Page 7 Advertisements Column 1

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 7

THE DRUG LIE NAILED. The liquor traffic in N.Z. is this month circulating the following statement regarding alleged drug addition in the U.S.A.: —“In 1919 the import of opium was 750.0001 b., in 1920 it jumped to 1,100,0001 b.” Official figures supplied directly by the U.S. Department of Foreign Commerce give the import of opium for 1919 as 316,713 lb-, which is less than half what the liquor traffic says it was. In 1920 the import wns 224,1521 b., or just about one-fifth of what the liquor traffic says it was. In 1921 the import was only 96,6681 b. Taking round figures, the imports of cocaine into the U.S.A, in 1919 were 12,000 oz., and in 1921 7000 oz. ; morphia in 1919 was 15,0000 z., and in 1921, 31600 z. These immense reductions the liquor traffic calls- ‘an alarming increase.’ This is one only, but a typical sample, of the liquor traffic misrepresentations about the effects of prohibition in the U.S.A. Ask the liquor traffic if any drug evil is found in no-license districts of N.Z. Ask them, too, how they make this alleged increase in drug taking because of the absence of alcohol, square with their statements that there is more drinking than ever in the U.S.A, since prohibition. If folks are getting the drink, why do thev need the drugs? And if the liquor traffic will use crooked figures to mislead you about drugs, can you trust anything else they say about prohibition ? Keep your eye on the liquor lie when the ‘Trade’ is talking prohibition. N.Z- Alliance Publicity (66). —A-dvt.