PROHIBITION AND HOME-MADE WINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 136, 30 November 1911, Page 2

PROHIBITION AND HOME-MADE WINE.

SIR JOHN" FINDLAY'S OPINION. We publish below some very interesting correspondence between Mr. E. W. Munton and the Attorney-General on the subject of the manufacture of alcohol, whether intended for sale or not, which speaks for itself. " Dear Sir tion 1, of the 1010 Licensing Amendment states: —'At all times while no licenses exist in New Zealand by virtue of any determination in favor of national prohibition, and while that determination remains in force, it shall be unlawful for any person to import into New Zealand, or to manufacture, sell, or have in his possession for the purposes of sale, intoxicating liquor of any description.' There would seem to be quite a number of people who are doubtful as to the exact effect of the sub-section, and who think that in the event of Dominion prohibition being carried it will not prevent wine, etc., being manufactured, provided it is not for sale. I cannot see, myself, that there is any difficulty, as my reading of the Act is, that in the event of national prohibition being carried, it will be absolutely unlawful to manufacture home-made wines, for instance, at all. I am interested in the question becauso it has been publicly stated by the Opposition candidate for Waitemata, Mr. A. Harris (I myself am an elector of Waitemata), that nothing in the new Act, even Dominion prohibition, will prevent the manufacture of alcohol, unless it is manufactured for sale; I am sure that there are a very great number of people in New Zealand who would be glad of definite information from yourself as to what was really intended 'by clause 2!1„ Trusting to have an early answer,—Yours, etc., E. W. Munton.!' "Attorney-General's Office, Wellington, November 18. B. W. Munton, Esq., Box 09!), G.P.0., Auckland. Dear Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th inst., asking for mv opinion as to the true meaning of section 21 of the Licensing Amendment Act. 1910, relating to the effect of national prohibition. In reply, I have to inform you that so soon as national prohibition comes into force it will become unlawful for any person to manufacture home-made wine, or any other alcoholic drink, whether it is intended for sale or not. There is no doubt whatever that this is the effect of the section in question. The words 1 for sale' do not apply to or limit the earlier word manufacture.' The section absolutely prohibits three things. (1) The manufacture of intoxicating liquor; (2) the selling of it; (3) the possession of it for purposes of sale. I have the honor to lie, sir. your obedient servant, J. G. Findlay. Attorney-General."*