NATIONAL PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 83, 22 March 1919, Page 3

NATIONAL PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN.

PROFESSOR NICHOLS’ ADDRESS.

A very large and sympathetic audience followed with the closest attention the address given by Professor Nichols in the Assembly Hall, last night.. Mr. T. Clarkson occupied the chair and the meeting was opened by the singing of the National Anthem. In introducing the speaker the chairman said he was pleased to see such a large number present. The question to be settled on April 10th. was one of the biggest that had ever been placed before the electors of New Zealand. They would be glad to hear the Professor speak on the effects of Prohibition in the United States but he, along with many others, considered that from an economic and efficiency point of view, apart from the moral aspect, National Prohibition would be a great benefit _tp New Zealand. Professor Nichols, who on rising was greeted with applause, soon got into touch with his audience and led up to his subject with a few humorous remarks that put him on a good footing with his audience. He gave a lurid account of the prohibition movement in the United States since its inception some 40 years ago. In clear and humorous phrase he set forth the three alternative methods of dealing with the liquor traffic, viz., for trade, regulation, and prohibition. By common consent the first method was out of court. Regulation had been tried, yet every expedient in this direction had utterly failed to reduce drunkenness and other ills issuing from the traffic. The Professor elaborated this aspect of the question, and with flashes of wit and eloquent exposition riveted the attention and captured the judgment of his hearers. The method yet remaining was prohibition. Experiments in this direction had been made first in the municipalities. The benefits accruing were marked but - necessarily limited. State prohibition was the next phase entered upon. Here too, the success was emphatic but restricted. Con soquently the demand arose for a further- widening of the application of the principle the operations of which had proved so beneficient in the municipalities and the states. Hence arose the demand for National Prohibition by constitutional amendment.

The congress in two houses had to ratify the proposal to refer the

constitutional amendment to the people. This ratification required a two-thirds vote in both Houses of the Legislative. The matter had then to be ratified by a two-thirds vote of both houses of legislature in 06 out of 48 states of the union. A unique condition attached was that this ratification to have validity must be completed within seven years. Yet within fourteen months of the passing of the Act the requisite 33 States had ratified. Up to the time the lecturer had left America every one of the that had voted'upon the question had ratified and it was anticipated that very shortly the whole of the-48 states would endorse the proposal for National Prohibition. The outcome of the reference to the States Legislatures was that the whole of the states would become “bone dry” on July Ist. 1920. Wherever prohibition came into operation in America it was the result of an expression by the intelligent and educated people who realised that it was in the best interests of democracy to wipie out of the path of progress A barrier set up by the liquor traffic, for liquor was always an enemy of progress. Referring to Great Britain the speaker said he had great hopes for the Old Land. The working classes by a great majority were in favour of prohibition notwithstanding the assertion that the working men would down tools' if their beer was stopped. Now that the women of Britain had the franchise the extinction of this deeply entrenched enemy of the worker wag well within sight. If New’ Zealand went “dry” on April 10th. it w-ould be a great impetus to the Mother Country where the progressive methods of the colonies were watched with keen interest.

Professor Nichols closed with an earnest and eloquent appeal to his hearers to-take full advantage of the great opportunity afforded them on April ipth. of wiping out an evil that was blighting the land and making it harder for our children to become good and useful citizens.

On the motion of Canon Clark a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was carried by acclamation.