N.Z. TEN TIMES WORSE THAN U.S.A. FOR LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18016, 15 February 1922, Page 9

N.Z. TEN TIMES WORSE THAN U.S.A. FOR LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS.

(Published by Arrangement.)

We hear much about liquor lawlessness in tho United States. Wo have been told the Courts are glutted with liquor cases, and that the United States of America is the most lawless of nations with a stable government. The only satisfactory way to check these goneral statements is by official figures. In passing it may be said that liquor law cases are not " glutting" the Courts in the United States. Chief Justice Taft says they form only 8 per cent, of the cases. The Chief Prohibition Commissioner in tho U.S.A. recently published a report showing that during the year July 1, 1920, to June 30,' 1921, there wore 21,115 convictions for liquor law violations under the National Prohibition and Internal Revenue Acts. The population of the U.S.A. is roundly 105 millions. The liquou law violation convictions work out at 2.01 per ten thousand of population. In New Zealand during the year 1920, we had, for selling without a licenso, breaches by publicans, and' broaches by others of the licensing laws, convictions in the Magistrate's Courts, totalling 2703. Note, please, that this is exclusive of Maoris, and dees not include drunkenness or prohibition orders. Now, the population of the Dominion is roundly 1,250,000, and the licensing law convictions work out a>t 21.6 per ten thousand of population. This is over ten times the proportion in tho U.S.A. This comparison snows that there is in Now Zealand under license, more than ten times the liquor law violation that there is in the U.S.A. under prohibition. It may be said there is much violation in the U.S.A. that is not detected and brought to Court. Granted, so there is in New Zealand. The critical test is the recorded convictions, and they show the above result. Making every allowance, it seems clear that there is no ground for jeering at liquor law violations in the U.S.A. Prohibition prohibits better "than license regulates. 'Prohibition in New Zealand is worth a trial.—N.Z. Alliance Publicity.