PROHIBITION IN CANADA

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11733, 22 January 1924, Page 5

PROHIBITION IN CANADA

STATE CONTROL FAVOURED “QUEBEC SYSTEM FURNISHED AN OBJECT LESSON.” REFERENDUM SUGGESTED, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received January 21, 9.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 20. The “Now York Times” Quebec correspondent says Canadian sentiment is moving from prohibition to Government control and the regulation of tho liquor traffic similarly to the Quebeo system, which after three years’ operation has furnished an object-lesson. Observers believe that a dominion-wide referendum would approve of the Quebec system, which showed 3500 dollars profit in 1923 on 20 million dollars of sales of liquors, while the dominion derived five million dollars taxes from the transactions. LIQUOR TRAFFIC EVILS REDUCED. The Quebec system, moreover, has public approval. It reduced inebriety, and generally curbed tho ancient evils of the liquor traffic. The opponents allege with considerable truth that Quebec’s largo liquor sales and profits are due to the United States boot-: legger traffic, which derives the supply therefrom, but candid observers point out the rather moral benefits of the system, and allege that even bone-dry Ontario would adopt it in the event cf a popular poll.