STATE CONTROL OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 131, 21 October 1912, Page 6

STATE CONTROL OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

ij To Sijr,— Will you4(ie -tomade a few reTnarks'<i3pAt< atSHPfUßstion.? In the first plaefi,:,J; ; sp!isjfej,ifci£i yainthing to tabulate ed upon such-like, disputes.' 'ln mj qpin-. ion;.! this State control idea flfould, "if adopted, prove a very Wii'^-pigee"of-'b-Tisi-nesji. No matter a cqimney sweeper to get .blackened, and no. matter wlia't, method is used for tli'e'' disperisffig'Sf "aleohdiic liquor, demoralisation- Is sure't'o'follow. State control might be something' like controlling a motor car >vhich ; skids and junVps off the track, with serious consequences. We must remember that State ,'control would he Govcrimelt control. And let us try to realise what .-.Mich -control would be'undcr an unscrupulous Government at a time of -a,.general election. We'can easily imagine that free drinks and"corruption would be"the order of the day. Please remember that State c©ntrol does hot moan judicious and cautious restraint. I consider, that (State officials ought to be kept clear of this contaminating business. The moral character of our politicians is bad enough as it is, but it would certainly be worse if the Government were to become the licensed victuallers. In my opinion, the three-lifUis majority control is decidedly the best thing that can be done, and by such majority we might in time get clear of the traffic" altogether. —I am, etc., . JAMES FORTUNE.