Page 6 Advertisements Column 2

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 6

A PROHIBITION CATECHISM. 1 PROHIBITION AND TAXATION. Statements on this question appeared ia tie last two issues of this paper. Continuing these statements:— Q.-WHAT, THEN, IS PROBABLE NET RESULT OF PROHIBITION TO THE COUNTRY'S FINANCES Answer.— On basis of 5 per cent, increased efficiencyGains will be .. .. £2,370,000 Losses will be .. .. £1,250,000 Net Gain through Prohibition £1,120.000 If increased efficiency is 10 per cont. it will add to this another 5 per cent., or £780,000 Making Net Gain .. .. £1,900,000 If American Esttimal© of 21 per cent, increased efficiency is attained it will add to the revenue another £1,716,000 Bringing the total gain to .. £3,616,000 Q.-IS THIS THE ONLY FINANCIAL GAIN TO THE DOMINION? Answer.— The above only doala with the gain to State Revenues. The Stato now only takes £15 12s in every £100 of Production, the other £84 8s remains with tho people. The gain to tho people, therefore, would be immensely greater than the gain to tho National Revenue There is no doubt that Prohibition means a higher standard of living, a reduced coat of living and reduced taxation. It means moro production, higher incomes, and greater earning power for everybody. I requires no financial expert to see that if you increase the volume of production available for taxation you reduce tho rato of tax required to produce a given sum. and also the reduction in tho State expenditure that Prohibition will bring about, will still further reduce tho amount of taxation. STRIKE OUT THE TOP LINE ON THURSDAY, APRIL 10. A PROHIBITION CATECHISM. COMPENSATION TO LIQUOR TRADE. QUESTION: WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO PAY THIS? ANSWER: To' explan this it is necessary to go through the history,of Liquor legislation from the first National Poll on Prohibition provided in the Licensing Amendment Act of 1910. Under this Act ft 60 per cent, majority was required to carry National Prohibition— is, not less than three votes had to be cast for Prohibition for every two against it. Considering that thoso engaged in the Liquor Trade, and their friends and relations, would be included in the 40 per cent, who could retain liquor, it meant that in order to obtain Prohibition > three out of every four, and probably four out of every five DISINTERESTED VOTERS must voto for Prohibition, This handicap proved insurmountable. If National Prohibition wan carried, the "Trade" was to get compensation in the form of 45 years' extended trading rights— that is, Prohibition was not to como into force until 41 yearsr after the date of the poll that carried it. That was tho state of the law when the National Efficiency Board recommended IMMEDIATE PROHIBITION accompanied by Reasonable Compensation to the Trade. The National Efficiency Board's recommendation, therefore, merely substituted CASH COMPENSATION FOR TIME COMPENSATION. The next step in the history of the movement was the Licensing Amendment Act of last session. This provided for tho poll on April 10 on the question of NATIONAL CONTINUANCE Versus NATIONAL PRO- ' HIRITTON ACCOMPANIED BY COMPENSATION TO THE TRADE. This Compensation is LIMITED to 41 millions. In the event of Prohibition being defeated, the Act provides, for three issues at the next General Election. These issues are:— NATIONAL CONTINUANCE. NATIONAL OWNERSHIP. And NATIONAL PROHIBITION WITHOUT COMPENSATION. Each Elector can only vote for one issue. In order to win, Prohibition or National Ownership must got MORE VOTES TITAN THE OTHER TWO ISSUES COMBINED. Failing that. Continuanco wins. National Ownership means State purchase of the assets of the Trndn. Unlike compensation, which is LIMITED to 41 millions, the cost of State purchase is UNT.TWTKD unci might easily amount to FIFTEEN MILLIONS. The Licensing Act of lost session was tho result of the advocates of Prohibition pulling in ono direction and the Liquor Trade pulling in another, and gives the "Trade" a most unfair advantage in tho THREEISSUE POLL to bo held at next General Election if Prohibition is defeated on April 10. THE ONE GREAT CHANCE for Prohibition is the poll on April 10. There is little chance of gettine it at the next election. The three-issue handicap is as bad ns tho old three-fifths handicap. All who want Prohibition must vote for it on April 10. Failure to obtain Prohibition • on that day means probably postponing it until a now Act can be obtained, arid that may mean a delay of years. THEREFORE, STRIKE OUT THE TOP LINE ON THURSDAY. APRIL 10. ' i Further facts will appear in this space To-morrow. < NOTE.—If you require any information regarding Prohibition, or if there is any i question you would like answored, write or ' wire "Abolition." Box 95, GJE'.O., Wei- ( lington.