Prohibition Defended By Leader Of Alliance

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30234, 12 September 1963, Page 6

Prohibition Defended By Leader Of Alliance

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. A statement by Professor E. G. Saint in Christchurch yesterday that denying access to alcohol under American prohibition made matters worse could not pass unchallenged, said the general superintendent of the Alliance (Mr T. J. Young) today.

Quoting the United States Abstract of Official Statistics, Mr 'Young said in the year 1923 to 1931 drunkenness decreased 77 per cent, deaths from alcoholism decreased 42 per cent, alcoholic insanity decreased 66 per cent, crime from drink decreased 70 per cent and motor fatalities decreased 50 per cent. Institutions for the treatment of alcoholics in the United States before the prohibition era numbered 275. These were to be reduced to 51 during the 1920’5. Keeley Institutes declined froqj 50 to 12 and Neal Institutes from 65 to two. The Neal Institutes for 12 years before prohibition dealt with 125,000 patients. The Washington home which operated for 56 years, treating 1600 cases a year, closed in March, 1920. Mr Young also quoted F.B.L statistics indicating drunkenness in 1932 was 832 for 100,000 population compared with 2342.7 a 100,000 in 1949. There were six million .alcoholics in the United States today, he said.