CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 170, 6 April 1923, Page 8

CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC

QUEBEC’S EXPERIMENT

NEW ZEALANDER LOOKS AT THE RESULTS

Mr. J. B- Mac Ewan has roturri2d from his trip to England and the Continent by way of America, with the impression that the Quebec system of liquor control contains much that is worthy of considerajtion by tho people of New Zealand. His stay in Quebec itself was not long enough to allow him to make anything like an cixhaustivo investigation of the system, but many of the business men and - personal friends ho met while passing through Canada were loud in its praise.

After a long flirtation with prohibition, commissioner control was introduced, and during fhc first completed vear of its existence it did away with most of the evils of the licensed trade and with tho worst evils of the illicit traffic. The -change was brought about, Mr. Mac Ewan explained when discussing the subject, . by an Act passed by the Legislative Assembly early in 1921, and actually camo into operation on May 1 of that year. The avowed purpose of its promoters was to effect, by disciplinary measures administered in a reasonablo manner, a reform in the habits of the people which had not resulted from the ' imposition of arbitrary restrictions. Personal Observation. Mr. Mac Ewan had no opportunity of verifying much of the information given him, but it all came from credible sources, and he had no hesitation himself in accepting it as correct. One test was easily applied. He was challenged by his friends to find a single man obviously under the influence or drink in tho streets of the city of Montreal or in any other public place of this big seaport, including the hotels and shops permitted to sell wine and beer. He could not make his search a ■ very thorough one, having other matters to engage his attention during his stay in the city, but .no kept his eves open, visited some ot the hotels and shops, and made independent inquiries, but he neither saw nor heard anything to confute the boast of his friends. To the'casual observer, Montreal certainly was a very sober, “well-behaved and efficient city. “Of course," Mr. Mac Ewan emphasised again, “I do not profess to Lave made a close study of the system —that was impossible in the circum-stances—-but I was very much impressed by what I heard and saw, and 1 should like to see the parties to the liquor controversy in this country giving it some consideration with an open mind.” . .. - Tho Controlling Authority. Tho Act vested tho control of. the traffic in five commissioners appointed by Order-in-Council and holding office during the pleasure of the LieutenantGovernor. Tho commissioners exercise very wide powers in the discharge of their responsible duties, and are paid adequate salaries, thp chairman being required to forgo any other occupation. The first commissioners appointed and now holding office, arc gentlemen of tho very highest standing and repute in the province, and apparently their administration of tho law has met with tho general approval of the public. They exercise tho exclusive right of soiling alcoholic liquors in the province, of importing and transportnig liquors, of granting permits to hotels, restaurants, taverns, shops, and clubs for tho sale of wine and beer, and of regulating the establishments to which permits are granted. They also are entrusted with authority to puard against breaches of the law punish offenders. Tho discharge of such important duties necessitated the creation of a vast and complex organisation, and eight months a.ftoi the commencement of their operations the commissioners were employing a staff of over 800 persons. Improvements in working methods and simplification of services, however, permitted the reduction of the staff to 671 persons by the end of tho year. Less Ardent Liquor. The main features of the Quebec system are the elimination of the proprietary interest and the substitution of light wines and beers of the very best quality for the more ardent liquors .which do more than 90 per cent, oi tho damage under the licensed system. Hotels, shops, and clubs still exist for the sale of. wines and beers, but they must obtain their supplies through the commissioners, and their sales ‘and the, conduct of their businesses are constantly under the super? vision of tho department’s officers. This supervision has been so effective that at tho end of rhe commissioners' first year of office they were able to report that their perseverance in act-, ing against delinquents had had tho' result of almost entirely eliminating the illegal traffic within their territory. To realise tho full significance of. this achievement, Mr. Mac Ewan pointed out, it was necessary to remember that Montreal was a great shipping centre with a population ol well on to a million. Spirits could be obtained in the province, but under such strict regulations that they rapidly were going out of use as a beverage.