be' oiik* monopoly less to deal with, when all others are dealt with; (3) because it will be one more stepping stone in helping on the great movement for bettering the conditions of tho masses. With no drinking bars where men can congregate to idle away time and fuddle their"brains, their attention will be drawn to better things, such as debating societies, mutual improvement associations, etc.; (4) thatdrink causes poverty, as seen m the fact that men in good positions have been reduced to abject poverty by same. Poverty causes drink and thus the wretchedness is intensified. Many more reasons could be given, but your space will not permit. In, view of fact that regulation has failed, let us try prohibition, and if that fails, ihen we must adopt some other plan. The liquor traffic cannot bo allowed to exi&t in its present form.—Yours, etc., ' Miller ton. -A. HOOKER.