LABOR TAKES OFF THE GLOVES.
WHAT THE "MAORILAND WORKER* THINKS OP PROHIBITION USt THE PROHIBITIONISTS, (Published by Arrangement.) One of the moat surprising incidents] in a week crowded with incidents bad been a remarkable editorial with regard'' to Prohibition which appeared in, the. official organ of the Labor Pariy—Thw Maoriland Worker. The fact that thl» journal—which probably carries moral weight and influence with a specific clasJ of the community than any other papeiJ in the Dominion—should be prepared tM allow its editor to make so strong aai appeal is but another proof of the steady* swing of popular opinion in favor off giving Prohibition a trial—especially aJ it costs nothing to do so. The editorian reads as follows: «
OUT WITH THE MQtjdr TRADE., The liquor traffic must be destroyed On December 17 the electors tvill bad given a chance to wipe out the infa»y# of the open bar, and we hope they Wffr use it effectively. This noxious trade; as it is conducted to-day, is an ottm sore on the body social. The people have the choice of voting for the LiqUor Trade as it is, for State Purckaseiand Control of the Trade, and for Prohibition. We take it for granted that Labor - supporters will vote against Continuance and for State Purchase and Control or for Prohibition. As iw twecn the last two issues, it has t« be borne in mind that a vote for Stata Purchase carries with it compensationto "The Trade," which means from £10,000,000 to £15,000,000. Is the trade! worth this to the Stater Prohibition] is a drastic remedy, doubtless, but it( resembles in this respect the reform* demanded by Labor. The moral effect of it would accustom the people, fa* tensely conservative like all Briyshl communities, to revolutionary reforms.! It may be doubted, of course, whether the people are prepared to go the length of Prohibition, but it is well worth a trial. For the next three years social problems will face .the people, .calling, for a clear head, and with the liqtiow trade shelved, the wav would be dear! for .national stock-taking, and the) Labor Movement would be justified in celling on Prohibitionists to supports Other much-needed social reforms. Be-' sides, even the temporary reign of Pro-! hibitlon would have an immense ednca-rf tional value, and it is safe to sav thatl even if the people were not prepared toJ continue Prohibition they would never' go back to the open bar, or sanction so morally indefensible a. proposition a* compensation to the Liquor Trade licensed as it is* from year to year only' As a means of national discipline, we he icve Prohibition would be of great} value to the State, apart from its »fa to the national health and wealth, and would reset most bencficiaUv on the Labour movement, which ia sorely hampered by such vested interests as those of the liquor trade. These views, of course, are the editorial views of The Worker, uttered in the exercise ot its undoubted right of an individual opinion, and are not to be understood as being those of tho Labour Party, which is neutral on this question, leaving the matter to be decided by the electors. We hope that Labour supporters will not neßitate to vote against Continuance in any case, and thus remove one of the worst stumbling-blocks in the paths of Labour.
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Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1919, Page 5
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558LABOR TAKES OFF THE GLOVES. Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1919, Page 5
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