LET THE FACTS SPEAK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9695, 25 June 1917, Page 3

LET THE FACTS SPEAK

tTo the Editor "N.Z. Times.”) Sir,—Your anonymous correspondents are evidently lilleu with disdain at the temerity of the folk who are asking that the retail hours for liquor. selling should be tho same as other retail businesses have to observe. » There are others, and their numoer is growing, who advocate that the examination of tho facts, implies ’a far more drastic course. Thus the provincial delegates of the Auckland Farmers’ Union added to what may be called tho alliance programme, and carried an extended demand with only one dissentient. The Feilding Chamber of Commerce endorsed six o'clock closing with unanimity but without enthusiasm. Its president stated the logical war time restriction was prohibition. Sir John Findlay had no hesitation in calling the majority of tho members, of the National Government) pro and frankJy ster.es that if they again block the demand for restriction they should get out. The Acting-Prime Minister, idn receiving six o’clock closing petitions from his constitutents, told them the proposal didn’t go far enough. Surely it is futile to attempt to dismiss such a persistent demand by- calling names. There must be some reason behind such a movement. If it is to be countered with success it can only be done by submitting weightier reasons against, it. Nor is the cry for increased restriction confined to this Dominion. Before the war liquor sellers in Scotland could not do business before 10 a.m. In Norway and Canada bars were compelled to close from shortly after noon on Saturday till Monday morning. Denmark, Holland, and France had applied total prohibition to at least some of their colonial possessions. Great areas in Canada and tho United States were under prohibitory laws. Lient.-General Hart was tort,ctelling the number of years when the wet canteens would be abolished from the British Army by the desire of ■the soldiers. Lord Charles Bcresford affirmed in the House of Commons that if. the Admiralty would, give the sailors a penny per day in lieu of rum, .half the men of tho pavy would take the penny. The Admiralty refused bfcause the cost would be too great. The rapid progress of liquor restriction before the war has been so quickly multiplied since that it is hard to keep pace with the rapidity of the social revolution. In the .first days of the war the "English Brewers’ Gazette” said the trade would hare to make sacrifices. Yankep distillers offered to give up distilling if the president desired them to. What is the explanation? Surely it is of vital importance to learn the facts. We want no dissipation of national energy. If New Zealand’s expenditure of over four million pounds per year on alcohol is. a dissipation of energy, then there is only one course for patriots. We do violence to judgment if we fail to investigate and give a verdict in accordance with the evidence. —I am, etc., H. P. FRENCH. Waipukurau.