LICENSING REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1927, Page 12

LICENSING REFORM

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The Licensing Reform Association in its petulant report makes statements not in accordance with fact. For instance, it asserts that the "demands and threats" of the Prohibition Party -were the cause of the Government withdrawing the Licensing Bill last session. The Prime Minister told the deputation of the New Zealand Alliance that the liquor trade were the chief opponents of the measure, he said: "As a matter of fact, the greater proportion of the complaints came from those who were opposed to the movement represented that morning. They said the measure would simply cripple their business." The Prime Minister should know. Moreover, the Christchurch branch of the Licensing Reform Association issued a letter to members of Parliament saying that in the event of any attempt to eliminate the middle issue" they desired the Licensing Bill to be _dropped. The Christchurch branch's attitude has never been denounced by the headquarters of the association, so that the association itself was seeking "to dictate the policy of the Government and the activities and procedure of Parliament." The New Zealand Alliance did not ask for the Bill to be dropped, but that the House should have a fair chance of dealing with The association states that Quebec, Canada, rejected Prohibition "following on an extended trial." This is untrue, there was never a time when the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages was prohibited in Quebec. I challenge the association to name the period during which prohibition of beers, wines, and spirits was in force in Quebec. In Ontario the Ontario Temperance Act has been repealed by direct action of the Legislature without being submitted to a separate referendum of the people. The Licensing Reform Association has falsely accused the Alliance of seeking to get Prohibition by direct action of the Legislature, but it approves of the Ontario Government undoing by direct action what the people did by popular vote. In Wew Brunswick the same direct action of the Legislature has been followed without submitting the matter to a referendum of the people. The Licensing Reform Association approves of direct action of the Legislature when it is favourable to the liquor interests.

The association asserts that "after seven years of trial America is now socially and morally in worse condition than before the commencement of National Prohibition." This, statement is absolutely false. ' The proof of it is to be found in figures relating to the churches. Every year since Prohibition has seen enormous gains in church membership. In 1923, for example, the total church membership was stated to be 45,457,366. In 1925 the total -was stated to be 47,000,000, the increase for the year being 690,000. Moreover, 6000 new. Protestant churches were dedicated that year. Is this a sign of America being "socially and morally in worse condition than before the commencement of National Prohibition?" The head of the Salvation Army's New York Bescue Work for Women and Girls reported that before Prohibition 50 per cent, of the aid furnished m homes was because of drunkenness, and this cause had now dropped to 1 per cent, of the total. The L.B. Association statement is seen to B be utterly false, and surely the clerical members of the association should dissociate thereselves from this despicable slander on the moral life of the people of the USA —I am, etc., " '

J. MALTON MURBAY.

27th July.