AMERICA’S DRY LAWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17980, 27 March 1930, Page 7

AMERICA’S DRY LAWS.

LIQUOR FROM CANADA. REFUSAL OF CLEARANCE. BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel.—Copyright. OTTAWA, Alarch 25. The' Canadian House of Commons by 173 votes to 11 passed the Liquor Export Bill, which gives the Government authority to refuse a clearance to liquor shipments to the United States. Tlic bill will now go lo the Senate. The opposition which has been aroused by the announced intention of the Prime Alinister, Mr W. L. Alackenzie King, to negotiate a "smuggling treaty” with 'the United States threatens to create serious political dissension in Canada. Air King says it is better lo cooperate with the American Government than to make matters easy for the criminal element. .Members of the Opposition say the United States threatens to line the border with 10,000 armed men unless she secures a treaty, which would be hypocritical, as rum-running would continue in spite of it. EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMITTEE. AIODIFICATION OF ACT. FAVOURED BY ATTORNEY-GENERAL Alarch 25. In giving evidence before the Senate Committee on the prohibition law, the former Attorney-General, Mr G. W. Wickersham, said tie favoured a modification of the Jones Act, as in his opinion effective enforcement would never be accomplished by placing extreme penalties on minor violators of the law. Air Wickersham said the Jones Act covered offences indiscriminately under the classification of felonies, with the exception of possession of liquor, and of maintaining a nuisance. This, lie said, was contrary to what ho regarded as a sound legislative policy. Air Wickersham said the “dry” laws could in a measure be enforced, although the human appetite was widespread. LATER. PROHIBITION IN AMERICA. DECLARED A SUCCESS. REDUCTION IN DEATH RATE. EX-PREMIER’S TESTIAIONY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tet.—Copyright. (Received Alarch 27, 11.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Alarch 26. The hearing of evidence by the committee of the House of Representatives which was set up to investigate the working of the prohibition law lias concluded. Air 'Lentz, President of the American Insurance Union, testified that prohibition had cut. down the nation’s death rate. Ho said during the five years prior to prohibition, 1914 to 1919, a survey ol' 75 insurance companies showed the relation of actual to expected mortality was from 60 to 63 per cent., but, tiie average for 1921 to 1927 was only from 53 to 54 per cen't. ■ Dr. Mcßride, general superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, slated: “Prohibition is a success. It is popular and can be enforced.” He added: “The answer lo this wet frenzy is the speedy enactment into law' by congress of the President’s programme with such appropriations as will give prohibition a chance.” Hon. E. C. Drury, ex-Premier of Ontario, stated that Government control had failed to reduce drinking, crime, or bootlegging in Canada. He affirmed: “Government control is not Ihc remedy. Effective control is indeed impossible. The Anglo-Saxon temperament will not stand for the inquisition necessary into private affairs to establish any effective control.” Mr Drury gave extensive statistics purporting to show the increase of lawlessness.