STATE CONTROL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18116, 5 June 1919, Page 5

STATE CONTROL.

' i. . - THE POLICY AND THE ACT. MR WIGRAM REPLIES TO SIR „ FRANCIS .BELL. . to THE EDITOR. ■ Sir,—l have again to thank -Sir Francis Bell for his courtesy in replying to my letter. There are two points oqjy to which I need refer. In mentioning the fifty-five breweries I expressly stated that I referred to them only by way of illustration. The State would have to purchase a miscellaneous collection of hotels and accommodation houses with their furniture and fittings.' There are, I behove, nearly twelve hundred of them, ranging from tne first-class hotels in the cities to tlie smallest accommodation house in tne bade blocks. I still believe that it would be cheaper in the long run for tho (State .to pay\ the compensation, which it must be ’remembered is cm finitely limited to four and a half million, rather tliun face the unknown expense of purchase, plus the cost 01 management and realisation of the numerous properties which could not be kept open except at a loss. Bir 1) raneis fears the brewers would benefit if paid compensation and allowed to retain tlieir properties. Would they not benefit much more under the proposal in tlie Act, that they should be bought out at full value P The other point is Sir Francis’s curious reference to Section 67 (h), (prohibiting private profit from the manu-’ fact lire or sale of liquor), which, he pays “contains the answer to Mr Wigram’s question about chartered clubs-” I should have thought that Section 67 (b|, (which prohibits the sale by anyone except the Controller), was more apposite, as it seems definitely to bar the renewal of tho club charters; but neither of these sections helps to tell whether, and on what terras, liquor will be allowed to bo sold in the chartered clubs, - I asked other questions, but the answer is the same. Sir Francis very frankly says that he does not know. I now retire from this correspondence, having elicited the solitary fact that the Government has no defined plan for-the administration of State Control. If I am again rash enough to enter your columns it may be to make certain suggestions of the lines on which 1 think. State Control might be made effective and beneficial, but I am we’ n"' ,,r o of the opportunity a constructive pol’ey would give to the critics. Again thanking Sir Francis Bell fo the unvarying courtesy with which h has replied to me.—l am, etc., \ HENRY F. 'WIGRAM. Christchurch, June 4. THE FOSIITON IN AMERICA. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, I did- not intend to butt into this argument, but your correspondent F.Arnutage in this morning’s “ Times ” reiterates more misleading information. Alter consigning all liquor reforms to the dogs, he winds up by stating, and asking your readers to believe, that the United States of America are so fond of prohibition that two-thirds of the States in. the Union halve voted for prohibition. It is quite oorrect to state that two-thirda of the States through their Legislative Assemblies have voted in favour of prohibition, but that does not - mean that the people in any of these States have decided that issue. Far from it.. Aa a matter of fact, very few' of the States have had an opportunity to vote, on the question. I can .best illustrate my argument by stating that this present Government in New Ze&land passed an Act known as the Conscription Act, but the people of New . Zealand had no voice in the matter, as the members, of the Parliament were not elected on that issue.- I may add I am not disputing the wisdom or otherwise of the New Zealand Government in adopting that Act, but it is on a parallel 1 with the various States in the Union who-have voted for prohibition without submitting the 'question to a referendum vote. The latest news that I have from America on the question shows that the, Anti-Prohibition League are going to dispute the amendment to the Constitution inaking America dry. And, as a matter of fact, they have filed a stay of proceedings in the Supreme Court on the grounds that it is illegal to the present Constitution of the United States, and secondly, an amendment to the Constitution of the United States must be ratified by two-thirds of the States in the Union by a referendum vote of the people on the question at issue.' This, of. course, has not been complied with, and there does not seem much hope for‘the prohibitionists yet ip Uncle Sam’s country. A significant cable message the other day stated that- President Wilson had urged the Senate to pass a measure enabling light wines and beers to be sold. -Your correspondent, along with, I suppose, the majority of prohibitionists in New Zealand, refuses to see that the people -of New Zealand do not want total ■ prohibition, and the prohibitionists adopt a dog-in-the-manger policy: “If we can’t get prohibition, we will have nothing.” “ Facts are chiels that ‘winna ding,” but Burns also states, “Oh, wad some power the giftie gie us to see eorsels as ithers see us.” Re■prfessive legislation is no remedy, and if .the prohibitionists believe their own ■ arguments, then by moral suasion and efflux of time the pubs will gradually die out for want of custom. Personally, I have no panacea for the liquor trade. lam against prohibition and I don’t like State control, and vet : ono cannot shut one’s eyes to the fact that an alteration to the present system in vogue is needed. I would prefer the Government' in power to bring down drastic legislation to alter and better - control the hotels. For one thins, all sales of ardent spirits,. such as whisky and brandy and other strong liquors, Leonid be prohibited in the open bar, and only light wines and a light beer allowed to be sold. The laser beer in general demand in the United States is a palatable and very light beer, and I am certain would be verv much better than the stuff now brewed in New Zealand. Tlie hours for sale of beer and s wine in the open bar could be further curtailed. • In any case, the peonle of New Zealand, do not want prohibition, and :f the prohibitionists have any gumption they should act with tho*© who want to alter the existing state of affairs without bringing in total prohibition—l am, etc., ' : VIN ROUGE. : June 3.