THE EFFECT OF PROHIBITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6456, 24 December 1904, Page 2

THE EFFECT OF PROHIBITION.

TO THK EDITOR,

Sib,—l presume the subject of Prohibition has been pretty well threshed out iv your paper from time to time, and I shall not be surprised if you cannot find room for this letter of mine; but my excuse for writing must be that I have a suggestion to make to your leading townspeople, which, in my humble opinion, will be of great benefit to the residents of this beautiful little town. I might mention that lam now half way through a business tour of the whole of this colony. Two years ago I visited Ashhurton, and found jt to be one of the most prosperous towns in New Zealand; but on this trip, taking into consideration the temporary slackness of business prevailing all over the colony at present, and comparing Ashburton with other towns in New Zealand, my experience is that Ashburton is absolutely the worst town for business that I have aver visited. Whether the cause of such a state of affairs is through Prohibition or not I will leave it for the local business men to decide; but a large majority of the residents of thi3 town with whom I have spoken on the subject most decidedly blnme Prohibition. One of the phief arguments put forth is that suoh a large number of people will not do without their usual glass, are in the habit of sending for the same to Christchurch and Timaru, and sending for other things at the sama time, especially to Chrisfcchurch, where, I understand, on account of the extra competition, they are able to pet most things cheaper, and so kill two birds with the one stone, I migbt mention that I have met people who inform me that they are in the habit of doing this themselves, so I have no doubt but there is a certaia amount of truth in it. My suggestion is that as Ashburton led the way in experimenting with Prohibition, now is tho time to experiment- with State control, or even municipal control. Tf som« of the leading citizens were to form a league to agitate f'-r ths electors to have an opportunity to express their ' opinions on this subject n,p the next election, I don't see how the Government can possibly vai=e an objection to ic. Slate control, in my opinion, is the only possible way of doing tiway with the curse of drink. The State can make its own laws, and see that they are carried out. Of course, the principal law must do away with " shouting." This in everyone's opinion is the cause of most of the drunkenness. I myself saw five drunks in Ashburton yesterday, which is a fair average for a town of this sk% pubs or no pub?, especially when I was not looking for them. Some of the Prohibitionists will object to this suggestion of mine, and will point out j that they ihemsalye's will become publicans if it is carried, and that thpy object to receive any benefit from the sale of liquor ; but they forget that if I were to go to Timaru and get drunk, they would still receive a benefit from the duties imposed on the liquor I bought, so the argument will not stand. Should the Prohibitionists bo afraid of the laws being abused under Stato control, Xt the billetg of barmen and managers be given to the most red-hot prohibitionists who will take them. It will not be inconsistent with their principles, as their object in taking the billets will be to gee that the laws are most stringently carried ost. Hpping'you yp-il 1 be ablo'to spare the spaco fur this let'^r, I'am, etc.,

A BpsiNES! Man. Ashburton, Dec. 23,1604.