CONSTANT INCREASE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11650, 15 October 1923, Page 7

CONSTANT INCREASE

DRUNKENNESS IN AMERICA E<\i?OKOEMJSNT Ol' LAW IX SOME PARTS XON-EXISTEXT. SMUGGLING OVER-ESTIMATED. By Telegraph. —Press Assn. — Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Coble Association (Received October 15, 12.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 13. Mr Haynes, the Federal Prohibition Commissioner, addressing a conference of thousands of citizens representing the various organisations for the enforcement of the law. declared that if patriotic citizenship were co-ordinated in support of the enforcement of prohibition it would be progressively successful. The Rev. Mr Johnston declared that the withdrawal of liquors from bond had been greatly reduced, but the smuggling or liquors continued in largo amounts, though it was probably overestimated in the Press. Tt was impossible to estimate the extent of illicit manufacture, though in some sections of the country it was very large. There were strong indications that the industrial population was drinlring less than formerly. There had been a sharp drop in the amount cf drunkenness and alcoholism immediately after the adoption of prohibition, but since 1920 there had been a constant, significant increase, and the enforcement of law in some sections of the country was so inefficient that it meant virtual nullification.