CANADIAN PROHIBITION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3480, 7 May 1920, Page 6

CANADIAN PROHIBITION.

LAWS OPENLY VIOLATED.

Whetlier or not prohibition of liquor as 'a beverage will co'fit_inue to be the permanent policy of the Canadian provinces is the subject of considerable speculation (writes the Toronto correspondent of the Times). Under the emotion of war the movement for prohibition became irresistible. Even the legislature of Quebec sanctioned a prohibit.o'ry measure. Sine}: then, however, by votes of the people in a referendum, the sale of beer in licensed places is per-nmitted in the French province. _ It is no secret that when the Ontario Legislature established prohibi-

‘tion as a war Ill€ZlSlll'C_. it was nofi in.-tc-rnded to interfere with purchase of ,liquor by private persons for use in ‘ their own houses. But by 1111 Ol'der-in-Council the Federal Government. prohibited the i‘mpol-‘cation into a province which had adopted prolfibition, and thus Toronto became “bone dry,” as (lid all the other provinces, although there was no demand from the P.rovincial Governments for such action at Ottawa.

LIQUOR CARRIED 1N COFFINS.

But. it has to be admitted that even under the “bone" dry” legislation liquor eame‘ steadily into Ontario, aiid into the other provinces. It was transported in eofiins, in dry goods boxes, in oil cans, as cheese or butte.l', and in many other disguises. Freight ears were detached at'rill'al statioiis mid unloaded. The traffic by motor wafé continuous and consider-.rl)_le. b ' Practically all this liquor was con-

signed to private persons, and even with whisky at 40 dollars -a case many orders, in defiance of the law, were secured by the illicit traders. There ’ is no doubt. that in the towns and cities ‘ of Ontario the hotels, with few excep‘tions, have observed the law, while in the clubs no liquor has been Served. In Quebec‘ the law has been less rigidly enforced. In the clubs members have been permitted to keep liquor in their lockers, and to Serve guests as they would in their homes. It is also true that it has been less diificult to get liquor in the hotels in Quebec than in those of Ontario, and some of the other provinces. But it is very doubtful if there has been mol'e drink- § ing in Quebec thin in other provincesl where there has been greater apparent observance of the letter ‘of the prohibitory regulations. -

I ‘lt was blindly declare'd in the Al- - Legislation that 80 or 90 per ‘ cent of the nienof the province treat- ’ ed the law with neglect and contempt. ‘That. there is general evasions of its 1 provisions is freely admitted. For this !reason chiefly the United Farmers of !the province have declared a “bone idry” reg‘ulation_, making it illegal to keep liquor even in private houses. PRESSURE ON PHYSICIANS. In British Columbia the I_aw is notoriously violated. The Provincial Governmeent has practically confessed that enforcement is difiicult, if not impossible. Apparently the Cabinet is‘ greatly divided over the issue; the one ‘ side wants to legalise the sale of! liquor by Government. agents without medical prescriptions; the other wants to make the province “bone dry.” The Medical Association of the 'pro- “ Vince has just adopted -.1 resolution. which declares:—- I

“There is at present. a large public demand for liquor," whether for medical or other purposes. The medical prescription is the only method whereby liquor can be obtained. This has led to undue pressure on the physician, and has become an intolerable nuisance to the medical profession.

The profession, therefore, dolnands that iii shall be entirely relieved of the responsibility of dispensing liquor. In other provinces as well, issue of liquor prescriptions by doctors has become a. serious abuse.