THE DRUG LIE NAILED

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 3

THE DRUG LIE NAILED

The liquor traffic in New Zealand is this month circulating the following statement regarding alleged drug addiction in the United States of America:—“ln 1919 the import of opium was 750,C001b; in 1920 it jumped to 1,100,0001 b.” ' Official figures supplied direct by the United States Department of Foreign Commerce give the import of opium for 1919 as 316,7151 b, which is less than half what the liquor traffic says it was. In 1920 the import was 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 United States of America in 1919 were 12,0000 z, and in 1921 7,000 oz; morphia in 1919 was 15,0000 z, and in 1921 3.1600 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 United States of America. Ask the liquor traffic if any drug evil is found in No-licenso districts of New Zealand. 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 United States of America since Prohibition. If folklore getting the drink, why do they need the drugs? And if the liquor traffic will use cooked 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 Pronibition.—New Zealand Alliance Publicity ,((66). *