PROHIBITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10734, 3 November 1928, Page 7

PROHIBITION.

ADDRESS BY MISS PRESTON STANLEY i REPLIES TO MB SCOTT BENNETT. A defence of Prohibition, particularly against the arguments adduced by Mr Scott Bennett, was put up in the City Hall last evening by Miss Preston Stanley, a noted political and commercial figure in. Australia, who incidentally, 1 is the, first lady M.TV to appear on a local platform. Miss Preston showed herself a very forceful a,nd eloquent sneaker,’with a remarkable grasp of her subjects, and it was unfortunate that the weather conditions reduced the attendance to barely 100. , The deputy-Mayor, Mr Jas, Blair, presided and, after a short review of the subject under discussion, introduced the speaker. In opening, Miss preston stated that she would confine her remarks largely to replies to Mr Scott Bennett, who, she had found, almost invariably proceeded her by a few days during her tour of the Dominion. Replying to the contention by Mr Scott Bennett that, if Prohibition were introduced, 20,000 would be thrown out of work, as that number were employed in tho liquor trade, Miss Stanley stated that statistics placed this total at 2693. He had also said that large revenue was derived from tho trade hut,, stated Miss Preston, the total revenue was only, £1,700,000 and, against that, liquor was costing tho country approximately £10,000,000 per annum. To a further contention’ that the American people had had no opportunity of voting directly on Prohibition, Miss Stanley replied that 32 of the 48 States wore, ‘‘dry” by popular vote, before Prohibition camo in; she also detailed how the Amendment was made into law, instancing tho great opposition by American brewers, and stated that it was not simply a war time measure. Mr Scott Bennett had also stated, many countries had thrown out Prohibition, after trying it for a time, but the speaker con' tended that this had been brought about by. pressure from liquor interests outside the countries concerned. According to Mr Scott Bennett, ufi employment was rife in America, but Mi ss Stanley quoted President Coolidge as spying unemployment had decreased by over 4,000,090 during the four and a-half years from 1920. Mis a Stanley drew a glowing picture. of America under Prohibition, stating the people had more money for necessities and luxuries, the scope for employment had increased and that a’ special committee from the Senate had reported that a million lives were saved by Prohibtion. The liquor trade employed fewer than any other trade, when capital was considered, she said, and the death-rate among those engaged in it was much above the average. It was the greatest waster of national assets, it was the master grafter of polities and it was the greatest destroyer of life and humanity. No real caso could he made out against it—the talk of losing personal liberty tv a 3 all nonsense, for liberty was not license, and our liberty was curtailed far more in other aspects of life. Miss Stanley closed her address amidst applause and a vote of thanks, moved by tho Rev. George Frost, was carried by acclamation.