THE PROHIBITION POLL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18066, 5 April 1919, Page 10

THE PROHIBITION POLL.

What about the revenueP How is the million pounds at present received irdm the liquor traffic to be made up. and where are we to get the £250,000 annual payment involved in the £4,500,000 to be paid in order in secure immediate Prohibition? The answer is Bimple. Five million pounds was the amount of last year’s Hwink bill. If diverted into legitimate trade channels this sum will, on the accepted method Of calculation, produce £780,000. The saving in the annual cost of 1 prisons, police, charitable aid. etc., will be at least £BIO 000. The loss would thus the £1,250,000; but the gain would be £1.590,000, even without taking into account the admitted fact that the indirect cost of the liquor traffic is at least equal to the direct cost. Add to this the gain in production from increased efficiency and every patriotic New Zealander must come to fche con- > elusion that there is only one course for him to follow on Thursday, Anri! 10—strike out the top line! 41 . ] r