LIQUOR AND THE "LABOUR" PRESS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 16

LIQUOR AND THE "LABOUR" PRESS.

The hostility of tho Labour press to tho Temperance movement is a thing of comparatively recent date, but naa become vary marked sinco tho domination of the Socialist wing, which has for one of its objectß tho annexation of the tempting profits of the traffic by the State to bo -administered by the Government, or in other words tho dominant party for the time being. Here are two sample items from a recent "Worker" : — "The only maritime news from New Zealand — Wnecks and drownings. They want better compasses or better grog ! Tlio "better" the spirits, us a rule, tho more potent. The Worker, it will bo sesn, has no objection to the bar on shipboard — moro deadly l than nny coastal bar at a river's mouth. "It is no_\v know that the shutting up of hotels in certain parts of New Zealand has led to a gvoat deal of_ deception in drunkenness, smuggling, illicit distillation, and the wido snle'of poisonous compounds" A mere random assertion, it will be observed, and not a singlo fact to support. All thesu things aro found in New Zealand ; they aro the results of tho licensed traffic, and under prohibition they Aia out.

Sonsational rumours aio curront in regard to the theft from Dublin Castle v fow weeks ago of a portion of tho State regalia, valued at about £50,000. Hints aro lining thrown out that tho gems may bo soon "discovered" without any explanation as to where they have been or who returned Uiem. It is said they havo been deposited as security for a loan, and the namo of the alleged dopositor is freely mentioned in privato, ' with hints of rt tragic so-jinl 'and eemipoliticul scandal. It is, of coui'so> impossible to verify those reports, but they are being freely circulated mi circles who&e i.hanncls of iulormal'icni jmdvjibtedli 1 aro good, ' '"*