PROHIBITION IN U.S.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 April 1926, Page 9

PROHIBITION IN U.S.A.

Senate Inquiry Proceeding,

SOME STARTLING EVIDENCE. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright Australian anti N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 11, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April JO. William Roberts,, personally representing William Green (president ol tlie American Federation of Labour) testified before tlie Senate Prohibition inquiry. .He said the homos of tlie people were being turned into breweries nod distilleries, turning out dangerous concoctions, which would ruin tlie health of those who drank them to any extent. America, was drilling nearer and nearer to becoming a whisky-drinking nation, under prohibition.

Andrew Furusetli (president of the .International Seamen's Union) who followed the sea for fifty years, said lie and other sailors wanted “clean, wholesome beer, tlie kind my mother used to make.”

James O'Coniiely, labour leader, said tlie old fashioned isaloon was still operating in New York, willl free lunch. He said: “You cannot regulate drinking or females smoking cigarettes any more than you can fly.” INDICTMENT OF PROHIBITION. DISASTROUS -RESULTS IN CANADA. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April U, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 10. Sir William Stavert (ox-chairman ol •tlie Quebec Liquor Commission) and Mr Frussel (president of tlie Manitoba Moderation League) testified lielore tlie Senate Committee that prohibition was tried in one Canadian province after another, with such disastrous results that the resentment of the people forced a repeal of the dry law*, and the enactment of the Government distribution of liquor. With regard to the unspeakable conditions in tlie dry regime, Sir William St a vert .said that semi-prohibition hud been tried in Quebec, and even that was found to be too drastic.

Mr Frussel pointed out that under prohibition young people were corrupted, the psychopathic wards were filled, duo to tlie. vile .stuff drunk, and crime had increased.

•lolm Sullivan (president of the New 1 oik State Federation of Labour) testified that the improvement in the higher .standards of life and work, and a greater regard for services rendered, were not due to tlie Volstead law, lint in .spite of them. Organ is,si labour lm.s ever been engaged in promoting temperate drinking, and was milking great progress therein until the enactment of Hie Volstead Jaw. Millions of homes, in tlie majority of which liquor was never seen, now had been turned into breweries and probably distilleries.

The dry witnesses trill probably appear before the committee, beginning on Monday. ,