ENFORCEMENT EYE-WASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 262, 5 November 1928, Page 12

ENFORCEMENT EYE-WASH.

(Published by Arrangement.)

RIVAL PARTIES' PLANKS.

One of the pillars of the New Zealand Alliance was lately instructing, with the authority of one who has nevei visited America, the statements and opinions of an American visitor. Both the American parties, he said, had put "a prohibition plank" in their platforms. A striking proof, he said, of the extent to which the sentiment in favour oi prohibition dominates the country. If the facts were true, it would not be a testimony of the dominance of prohibition sentiment, but only of the politicians' anxiety not to antagonise tha solid prohibition minority. But it is not true. Both parties have included an "enforcement" plank, because neither could come out and openly stand for breaking the law. The law is the law, whether it is good or bad, until it is repealed or altered. Our own judges often enough have said that this or that provision in the law is bad, but they would not think of ignoring it in their judgments. The inclusion of "enforcement" planks has no significance as to the opinion of the parties or the country on the liquor question. It has this significance, however, that the "dry" law has so feeble a root in public feeling that the enforcement of it is not to be taken for granted. Nobody asks either of the parties if it stands for the enforcement of the law against theft, because that law has a solid opinion behind it. The Democratic party stands for enforcement, but it has chosen a candidate who stands for the repeal of the Volstead Act and the liberation of America from the tyranny of the bootlegger and his creator, the [ prohibitionist.