Page 6 Advertisements Column 4

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1918, Page 6

TKe Efficiency Board and Prohibition Report submitted to the Government, July 9th, 1917 "Evidence was tendered by more than sixty witnesses, drawn from various classes of the community, and the matter was investigated from as many aspects as were presented, and where possible, statements have been traced and verified The '"the who tcn- !*»,. dered themselves reprerr IuISSSSS gented brewers, hotelketp•rs, wine and spirit marchants, chartered clubs, employees in hotels and in clubs, hop and barley growers, and merchant*, vina-growers and winetnakers, the New Zealand Alliance and other temperance organizations; there were also independent temperance advocates, representatives of certain Church bodies, ?nd of Women and Children Protection Soci*ties, The British and Foreign Sailors' Society, general merchants, manufacturers, and employers, including farmers. Judicial, magisterial, medical and military evidence wis also taken. In connection with other inquiries the Board has had matters depending upoa the Liquor Trade brought under its notice, and this material has been considered by it in connection with the evidence specifically taken for this inquiry. The Points «*• **>"? , TOT Consider- each in itself separate and ation distinct:— (a.) As to the moral effect npon the life and progress of the nation caused by the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drink. (b.) Am to the public revenue derived from the operations of the liquor traffic. u (e.) As to whether *Uie liquor traffic encroaches upon, hindjnt; or retards the efficiency, of the nation. As to whether the Liquor Traffic lowers the physical and mental standard, and so reduces the productive value of the individual and collectively of th» people. As to whsther the Liquor Traffic causes a national economic loss. With regard to (a.): The Board has not permitted its judgment to be influenced by the moral aspect of the question, but has arrived at tis conclusions quite apart therefrom. How the With rw*d to (b): This . -j lamely is a Government tn Revenue question, and the comtliauld he ments that the Board offers thereon are—That the peofliet pie should be better able to provide the necessary amount of taxation if the inefficiency at present created by the effects of alcohol is removed. That less expenditure will be required in connection with the Police aud Prisons Departments, the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, the mental hospitals, the inebriate homes, and for other public institutions. That i the increased na&mui thrift winch is most desirable anil which would follow the diversion to productive trade channels of the money now spent upon liquor would, in the opinion of the Board, as evidenced by world-wide experience where the abolition or reduction of tin use of alcoholic liquor has operated, more than counteract the loss of public revenue now received from this source. That the money now spent on liquor, if its sale were stopped, would be spent or invested in some other direction. If spent, the expenditure produces, directly or indirectly, a revenue to the State; if'invested it becomes subject to annual taxation, Prohibition With to/cj: From « z?x « * national-efficiency point fl benefit to of view the Board is conthm Natian vinced that it would bo beneficial to the nation and conducive to the well-being of the people that the importation, manufacture, and sale of wines, beer, and spirituous liquors (including medicinal preparations containing alcohol) should bs prohibited. This view is supported by results obtained in our own country under conditional Prohibition, and this experience is confirmed wherever Prohibition has operated. Exemptions p wonld i bt > n ®"™Y _ to exempt methylated alcohol for commercial purposes and pure alcohol for chemical or medicinal requirements. The People Board finds that the should Decide— Whv Trade are public custom * and the financial interests involved. The Board is satisfied that the greatest efficiency would be attained both for the nation and the individual by a state of complete Prohibition, but the Board recognises that Prohibition is a people's question, and should be determined only by an expression of the voice of the people. Immediate Prohibition the Basis It therefore recommends that legislation be passed submitting the question of National Prohibition to a vote of the people at the earliest possible moment, and that such vote should be upon the basis of immediate Prohibition accompanied by reasonable compensation to the interests affected. Any compensation paid to those engaged in the Liquor Trade would for the greater part remain and be invested within the Dominion and thus be used for production and trade. _ Under the protection of the existing legislation (which in the event of National Prohibition being carried grants an extended term of trading rights bef or* Prohibition becomes operative) large obhb of raofcey fcm beta iaTeetefi in breweries, in licensed houses, in wine and ispaxoit businesses, in vineyards and hop-gar/Jens, m& generally in what is known aa "the Trade, 11 It is manifest that injustice would arise if- the licenses and the Liqnor Trade mm summarily terminated without reasonable cwnjpensasfiari, Compensation —Why Recommended two chief factors in the continuance of the Liquor The Board is therefore satisfied thai It would bo in the interest of the Dominion and of its rahslatante, in order to obtain an «arly discontinuance of the sale of aleoholic that reasonable compensation should be granted to those affected. The Board is of opinion it will found Qal no compensation need be given to individual employees, as all male and female employees could be absorbed in other occupations. In its judgement, all interests having been considered, the parties to bo compensated are represented by the breweries, wholesale and retail licensed vendors, vignerons and wine-manufacturer*, hop-growers, and the owners of properties to which a retail license is attached. The Board believes that the compensation to be paid for the immediate closing of the Liquor Trade should bo based upon the difference between the market value of the assets as used at v present, taking into consideration the present licensing laws and the other circumstances and conditions associated with the trade, and the value of such assets without a license. Compensation need not be Cash The amounts iobe paid by way of compensation nead not necessarily bo found in cash, but, the Board suggests, might be paid in Government securities bearing the same rate of interest and the same currency as the war-loan debentures. The Board is satisfied that compensation based on the foregoing lines would be a sound investment for the State, and that the cost would be recouped by increased national efficiency: Increased National Efficiency Recoups the Cost if the Government decides to submit this proposal to Parliament the Board would be prepared, if requested so to do, to advise as to the form of constitution and procedure of a tribunal suitable to determine the amounts of compensation to be paid. The Board judges the present public sentiment to be such that the people of the Dominion would approve of the opportunity being afforded to them of voting upon this question.'' In conclusion, the Board places on record that whilst at first it looked into this matter from the point of view of war conditions, yet as the inquiry preceded it became apparent that in the interests Ti national efficiency the Board had to consider the liquor question from the point of view of the efficiency of the State and the individual both during the war and afterwards, and it has therefore submitted its recommendations so as to promote permanent national efficiency. The Alliance Monster Petition will give us the PoB Sign it To-day!

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