PROHIBITION INDICTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 262, 5 November 1928, Page 9

PROHIBITION INDICTED.

(Published by Arrangement.)

REPEALED BY SIXTEEN GOVERNMENTS. AMERICAN GRAFT AND CORRUPTION. The Plaza Theatre was packed last night when Mr. Fred Arlington-Burke spoko against prohibition. The speaker fully upheld his reputation of being one of the outstanding orators of to-day, and his masterly manner of dealing with the subject, combined with the intimate knowledge of every angle of this contentious issue, provided a most interesting address, numorous questions bordering on levity were replied to by Hashes of wit which greatly appealed to, and were applauded by, the vast audience present, as for instance, when one persistent questioner asked: "Is it not scientifically proved that a glass of whisky contains more alcohol than the human body can assimilate in a fortnight?" To which, amidst roars of laughter, Mr. Burk'.replied: 'I earnestly request you to tell me the name of that brand!" The speaker commenced by stating there were many things in connection with the trade that he was opposed to. Although he was a moderate drinker he was honest in that respect. He pointed out, however, that it was not a fair thing to expect those engaged in the trade to expend thousands of pounds in the matter of reformative measures, when at the end of three years tho-e concerned might be put out of business. Mr. Burke went on to say that he had no quarrel with the prohibitionist, only that he did not take a broadminded view of the question. The extremist, however, provided a study of mental philosophy. £n extremist, when he changed his views, went from one extreme to the other. He was born that way. There were more religious maniacs than drunkards. If the extremist took to drink he became a drunkard, but if he went the other way he became a prohibitionist. (Laughter.) The danger lay in the attempt of the extremists to secure the reins of government. Ten years ago the "drys" were at- • tacking the liquor trade, and to-day they were compelled to apologise for the lamentable failures of prohibition wherever tried. Of 17 Governments which had tried prohibition in the past decade, 16 of them had repealed the law. Every Australian State had definitely and irrevocably refused to experiment with it. New South Wales had killed its political existence by over half a milliqn majority, while Canberra, the Federal territory, after years of no-license, overwhelmingly voted to have licensed hotels opened. In Australian States where there had been a fight, no-license had been rejected by at least three to one. In part of Queensland sly-groggeries had become such dens of iniquity that they had to be superseded by licensed houses, and also in parts of South Australia practically the same conditions had been met with, and combated. The Bishop of Ballarat had actually asked the Government to establish licensed houses as the best way of defeating the machinations of sly-grog shanties, with their attendant dens of infamy, many years ago in Mildura. What Is Wrong with the Children? The prohibitionists were continually prating of the coming generation. "Think of the children!" was their cry. "What I want to know," said Mr. Burke, "is what is wrong with the children of to-day, with their parents, and their grandparents ? New Zealanders are comparablcphysically and mentally with any race in the world. Why should the children in New Zealand in 1930 be in any way inferior physically or mentally to the children of to-day? All sentimental bunkum," declared the speaker amidst applause. He attributed the" cocktail parties of to-day to the closing of the hotels at 6 o'clock. When the hotels were open till 10 o'clock there was no such thing as putting something in a little bag to contribute to the evening's entertainment. Men in those days knew quit* well they could slip out at any time and assuage their thirst. In the days of 10 o'clock closing there were no such things as moonlight parties to the beach bags full of liquor. Immediately prohibition was imposed, however, a false value was placed on liquor. A Challenge Issued. Mr. Burke then asked with feeling, "How long are the thousands of good honest men and women of New Zealand going to be deliberately misled into subscribing money into the funds of a party which is responsible for advocating such a disastrous menace becoming part of the life of this fair young nation?" In reply to the assertion of the "drys" that 68 per cent of the American people w«re under prohibition before the Volstead Act or 18th Amendment, the lecturer said he was prepared to give a £100 cash challenge to the prohibition party on that query. "The truth of tb« matter is," declared Mr. Burke, "that only twelve States, with a population of 11.8 per cent of America, had total prohibition. Eighteen States had restricted regulations, and the other eighteen were out-and-out 'wet States.' My opinion will be contradicted, but I am prepared to: substantiate it with s £100 challenge for local charities." (Prolonged applause.) He further emphasised the poorness of trying to enforce prohibition on the 88.2 per cent of United States residents who never had an opportunity of a national vote to make the whole of America dry. "That is why so much rebellion at the law is paramount," he declared. "There is another chance for the so-called truthful 'pussyfoots' to take yet a further £100 from me," said lie, "if they can tell the electors when the people of America ever had a national vote on the issue to make the whole country dry." The speaker requested his hearers to leave no stone unturned to ensure all their acquaintances going to the poll and voting. "Do here what we did in Australia," he concluded. "Prove to the world that you are free-born, intelligent people, who neither require "pussyfoot" domination or legislation. Make the majority so largo against prohibition that the Prime Minister can follow tlie example of the Premier of Queensland, who following the route of tlie "dry" party in his State, told the Queensland prohibition organisation that if they wmted another referendum they would certainly get one provided they paid for the cost of the electoral machinery necessary for the taking of it." (Prolonged applause.) Many questions were satisfactorily answered, and a vote of thanks, moved by Mr. Hall Skclton. the well-known lawyer, was carried by a remarkable demonstration of acclamation. Earlier in the evening Mr. Burke had explained that at Edendale he mentioned the cane of a Mr. Nkelton in Australia, who had paraded sectarianism in a most disgraceful manner, and certain mischief makers at his meeting immediately informed Mr. I Hall Skelton that lie was being attacked. He was pleased to correct that malicious twig ting of his statements.