Page 10 Advertisements Column 4

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17883, 31 August 1918, Page 10

Read this striking testimony as to what Prohibition means to Canada. These letters are contributed by men who are interested in the welfare of the Nation from an efficiency point of view. This is the testimony of leading men, and Every Letter has been written since June sth, 1918 The Premier of British Columbia says: ■ “Since the prohibition of the liquor traffic within the Province of British Columbia, two of our large provincial jails have been closed; the working out of'the Act h&s proved of great public benefit and vastly increased the comfort of a large number of homes in the Province of British Columbia.” —June 25th, 1918. What Business Men say: Messrs. Henry Bilks & Sons, Ltd., Winnipeg, . the largest jewellers of Canada, write:—“Prior to Prohibition, a large percentage of the merchants of this Province, were much concerned about the serious effects Prohibition would have upon their business. In a few months there was scarcely a single merchant in the Province who was doubtful as to good effects of Prohibition on Business.” —June, 21st, 1918. The Premier of'Ontario says: “Prohibition has been a distinct success in the Province of Ontario. Many of its bitterest opponents at at the time of the enactment of the Act have become now its strongest supporters and advocates. _lt has had a beneficial effect on social and moral conditions throughout the Province. —June 25th,' 1918. The Acting-Premier of Saskatchewdn says: “We wouldn’t return to the old order of things if we were paid to do so. The first six months or a year after the licensed bar was abolished we kept track of the crimes and convictions under the old order as compared with the new*. The reports were so favourable in this respect to the new order that we have ceased making comparisons. Nobody talks of reverting to the licensed bar to-day. The wonder now is that we tolerated this abomination so long. The general effect of prohibition has been all to the good with no evil effects, not even the much anticipated destruction of our hotel system.” June yth, 1918. What Retail Merchants of Canada sav: *'W HEREAS, a request has come Jrom New Zealand to give them the benefit of our* experience under Prohibition: we, the Manitoba Branch of the Retail Merchants’ Association of Canada, in Convention assembled in June 20th, 1918, hereby send our heartiest greetings to 'our fellow citizens in the Antipodes and desire to pay: 1 (1) That while many new factors enter into business conditions during war time, yet we are convinced that the enactment of Prohibition has not had a detrimental effect on retail business as a whole. (2) On the other hand, we have many evidences of larger purchasing power and more prompt payment on the part of the public, particularly the wage earners. Old debts have been paid and cash business increased. (3) As to the general benefits 6f Prohibition to the Community, they have become so evident after two years of trial, that any proposal to return to the old order of things would 'receive little support.” —-June 21st, 1918. What Railwayman sav: The Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta says : “Replying to your question, ‘ls Prohibition a FailurePV My answer is ‘No,’ a most emphatic‘No.’ In my opinion it is one of Canada’s greatest achievements since Confederation. Prohibition can never be a failure anywhere in this world. Far from being a failure, it is one of a nation’s greatest steps towards prosperity,'and I am sure that with the intellectual development of the, civilised world, the time is not far distant when the use of alcohol as a beverage will be unknown.” July 5th,'1918. The Mayor of Winnipeg says: “In regard to Prohibition in the City of Winnipeg, briefly, in my opinion, it is the best enactment that ever took place.” Air. G. D. Robertson, Member of the Privy Council of Canada, and Vice-President of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, writes:—“Prohibition has, in my judgment, greatly increased the efficiency of our Canadian workmen. The economical and safe operation of our public utilities has been greatly enhanced. . The general, commercial prosperity in Canada has greatly improved, all of which has a tendency to increase national prosperity and contribute to human happiness.” June 27th, 1918 Mr. Wm. Tj. Best, Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (Membership of 105,000), writes:—“From my own personal experiences of over 28 years' in railway locomotive operation, intoxicating liquor has been one of the worst foes to railroad-efficiency humanity has ever known. —June 28lh, 1918 Mr. Colin Lawrence, Chairman of the Dqminion Legislative Board and Legislative Representative of the Brotherhood of Loco Engineers, writes:—“On January 27th, 1916, a delegation representing overy Province in the Dominion of Canada, appeared before Sir Robert Borden and his Cabinet, and requested the Dominion Government to enact a Prohibition law. A t this conference I had the honour to represent the ‘six Railroad and requested in the interest of these organisations that the Government pass a Dominion 'Prohibition Act. Words fail to express the wonderful benefits received by our members on account of the prohibition and curtailment of the Liquor Traffic." —June 28th, 1918. What Prohibition will Mean to New Zealand In the face of the foregoing testimony no right-thinking man or woman can doubt the fact that National Prohibition will drive from New Zealand the greatest enemy ever known to individual and National efficiency. A poll of the people is wanted. We have already been denied the 1917 No-License Poll add it is improbable that the Government will of its own volition grant a poll this year. If a poll should be taken under the present statute, and National Prohibition passed, it would not be operative until 1924, hence the National Efficiency Boards proposal to pay compensation. The National Efficiency Board and Leading Business Men of the Dominion recommend it as “A Sound Investment” to compensate “The Trade” and stop the Drink Traffic AT ONCE. The N.Z» Alliance Monster Petition will give ns the Poll—Sign To-day . N.Z.A. Bfßoiwwy Berses —1 BE SURE YOU SIGN THE RIGHT PETITION. . ,ook Carefully or you may be induced to Support a Proposal asking for IATIONALISATION of the Drink Traffic, with ail its ATTEFiSDAiNT EVILS, Th 9 dliance MONSTER PETITION is the one that EVERY PATRIOTIC CITIZEN SHOULD SUPPORTSIGN ST AND NO OTHER. Si