LABOUR TAKES THE GLOVES OFF

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3361, 13 December 1919, Page 4

LABOUR TAKES THE GLOVES OFF

EWHAT THE “MAORILAND WORKER” Tl-lIN"KS OF PROHIBITION AND THE PROHIBI_TIO‘NISTS. .' I . 1 One of the most surpl'i.~:ir:g incidents ‘in a week crowded with incidents has ibeeu a remarkable editorial with regard to Prohibition which appearedlin the official organ of the Labour Piirty ——The Maoriland Worker. The sfact that this J'Ou:'nal—whiz:h gfrrolmbly oarries more ‘weight and influence with -.1 specific. ._class of th. 3 community than any otheF',p‘zils*éi' In the Dominion ——should be pi-epa’i“e‘6 to allow ‘its ediVtor to make so strong an appeal is but another proof of the steady swing of popular opinion in favour of giving‘ Prohibition a trial—espoeially‘ as it costs nothing to 6.0 so. The editorial reads as follows: OUT WITH THE LIQL'-OR TRADE. ' The liquor traffic must be destroyed.. on December 17 the electors will be given a chance to wipe out the infamy of the open bar, and we hope they will use it effectively. This noxious trade, as it is ctonductea today, is an open_ sore on the body social. The people have the choice of voting for the Liquor Trade as it is, for State Purchase‘ and Control of the Trade,‘ and for Prohibition We take it for granted that Labour supporters will v0+.07 against Continuance and for State Purchase and Control or for Prohibition. .\s between the last two is.-ue-s_.. is has to be borne in mind that 1-. votefor State Purchase carries With it com-. pensation to “The Trade,” which means from £10,000,000 to £15,000,-

MOO. Is the trade WOl-tl:. l‘:s3.-. to the lstate? Prohibition is a.,al~a.st.2c remedy, doubtless, but it resembles in this» Lespect the reforms demanded by La-l bour. The moral effe'ct of it would accustom the people, intensely conservative like all British rzommunitiea, to ‘revolutionary reforms. It may be doubted, of course, wherlrnr the people ‘are prepared to go the length of Prolhilbition, but it is’fwell worth a trial. For the next three years social prob‘lems will face the people, calling for a clear head, and with the liquor trade shelved, the Way tvoulcl be clear for national stool;-taking, and the, Labour’ Movement would be justified in calling on Prohibitioistg to support‘ other much -needed social r«:formS_ Besides, even the temporary reign of Pr-oh~ibi—l tion would have an inr-.'u-'_znse er.lur'a~ tional value, and it is .é:n"e it say that even if the people were not prepzxrcd to continue Prohibition they would never go back to the open‘ bar, or sanetion so morally indefensible :1.

proposition‘ as compensation to the Liquor Trade, licensed as it is from year to §'ear'only. ;As a means of ‘national discipline, we believe Prohibitiouwould be of great value to the State, apart from its gain to the nay tional health. and wealth, and would _react most beneficially on the Labour I\lovcment,-which is sorely hampered by such vested interests as those of the liquor trade. These views, of course. are the eclitorial views of The Worker. uttered in the exercise of its undoubted right to an individual -opi—nion, and are not to be understood as being‘ those of the I.'—.l‘r3our Party, which is non ;'al on this qu<:.~‘;i*_~;l,lea\'il:gthe ‘matter to be decided by the electorsa We hope that Labour supporters will not hesitate to vote against Continuance iu any case, and thus remove one of the wars} s‘t'umblin.gablocks in the path of Labour. ’