NATIONAL PROHIBITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1918, Page 5

NATIONAL PROHIBITION.

THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Duncdin, Last Night. Representative prohibitionists and several business men waited qq the lion. G. W. Russell to-day to urge Ministerial support of the Efficiency Board's proposals respecting the total abolition of the liquor trade, with compensation. The Minister made puMic for the first time some important details. Ha said that he, personally, favored a deputation's request, but expressed a decided opinion that a large number of the doctors would view gravely the payment of four and a-half millions for the'goodwill of the trade oply. He alternatively mentioned a scheme by which ont:. bars could be closed for the war y< I *"'- tnd. hinted that it might be mini -* v *fr liibitionists' while to consicUft" »'■'••■» *>arti:vl prohibition. He sravo doubts a s to the possibility, .of giving effect t6 the board's proposal during the. coming session, and subsequently, in the same session, pass the necessary legislation to give effect to the decision, or that national prohibition should bo carried, as the right of 30,000 soldierf|o rote must be considered. He had" a doubt if the country would agree to pay a hugo sum a« compensation for which no tangible asset remained. If prohibition were carried, there would be Increased financial burdens annually of £1,300.000. He cited the Efficiency Board's recent memorandum answering Ministers' questions. These replies emphasised that compensation would be for good-will only, and to be Merm?n«d by is, special court. The details were, how.ever, strictly confidential and therefore barred. He also, stated that legislation must prevent any effort to resurrect the trade, and alao be made effective as regards total prohMtion, also that 'the legislation should contain no profusion whatever malting compensation retrospective.