ENFORCEMENT EYE-WASH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1928, Page 5

ENFORCEMENT EYE-WASH

RIVAL PARTIES’ PLANKS. One of the pillars ot' the N-Z. Alliance was lately instructing .with the authorityiof one who has never visited on,erica” the statements and opinions of an => American visitor. Both l he American parties, he sai/l, had put “a prohibition plank” in their platforms. A striking proof, he said, of the extent to which the sentiment in favour of prohibition dominates. the country. If the facts were true, it would not be a testimony of t»hc dominance of prohibition sentiment, but only of the politicians’ anxiety not to antagonise the solid prohibition minority. But it is not true. Both parties, have included an “enforcement” plank, because neither could come out and openly stand for breaking the 'law. 'The law is the law, whether it is goad or bad, until it is repealed or altered. . 'Our own judges often enough have said that this or that provision in the la\v is bad, but they would not think of ignoring it in their judgments. The inclusion of “enforcement” planks bas no significance as to the opinion of the parties or the country on ‘the liquor question. It has t'his significance, however, that t.he ‘dry’ law has >so feeble a root in public feeling that the enforcement of it is not to be taken for granted. Nobody ask's either of the parties if it stands for the enforcement of the law against, theft, boeau.se that law has a solid opinion behind it. The Democratic party stands for enforcement, but it has chosen a candidate who Islands for the repeal of the Volstead Act mid the liberation of America 'from the tyrrany of t.he bootlegger and his Creator. the prohibitionist. *3