Page 2 Advertisements Column 3

Taihape Daily Times, 10 August 1918, Page 2

The National Efficiency - ■ and Board Report submitted to the Government, July 9th, 1917 “ Evidence was tendered by more than sixty witnesses, drawn from various classes of the community, and the matter was investigated from as many aspects as were presented, and where possible, statements have been traced and verified. The “ The witnesses who tendered themselves repreWltneSSeS sented brewers, hotelkeepers. wine and spirit merchants, chartered clubs, employees in hotels and in clubs, hup and barley growers, and merchants, vine-growers and winemakers, the New Zealand Alliance and other temperance organizations; there were also independent temperance advocates, representatives of certain Church bodies, and of Women and Children Protection Societies, The British and Foreign Sailors’ Society, general merchants, manufacturers, and employers, including farmers. • Judicial, magisterial, medical and military evidence was also taken. In connection wdth other inquiries the Board has had matters depending upon the Liquor Trade brought under its notice, and this material has been considered by it in connection with the evidence specifically taken for this inquiry. The Points There are three main ~ , points for consideration, foT Consider- each in itself separate and Ution distinct;— (a.) As to the moral effect upon the life and progress of the nation caused by the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drink. (fb.) As to the public revenue derived from the operations of the liquor traffic. (c.) As to whether the liquor traffic encroaches upon, hinders, or retards the efficiency, of the nation. As to whether the Liquor Traffic lowers the physical and mental standard, and so reduces the productive value of the individual and collectively of the people. As to whether the Liquor Traffic causes a national economic loss. With regard to (a.): The Board has not permitted its judgment to be influenced by the moral aspect of the question, but has arrived at i is conclusions quite apart therefrom. How the Loss With re s ard to C b ) : This . yj largely is a Government in JKeVenne question, and the comWOuld he ments that the Board offers thereon are—That the peomet pie should be better able to provide the necessary •mount of taxation if the inefficiency at present created by the effects of alcohol is removed. That less expenditure will be required in connection with the Police and Prisons Departments, the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, the mental hospitals, the inebriate homes, and for other public institutions. That the increased national thrift which is most desirable and which would follow the diversion to productive trade channels of the money now spent upon liquor would, in the opinion of the Board, as evidenced by world-wide experience where the abolition or reduction of the use of alcoholic liquor has operated, more than counteract the loss of public revenue now received from this source. That the money now spent on liquor, if its sale were stopped, would be spent or invested in some other direction. If spent, the expenditure produces, directly or indirectly, a revenue to the State; if invested it becomes subject to annual taxation. Prohibition W ith regard to ( c) : From » jC'jl a a nil tional-efficiency point d benefit to of view the Board is conthe Nation vbl ced that it would be beneficial to the nation and conducive to the well-being of the people that the importation, manufacture, and sale of wines, beer, and spirituous liquors (including medicinal preparations containing alcohol) should be prohibited. This view is supported by results obtained in our own country under conditional Prohibition, and this experience is confirmed wherever Prohibition has operated. Exemptions would be necessary r to exempt methylated alcohol for commercial purposes and pure alcohol for chemical or medicinal requirements. The People should Decide— Why The Board finds that the two chief factors in the continuance of the Liquor Trade are public custom and the financial interests involved. The Board is satisfied that the greatest efficiency would be attained both for the nation and the individual by a state of complete Prohibition, but the Board recognises that Prohibition is a people’s question, and should be determined only by au expression of the voice of the people. immediate It therefore recommends n *. Z. v- that legislation be passed Jrronibliion submitting the question of the BciSlS National Prohibition to a vote of the people at the earliest possible moment, and that such vote should be upon the basis of immediate Prohibition accompanied by reasonable compensation to the interests affected. Any compensation paid to those engaged in the Liquor Trade would for the greater part remain and be invested within the Dominion and thus be used for production and trade. _ Under the protection of the existing legislation (which in the event of National Prohibition being carried granfs an extended term of trading rights before Prohibition becomes operative) large sums of money have been invested in breweries, in licensed houses, in wine and spirit businesses, in vineyards and hop-gardens, and generally in what is known as “the Trade.” It is manifest that injustice would arise if the licenses and,the Liquoy Trade were summarily terminated without reasonable compensation, Compensa- The Board is therefore « • IJ/3L satisfied that it would be lWn wny in the interest of the Doftecom- minion and of its inhabitants, in order to obtain an menaea early discontinuance of the sale of alcoholic liquors, that reasonable compensation should be granted to those affected. ° The Board is of opinion it will be found that no compensation need be given to individual employees, as all male and female employees could be absorbed in other occupations. In its judgement, all interests having been considered, the parties to be compensated are represented by the breweries, wholesale and retail licensed vendors, vignerons and wine-manufacturers, hop-growers, and the owners of properties to which a retail license is attached. The Board believes that the compensation to be paid for the immediate closing of the Liquor Trade should be based upon the difference between Ihe market value of the assets as used at present, taking into consideration the present licensing laws and the oilier circumstances and conditions associated with the trade, and tim value of such assets without a license. Compensation need not be Cash I lie amounts to be paid by way of compensation need not necessarily be found iu cash, but, the Board suggests, might be paid in Government securities bearing the same rate of interest and,the same currency as the war-loan debentures. Increased National Efficiency Recoups the Cost The Board is satisfied that compensation based on the foregoing lines would be a sound investment for the State, and that the cost would be recouped by increased national efficiency : If the Government decides to submit this proposal to Parliament the Board would be prepared, if requested so to do, to advise as to the form of constitution and procedure of a tribunal suitable to determine the amounts of compensation to be paid. The Board judges the present public sentiment to be such that tlie people of the Dominion would approve of the opportunity being afforded to them of voting upon this question,” In conclusion, the Board places on record that whilst at first it looked into this matter from the point of view of war conditions, yet as the inquiry preceded it became apparent that in the interests of national efficiency the Board had to consider the liquor question from the point of view of the efficiency of the State and the individual both during the war and afterwards, and it has therefore submitted its recommendations so as to promote permanent national efficiency. The Alliance Monster Petition will give us the Poll Sign it T©“day!

HU SEASONED TIMBER CO MAETON. HIGHEST CLASS WORK. MOST EXPERT WORKMEN. ABSOLUTELY SEASONED TIMBER 3ABHEB DOORS BANDSAWING WOOD-TURNING ALL CLASSES OF JOINERY ’Pbone 6S. P.O. Box IS.