LICENSING QUESTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 288, 9 November 1925, Page 2

LICENSING QUESTION

STATE CONTROL ISSUE.

INCREASE IN THE VOTE. Mr D. M. Findlay, president of the Moderate League and vice-president of the Licensing Reform Association, discussing the voting at the poll on the liquor question last week, said that it was a matter of great gratification to the moderate section of the community that, in spite of very adverse conditions affecting the State control issue as it now stood on the ballot paper, so large an increase had taken place in its supporting vote. That was the outstanding feature of the poll. The New Zealand Moderate League, as a component part of the Licensing Reform Association, had made its appeal for the third issue as a means of expressing the demand for reform, and they were, gratified at the response of the electors, as shown by the results. The generous support accorded gave renewed encouragement to continue the efforts of the Licensing Reform Association to induce Parliament to move in the direction of sane reform, and should: act as a stimulus to Parliament to deal promptly and fearlessly with the problem. There could be no doubt that this was the wish of the gi-eat moderate section of the community.

(Per Press Association. ) . CHRISTCHURCH Nov. 6. Replying to Mr D. M. Findlay on the licensing question, Mr L. M. Isitt says: “Mr Findlay informs the people of New Zealand that the Moderate League as a component part of the Licensing Reform Association had made its appeal for the third issue as a means of expressing the demand for reform and they are gratified at the response of the electors. The real fact is that Mr C. P. Skerrett, Iv.C., sent a circular headed “private and confidential” to all members of associated clubs, the purport of which was to urge thcih, whether they believed in State control or not, to vote for it. It could not be carried. The vote counted against prohibition, and if a large vote was given for the third issue legislators would be more likely to give the clubs the liquor legislation they desired. Probably Mr Skerrett was not the only one giving this advice. I claim that the ‘slim’ action robs the State control vote of all valuo as ah indication of the electors’ desire for the third issue. Its added strength is due to the switching over of continuance votes for the purpose stated.”

MR FINDLAY’S REPLY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Mr D. M. Findlay, president of the New Zealand Moderate League, in reply to Mr L. M. Isitt, states that Mr Isitt, who has always denounced the iniquity of the third, issue as reducing the prohibition vote, now appears to agree that the State control voter was distinctly voting for another and better form of licensing, but in the New Zealand Alliance statement appearing simultaneously it claims that the 52,572 votes recorded for State control must bo counted against continuance. “They cannot have it both ( ways,” added Mr Findlay. “As a matter of fact, the increase in the middle issue vote cannot bo construed in any other way than as a declaration for the reform of the licensing system. It would appear, however, that the Alliance is out to place every obstaclo in the way of reform. So far as Mr Isitt is concerned, the public now knows how to value the opinion of a gentleman who has the audacity to accuse a man standing in such high reputo as Mr Charles Skerrett, K.C., of slim tactics.”

PROHIBITION IN AMERICA. REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. NEW YORK, Nov. 7. Representative Hudson, chairman of the Congressional committee which investigated the enforcement of the Volstead law, through a thousand questionaires sent out to Eederal and State officials, social welfare organisations and leaders of industrial and commercial life, outlined the findings of the committee before the meeting of the Anti-Saloon League at Chicago. He said the legal distribution of whisky had diminished, there now being 23 States where physicians could not legally prescribe liquor. There was, however, a leakage of approximately 6,000,000 gallons of denatured alcohol into bootleg channels. The'production of alcohol had grown tremendously since the advent of prohibition, the increase being from 100,000,000 gallons in 1920 to 136,000,000 gallons in 1924. The great weakness of the enforcement of the eighteenth amendment was the lack of adequate penalties, the fines imposed operating virtually like tho license law.

The questionaires almost unanimously regarded the benefits of prohibition as including: (1) Decrease of pauperism; (2) increase of homo ownership ; (3) increase of life insurance. There was a divergence of opinions regarding the death rate from alcohol, but the questionaires believe a million lives have been saved in which prohibition was d large contributing factor.

The Canadian license-vending system was declared to'bo unsatisfactory. Representative Hudson, concluding, said the popular will which had compelled a remarkably rapid ratification of the eighteenth amendment' was probably less clear-spoken to-day, but it was stronger than ever of the opinion that prohibition was the ultimate merthod fof dealing with the liquor traffic.—A. and N.Z. cable.

PROHIBITION’S RECORD VOTE

ANALYSIS BY REV. RUGBY PRATT. Reference te tho recent prohibition poll was made by Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt at St. Paul’s Methodist Church yesterday morning. The temperance forces, he stated, had flung their energies without restraint into a battle for a great cause, but the fruits of victory, although not victory itself, had gone to the liquor traffic. The verdict of the people had not given the reform that was sought, and in the face of that disappointment some people were depressed. Many newspapers spoke of the defeat of prohibition and said that continuance was carried. The . presi-

dent of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association had asserted that the tide had definitely turned against prohibition, but the facts were that prohibition had polled a majority of 22,471 over continuance, and tho vote for the former, namely, 301,064, was the highest point it had'yet attained. Continuance had polled only 278,593 votes, and was in a minority of 22,471, but becauso New Zealand’s laws macto a free gift of Stato purchase votes "to the liquor trade, no proposal at all was carried, and a traffic that the voters condemned still carried on. Tho “trade” was welcome to the gratification that it drew from the circumstances that, being condemned, it escaped execution for the time being. Tho figures mado both history and prophecy, and tho vaunted “success” of the trade was a hollow pretence. The liquor trade might exult in its escape and light the festive lamps to deceive tho unthinking, but plainly its doom was sealed. It would continue to swell its dividends, but by every principle of Divine accountancy such wealth involved veritablo moral bankruptcy. It was wealth won by the wreckage of homes, the breakage of hearts and the despoiling of the lives of innocent children. It was wealth won by kicking downward many a man who was struggling upward, and by launching on tho sea of wretchedness many a life that would drift to the shores of despair. The advocates of prohibition took the result of the poll without a whine and felt no bitterness ao failure. They were foiled, but were moving nearer to triumph. This disappointment was only victory in tho making. The period of reverse was only the period of gathering strength. Theirs was a high failure that “overleaped the bounds of low success.” The speaker urged all to renew the fight. It was' necessary to fight on and fight fair until drink-ruined men had a chance of retrieval, until the glistening tears were wiped from tho cheeks of haggard women, and until music was set singing in the heart of every child who wails to-day in drink-caused woe.

THE TRADE’S RESPONSIBILITY.

Whilst it was true they had not won a victory at tho polls, said Mr H. E. Grinstead, local area secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, when, speaking at the Church of Christ yesterday, they had won shortly before the poll the biggest victory on record in the statement of the educationists of New Zealand that liquor traffic was a menace to education. That was the sort of victory New Zealand needed. “Let our children bo brought up to hate the drinking of alcohol and the future carrying of prohibition will be a law that will stand.” It was true the prohibition party had a right to expect a vote that would have put the licensed trade out, but the vote on the middle issue, if it was sincere—and he believed that in many cases it was—meant that a growing body of men and women were determined that the trade should face the music whether prohibition were carried or not. It was, of course, disappointing to his party to see votes from prohibition cast for State purchase and control.