THE COMING POLL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1919, Page 7

THE COMING POLL.

ACTING PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS ON PROHIBITION. NO ANXIETY ABOUT REVENUE, INCREASE IN PRODUCTION CAN BE EXPECTED. LIQUOR IS A NATIONAL MENACE. PROHIBITION ESSENTIAL FOR NATIONAL EFFICIENCY. Following is a copy of a letter from Sir James Allen to his constituents:— Wellington, April 2, 1919. J. B. M'Kinlay, Esg., Lawrence; D. Clements, Kaitangata; and W. Moore, Esq. Milton. Dear Mr. Moore—The issue to be decided on the 10th of this month is so important that I feel compelled to place beforeiyou my views on the liquor question, arrived at after many years of public life, and especially owing to experiences since the war began. I do not write as a member of the Government, but as a citizen who is entitled to give expression to his opinions, in the hope that good may result. There are two arguments used in favor of the continuance of the liquor traffic:—

(1) Loss of Customs revenue. (2) Interference with the liberty of the individual.

I have no anxiety about the revenue. The Customs revenue from; alcoholic liquor and beer during the last ten .years has averaged £567,096 per annum. For the year 1918 it amounted to £816,828. There are several sources from which to make this good: (a) Customs revenue from dutiable goods imported in large quantities owing to, the expenditure of an additional four or five millions, and probably more, that was previously spent on liquor, being diverted to other channels, (b)'Additional revenue from incomes, whie". will be greater because of increased earnings, due to greater efficiency, and an expediting of a large sum of money now spent on liquor. li>"u a personal knowledge of the coal industry, I am in a position to state that after pay day there is a falling off in production. lam informed that this is true of other industries also, (c) Taxation. The sources of evenue indicated in (a) and (b) will, in my opinion, be ample to meet the loss of Customs revenue from liquor. Interference wi+h liberty appears to be the chief argument used by those in favor of the continuance of the use of intoxicating liquor. There are many who enjoy a glass of wine, and probably more who prize the liberty to do as they like within the bounds of the law. I myself can enjoy a glass of wine, and the liberty which the law allows is deer to me, but I am willing to give up a pleasure and part with a portion of my freedom in order to remove from my fellow man a temptation which he cannot resist and which is a menace to him. The evidence which appeals to me is: (1) The evil effects on those who indulge and the ruination in many, cases of family life. It is not my purpose to comment on the general evil effects, which are apparent, but there are sad stories which the public do not know of. During' the war it has been my duty to deal with separation allowances to wives, and especially to wives, living away from their husbands. In' many cases drink was the cause of (ihe break-up of the homes. By way of contrast I draw a comparison from my own experience. Some years ago certain coal miners riioved to a no-license district to take up farming., When visiting the district a few years later I had a meal at tha home of one of these men. Round the table sat a happy family. The district was somewhat isolated, and I asked the wife if she felt lo<i»ly and whether she did not at times wish to be back at her old home. Her reply was: "There is no Puke here." "Pulb" was the shortened name of the hotel n«ar the coal mine from which the family had moved. It needs little imagination to understand the full meaning of the wife's answer. (2) The menace to some of the returned soldiers, both fit and medically unfit. It is unfair to discriminate between j soldier and civilian. The closing of' hotel bars when a transport arrives alongside the wharf and six o'clock closing apply to soldier and civilian alike. Will any civilian argue that he is nqt' prepared to put up with these curtailments of his liberty in the interests of soldiers and their kith and kin? These curtailments of the personal liberty of soldier and civilian have not in many cases prevented the supply of too much liquor to returned men. *No one with eyes to see can deny this. So-called'i friends, not real friends, of the soldier have found means to evade the regulations and the Act, the result . often being heartrending. Affection and time J will, it is hoped, repair the sad hearts, I but is there not a clear call to prevent, such things in the future, even if > it" : does demand some sacrifice? Necessity,' i did, however, demand some discrimination, which has taken the form of re<ru-i latioiiß to prevent the supply of liquor to troop trains and to the sick and , wounded whilst undergoing hospital treatment. Under the present law this discrimination could not be avoided. On April 10 there will be an opportunity to get rid of the disci'imination.'anft to make effective the regulation* which were devised to protect the soldjfer and to assist the sick and wounded t#speedy and more certain recovery B r- ( 3 ) I]^«!!»y;;andv^^^

I do not desire to comment on these unsavoury subjects myself. A British Royal Commission not long ago reported on venereal disease and I quote from the final report;— "The relation between alcohol and venereal disease. Abundant evidence was given as to the intimate relation between alcohol and venereal diseases. Alcohol renders a man liable to vield to temptations which he might otherwise resist, and aggravates the disease by diminishing the resistance of the individual. . , .

•The facts point to the conclusion hat decrease in. .the use of alcohol w|ll be an important factor in diminishing fiie prevalence, of venereal' disease. (page fi.j); Our evidence tends to show tb.«t .Mi* commuui-

cation of disease is frequently due to indulgence jn intoxicants, and there is no doubt t¥at thf growth of ahee' Among the' pidpulation would 'help to bririg'abbutJftnfamelioration Of the very which' our mquiry has revealed.'*' - 1'". •'■' ; 'wi.. .' ■:. -:.;:.. .' ■■_■■..• .:: ' ■■*, ■■ r j.l*): Natiojml'rEfliaiency:—This: aspect of the question has been fully, discussed, sudftjiothiiig iur(fher.:;iua!d,-.be added exCamuhv'bocome.'dry V" The ;*ijawejv it tappsars -.t0.. mev-ufnusjb'.'be "For national,.sfiiciency;f ? ..;e»;u wiwet country successfully*compete againstra toy one?'' My-aosvflßsis-i'Jjo..'!. ■;.,:;■■,»:. >.-.,-: - No one c has,f suggestedi to me. thati i should write; tMsh letters.lt 'has been ; Bent on.nHty ro,iKn,.-inii«liwetiJn the hope' that it niay-fec ofr.-.some.'iscrvioe tounj' constituent,.. and=Vou,i»re> at liberty jto use it ag;;_you think j * ■ _ "'"'" ■' -'(Signed-)'•' ' -"'jr.-- ALLEN. ! '.;