The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1911. LIQUOR AND THE PEOPLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 5 December 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1911. LIQUOR AND THE PEOPLE.

Xext Thursday, for the first time in any country, the people will have a chance to decide whether or not alcohpl shall be absolutely banished from the land. The proposal to entirely abolish alcoholic liquor is revolutionary, for to effect this wonderful transformation it will be necessary to fight an appetite that has existed in most people throughout the world since the dawn of history. Achieving success, a success that cannot come except by the will of the people, will.be, a wonderful and unprecedented event. The issues are simplified and there can be no confusion. The national prohibition issue is virtually a tardy recognition of the justice of Mr. Seddon's famous clause thirteen, "No license, no liquor." The people of New Zealand consume a large amount of liquor, and perhaps the majority ,of all adults in New Zealand take some at some time. It is unlikely that there is a bare major-, ity of total abstainers, and therefore to carry national prohibition the people must unselfishly decide to forego the satisfaction of an appetite to. ?ave those who do not use alcohol in moderation. The carrying of national prohibition will be a« illustration of national self-denial wholly unprecedented. • There: is no doubt that reasoning people see the unfairness of local option which,'of course, weakens one business and strengthens another, causing little or no diminution in the total liquor consumption. They therefore on this basis were entitled to be given the chance of " treating all alike." It is not our purpose to attempt to prophecy what real effect the total abolition of liquor in New Zealand would have, whether it would have the morally purifying effect anticipated, or whether it would be a substantial financial gain to the country. It has been said, but of course there is no method of verifying the statement, that the people of New Zealand are not such great enemies to liquor as to the conduct of the business. They cannot mend it by any machinery now usable, bo are given a chance to end it in the most complete fashion. Whether they will avail themselves of this oliance, or whether the strong sentiment against the business is still confined to given areas, the poll will show. There are divided opinions about liquor in the home—or home-made liquor—and at least two King's Counsel have said that it will l>i | an offence to make alcoholic drink of any kind for home consumption. The intention of the Legislature in this matter is far from clear. If the intention of national prohibition is to totally destroy the appetite in man. there can, of course, lie nothing wrong with following the business to the bitter end. The fouryear period that will elapse before the

business is absolutely rooted out—should the people so desire —will probably be an unfortunate period for the weakling who cannot resist temptation and will certainly be a period of briskness in 1 the "trade." In the no-license areas now existing, "police offences" are fewer than formerly, and this is the best tribute to date as to the beneficial effects of the option. We cannot tell, of course, whether the evil-doers remain in a nolicense area and reform because the hotels close or whether they leave these areas and commit crime elsewhere. The opinion that drink begets crime is very largely held'. Sly-grog selling there is in New Zealand, both in licensed and unlicensed districts, and it has been stated that if the average wrong-doer wants liquor lie can get it. Perhaps tinder National Prohibition he will lack the temptation to drink and to commit crime. These are matters that cannot be foreseen, for there is no precedent on which to base conclusions. New Zealand may carry National Prohibition and thus give the world the greatest example of unselfishness the world has seen. The total abstainer is, of course, giving up nothing. It must be the user of alcohol who is to perform the act that precludes him from satisfying an appetite in order to save his brother.