"DIGGERS-ANO PROHIBITION."

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1919, Page 7

"DIGGERS-ANO PROHIBITION."

'; V" AT -GOOD TEMPIS3R HALE, ■ "'' There was a good attendance at theGood Templar Hall last evening, when two returned soldiers—Messrs- Blake and Sim—delivered their views on the prohibition question. Captain Hartuell, who occupied the chair, briefly introduced the speakers, and called upon Mr. Blake, who. in opening, had a "tilt at the Government for the running of the train between I'aluierston North and New Plymouth, and mentioned that if a icw returned soldiers were returned to Parliament they would endeavor to have things improved. The speaker proceeded to sav>hat statements had been made from <;ne end of the Dominion to the other that the Alliance was antagonistic 10-tne returned soldiers. The question had been reviewed by the Efficiency Board, which recommended that a vote should he taken on the question, but the Government had declined to do so. Regulations had sinw been framed under the Licensing Act, but were not "ufficiently comprehensive, and i~ would have meant that many soldier-; would have been disfranchised. The Alliance had proved its sympathy by oersistint; in bavin? these rules amended, and the relumed soldie's receive.! the justice they merited. They *ha:l fought for freedom- It had been paid by opponents that, prohibition would encroach on thei/ personal liberty. T+ some of the*» authorities personal liberty meant i-hs-t a -nan could drive a motor-car dovt. 'be main street without ctiv regulation .RathtT was it that the 'kjuc'.- traffic v:i« antagonistic to the jeople. Alcohol andiinnined the economic foundation of the people, and •should not be ?.:. It-rated, No one could deny that thef. iiras a risk to both the commercial -Kid jn*«-?sectua.! life. It wa.s lmdesirabi" that tbfl liquor traffic should be a'.*'.«OT i> erofcjnue.

Ho then touched on what he had seen at tlie front, And mentioned that abundant cvidcnc? ("feted that the Hun had plenty of liquet- He then read extracts from a paner in regard to the atrocities committed li- ih.- Huns, who were stated to hr Rnffcrinrr from excessive alcohol when they committed these vile deed's. He did not desir? to make, liqnor the ecapcffoat of all the horrible actions of the Hun, but it was the starling point of many. He next related an incident of a Belgian Red Cross nurse. The Huni" were besieging .Antwerp, and the r.urse assisted three British marines to get tS a farm house n few miles outside the town. On her return she found the town had been taken by the enemy. A Hun officer {.Tabbed her by the throat, a bayonet was thrust through her side, several ribs were broken, anrl other injuries caused. Had that nurse been a British subject she would have received a Victoria Cross. As it was she fell into the hands of the vile Hun, who was maddened until he became .1 beast through liquor His next instance related to the treatment of a mother and daughter at Lille, and here aeain the cause of the Hun to the bnrte stage was drink. TTnmvlv in 'N'ew Zealand thev wtp unable to associate the drink evil with other social failings which \ver-3 most marked, and deadlv to the inexperienced soldier Dririic undermined the national efficiency, and deteriorated the human character. Every child had the rsrht to be well-born. They had to do away with false modesty and face the nlain facts, and make, them understandable to all. Environment was

an important factor to child and adult life, and it was up to them to assist in creating that environment which would pave the way for that for which ! thoy had fought—liberty and justice. Wherever they looked they found that j where prohibition had prevailed it had resulted in higher efficiency. (Applause) Mr. Sim said he would deal with the question from the economic standpoint, They bad beaten the Hun on the battlefield, and they had now to prepare themselve? to meet him on commercial Hne3. The fight was going to be strenuous, and they needed to secure the highest possible efficiency. Much had been said about the loss to the State in revenue if prohibition were carried, but this was a fallacy. It had been estimated that the loss in revenue- would be £1,000,000, and add another £2,tG,000 for interest and sinking fund, which showed, a loss of £l,-250.000 for the year. Against this they should place the reduction of cost of public institutions, such as police, hospitals (mental and public), charitableaid, industrial schools, old-ago pensions, etc., to the extent of 55 per cent. —equal to £BIO,OOO. The inefficiency caused by the liquor traffic was generally estimated at 10 per cent, but to be on the safe side b« would reduce this to 5 per cent, of tho productive power of the country—£6,ooo,ooo. lOivert this amount into more reproductive sources and it would give a duty of 16.fi per cent—equal to £780,000. Further, if the £5,000,000 spent each year on the liquor trade was diverted into more reproductive work it would also give 15.G per cent.—equal to £780,000. His figures thus showed the loss of revenue, etc., £1.250.000. Against th> were savings of £BIO,OOO and twico £750.000, showing a margin of £-1,120,000 in favor of prohibition on the first year. The speaker said that Kate control had been introduced as a side issue, bv.t he read an extract from Mr- Lloyd Oeorgc, who did not approve of such a move. Mr. Sim said they must eliminate and extinguish the liquor hnsiiioss. No half-measures .should be tolerated. He was positive that on April 10 the people'* vole would indicate that decision. In ihe meantime thev should net up to W.=oh's famous command: "Kntrland expects that every man this (lav will do '■hi dntv." (App].ii;pc.) Questions were invited, but none wore, forthcoming.

Mr O. Iv iVl'rmc'er, in moving a vote ". than Vs. slnt-ed the plea-rurr- it gav-> him U\ hear the two l-nv* who had don>> fl'i-n- Iniv at the front returning and vivip,, (!,„„! „ i, orlf i | n f] lo !>],_, fiphf. ( 1)0T ■•"vo now undortakinor. and he ho"ed tin -..i-Mf-v would Hu- foid'wl rtveptions m flir-ir ifvea. 1 work. Pint. i„ pcknnwledoinp tlm vote "•nnhed <l.o •ivdioncn f or thf>i- nttpnt'vo Vnrir.f. indicating O'ct at Tew 7>lv. i.vv,,t', il,„ v >,, ul received V.r\t}"h fair "'" fro "i + he audience, which was all +h<\v desired.