RETURN OF CONFIDENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22098, 2 May 1935, Page 8

RETURN OF CONFIDENCE

CONDITIONS IN AMERICA .VIEWS OF VISITING DOCTOR President Roosevelt had made some big mistakes, but many things about!; his N.R.A. campaign were excellent and had helped the United States of America, said Dr. Perry Swart, a retired medical practitioner, of Beverjy Hills, California, who arrived at Wellington by the Maunganui. Partly because of the N.R.A., and partly because of a general return of confidence, conditions in America were greatly improved,' and the people felt that they were well on the way to recovery, added Dr. Swart. The United States were not a,s badly harassed by gangsters as waa generally thought, Dr. Swart uaid. In most places the citizens were like people anywhere else, and the police force was very efficient. The repeal of Prohibition had helped to improve conditions and the majority of Americans were giad that a change had been made "There was far too much bootlegging of dreadful stuff," Dr. Swart said. "Unfortunately there is still a little of that going on. It is difficult to stamp it out all at once." The United States were trying to devise some sane method of liquor control, Dr. Swart said, and there was a large body of opinion in favour of the Canadian State control system. Everyone was unanimous that the old closed saloon should not return, and where there were saloons they were ofi the lines of the German beer gardens. Under, the circumstances thpre had been very little evidence of drunkenness in America after the repeal.