LIQUOR TRADE PURCHASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16895, 6 July 1918, Page 6

LIQUOR TRADE PURCHASE

ii> . ji|3| COST OF COMPENSATION. % ''If i ESTIMATE OF £4,500,000. "i [BY TELEGRAPH-— rpE« ASSOCIATION'.] *| WELLINGTON. Fr'day. ; Publication- of the amount considered by ••.. tho National Efficiency Board as suftiiieifl for the State purchase of (lie liquoi raffle ! )a , been authorised. The board assesses i the compensation as £4.500.000. The memorandum submitted by (he Notiom) Efficiency Beard to tW Government w July, 1917, contained the h!,o*:ng I recommendation? .— , v YWTO & national efliViVncy point of r:«r I the board is cnivin-rd that ;t w.mM he i beneficial to the nation and conduce to th well-being ol the P eo,\e that the noLortation, manufctUn: and sale o! « j.ei, I beer and spirituous liquois-incluaiiig (medicinal preparations containing; a Cohol ! -should be prohibited. This view is supi ported liv lesu'.ts obtained in our own : country under conditional oh. bit .on, and ' ihi. experience is coi.ti.mfcd whether prohibHK.ii has operated. It wou.U lie necesnn lu exempt i«.cll.yiaUd alcohol or commercial purposes, ,nd pure alcoiiu. for che.n.i-al or medicinal requirements. The board finds that the two chief factors in the continuance of the liquor trade are public custom and the financial mterests involved. The b.,aid ,s satisfied that the greatest efficiency would be attained both for the nation and the individual bv a state of complete prohibition, but the "board recognises that prohibition is a people's question, and shou.d be determined only by an expression of the voice of the people. It there:ore recommends that legislation be passed submilting the question of national prohibition to a vote of the people at the earliest i possible moment, and that such vole shou'd be upon the bas.s of immediate prohibition accompanied by reasonable compensation to the interests affected. Anv compensation paid to those engaged in the liouor trade would for the greater part remain, and be invested within the Dominion, and thus be used for production and trade. . The board is of opinion it will be found that no compensation need be given to individual employees, as all male and female employees could be absorbed in other occupations. In its judgment, all interests having been considered, the parties to be compensated are represented • bv the breweries, wholesale and retail licensed vendors, vignerons and winemanufacturers, hopgrowcrs, and the owners of properties to which a retail license is attached. The amounts to be paid by way of compensation need not necessarily be found in cash, but, the board suggests, mir,ht bo paid in Government securities bearing the : same rate of interest and with the same rato of currency as the war-bain deben- ; tures. : The board is satisfied that compensation b?/?ed on the foregoing lines would j be a sound investment tor the State, and that the cost would be recouped by increased national efficiency. The board judges the present public sentiment to be such that the people of the Dominion would approve of the opportunity being afforded them of voting upon this question.