PROHIBITION MEETING.

Otaki Mail, 11 October 1922, Page 2

PROHIBITION MEETING.

HELD AT OTAKI. The prohibition meeting, held in tho Otaki theatre on Monday, was presided over by His Worship the Mayor, and there was a fair attendance of the public. The Rev. Father Zurcher, of U.S.A., and Mr Todd were the speakers, and were briefly introduced by the Mayor. Mr Todd, who was first speaker, said that the country was "waking up" to the fact that the Liquor Traffic, as a business proposition for the country, was a bad investment. The Liquor Traffic, he said, cost the country- 74 millions of money at wholesale rates, but nine millions he thought would be much below the cost at retail rates, and what did they get in return? Was there, he asked, another J trade returning so little in comparison to its " Vested Interest ?'' Taking into consideration the enormous expense involved in the upkeep of mental asylums, hospitals, gaols, not to mention the police force, all of which are increasingly necessary because of the traffic, there was no profit accruing to the country from the drink traffic. I Who wanted revenue at the price of women's and children's tears* he asked. Employment. —When the money nowspent in liquor was turned into avenues of industry there would be more employment. Altar Wine.—This was provided tor in the Licensing Act, and no Catholic need hesitate, he said, to vote for prohibition on that account. New Zealand, by comparison with other ! hinds, was a sober country, but this | state of things was largely the result

of the work of prohibitionists. Voting on the prohibition question was a subject for perfectly free action on the part of Catholics. Business was better in "dry" areas than in "wet" — cash was more plentiful, homes were improved, ami various trades were brisker. Sly Grog: The Liquor Hill per head cost in "wet" areas £7 as against 10s Id in "dry" areas. Don't vote, he said, State Purchase and control, a-s this country could not afTord to pay 15 millions "purchase" price to the trade. The Liquor Traffic had 40 years in which to prove itself, and now had little to commend it; give prohibition three years' trial, he said, and if it was a failure then he would vote j for something else. Referring to Faj ther Zurcher the speaker said the Rev. ! Father was an American-born citizen, ; who had been working for prohibition I for 30 years, and was president of the Catholic- Clergy Prohibition Society of the U.S.A. Father Zurcher stated he had letters lof introduction to all Catholic clergy which made available to him every-

thing necessary for saying of mass in any and every church where he might be. The people of New Zealand had earcatures of prohibition in the U.S.A. handed out to them instead of true pictures. Since prohibition was carried in U.S.A., saloons had been converted into shops and stores, distilleries and breweries wore now- manufactories for turning out various lines of merchandise, and were now- employing larger staffs: numerous institutions for the special treatment of drunkards wore now no longer needed for that purpose. Infant mortality had been considerably reduced, grape growers were planting more vineyard", and were receiving

better prices lor their grapes, for which, there was ready sale as a commercial lino apart from the traffic. Be sale of liquor in U.S.A. since prohibi tiou: He admitted there were some "leaks" but the Legislature were trying to stop these—"leaks" were to be expected at first. Consider the length of the Canadian border, he said, and the facility thus offered to smuggle in; , consider the three-mile limit on seafront and the comparative case with which small boats could work steamers carrying contraband; give the U.S.A. J time and those leaks would cease. Bootleggers: These were not found among the prohibitionists, and would be stamped out in time. Statistics showed that the importation of tuorphia and other drugs under prohibition had decreased: prohibitionists did not run after drugs, it was the drink subject who took drugs; introduce prohibition and the habit would decline. Personal liberty: It wes only selfishness which raised this cry. Men and women were voluntarily resigning their liberty to nurse fever patients, tare for lepers, etc., then why not sacrifice one luxury —a vicious one —for the sake of weaker men and women. In 1884 nearly 100 Catholic bishops of U.S.A. appealed to Catholic saloon-keepers to quit the trade and engage in some more honorable trade. For the first time in Christendom, Baptists. Anglican, Catho--1 lie, Methodist, Presbyterian and other ' ministers had stood shoulder to sboul- • 4es ir. the prohibition fight in U-S.A. ' Surely this wa» prophetic ot tfio good | time coming. The liquor traffic was a 1 great moral pestilence. In dealing with a pestilence it was not usual to permit a few to deal in it on payment of a fee; why should they do so with moral pestilence? Prohibition was no new thing m tie Cath.'dic church. For 1200 years seasons of prohibition in connection with her religious season? had been observed; alcoholic liquor taken even in moderation was opposed to personal sanctity; men of science to-day told then* that alcoholic liquor was not a food- St. Jercme, 1500 years ago. advised people to shurj wine as shy would poison. The shaker stated that 15 years' work in connection with a hospital, providing 365 beds, convinced, him that rise liquor traffic was respon- j sible for much of the degradation and suffering of mankind. The attempt at question tirce to discredit the ejeaenrials j* Father Zur- J eker siaa frankly and clearly met. Fa-! tier Zurcher stated that bis creden- j rials, had been esacined by Bishop White, of Dsnedin, by wio:n a letter of cozsmeadasion to tie clergy was giver., wii percussion to ce!esra.re 'ssass is •any part o'f toe die'ees*. "s-itr.iiafly permission to celebrate m»s,«. as * foiiy

authenticated priest, was given by the Vicar-General, at Mastcrton, in the absence of Bishop Redwood in Australia. Permission to speak on the subject of prohibition of the liquor traffic' he sought from no man. On this matter of public policy he claimed the right. belonging to every citizen, to appeal to his fcllownicn. Many illustrations vrere given to show that numerous high authorities, including some of the Popes. were definitely in favour of prohibition, because of the great evil always resulting from the liquor traffic. Mr Todd offered to give £101) to the local hospital if Father Zureher's credentials were not perfectly valid, the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand to ho the judges.