PROHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12285, 3 November 1925, Page 7

PROHIBITION

MR ISITT AT THE TOWN HALL THE MODERATE LEAGUE ATTACKED “NO HALF MEASURES POSSIBLE” A crowded meeting greeted Mr L. leitt ot the Town Hail last evening, when he delivered 1 art address pn the prohibition question., Commissioner Hoggard, of the Salvation Army, presided, and there were on the platform Gaptain K. 11. Nimmo, and Messrs W.' D. Hunt, A. R Atkinson, Q. SI. Luke, and A. Leigh Hunt. The Rev. T. E, Harry, president of the Wellington Area N.Z.A., who opened tlm meeting, stated that after a trip-through New Zealand he -was more fully convinoed than ever that the cause was going to win out. There was a big revulsion of feeling against tho drinlc traffic, and this was brought about to a certain extent by the tactics adopted by the liquor sellers. “A prominent brewer had boasted recently," said the speaker, "that the liquor interests would win the day, because they had taught the gtrla of the cowntry to drink. (Cries oi shame I") "Now it always seems a mystery to me," continued the Rev. Harry, "wiiy every working man in the community does not vote for prohibition. He sees his wages go every week to swell the profits of the liquor traders, and why, for his own sake, ne does not wipo it out, is beyond me." "I believe," he proceeded, "that the liquor trade will lose because they have adopted tactics of lying. They have lied concerning America. They say that the prisons in America are full, but they fail to explain that there are two kinds of Government in AmericaState end Federal, They do not explain that while the Federal prisons are full of bootleggers, the State prisons are empty of ordinary criminals.' (Ap. plause.) Dealing with a . statement which had appeared in the Press under the auspices of the liquor trade concerning a statement purporting to have emanated from the Teachers' Institute, this he characterised as an unqualified lie, and stated that the report had been officially denied by the institute.

mr rstyrs aadpress “MANY-ENEMIES, BUT SOME FREEND3."

Mr L. M. Isitt, who was greeted with prolonged applause and cheers, stated that if his habit of speaking out his mind, had made him many enemies be was glad to see that he still had some friends. He opened with a strong condemnation of the Moderate League, which, he stated, had undergone so many kaleidoscopic changes that it was difficult to follow them. But always at the back of it—whether it was called the Moderate League, the Liberty League, or the Licensing Reform Party—there was always Mr R. A. Armstrong. "My opinion of the' Licensing Reform - League," said tho speaker, "is that this organisation is the shallowest fraud, the most "patent trap .ever set to capture gulls, that I have ever heard of. Where does the money for the organisation of tho league come from? We know that the meeting in Christchurch cost over £200; the meeting in Wellington must have cost ae much. Does this come from the few people who attend these meetings? No! It comes from the liquor trade organisations !" (Applause;)

'Proceeding, Mr Isitt dealt at length with the connection of the Rev. Gordon Bell with the Moderate League, and stated that that gentleman knew thor-

oughiy well that the brewers were putting up the money to carry on the organisation. . "What is the special mission," he asked, "on which Mr W._ Perry and Mr Armstrong are touring the Dominion? Is it not in the interests of Corporate Control? In the two Chnstohuroh papers there were 82 imehes of advertising matter and in all that length ehuroh papers there were 82 inches of ing with corporate control."

A "PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL LEfTER

"I have here," he proceeded, a letter from Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C.—a letter which does more credit to the cunning of Mr Skerrett than to his honesty of purpose. The purport of this letter, which was marked ‘private and confidential,' to the corporate clubs of New Zealand, was to the effect 1 that the members should vote State control: not that there was any chance of getting State control, hut merely that such a vote would influence the Legislature and enable the clubs to get what legislation they wanted in regard to liquor regulations. What is the result of this letter?" Mr Isitt asked. “Does it not mean that at no time from 1 ’ now on will tho people believe in State control, for no matter hpw many votes are cast for it, we know that it is only done at tho bidding of Mr Skerrett for the purpose of securing licensing regulations for the incorporated clubs."

THE FIGHT FOR REFORM Dealing with the question of the regulation of tho drink traffic, Mr Isitt stated that .no measure of reform had ever been put on thß Statute Book,, but the Prohibition Party had fought for it and got it against, the determined opposition of the liquor interests. (Applause.) Mr W. Perry had gibed at the party, and asked what -they had done to reform the liquor traffic. If, Mr Isitt stated, they ,Imd not for some time urged tho bringing in of fresh legislation, it was because they had recognised that the parties were so evenly balanced in the House that neither party could bring in anything with a hope of success. While the Prohibition Party could not hope to succeed, they could prevent the other side from doing so, and. he wished to state, emphatically that it was through the 'efforts of the party that the present restrictive legislation had been maintained.

Mr Perry had stated that no law should be - placed .on the Statute Book that did not meet with the support of the whole of the people—an argument which was. ridiculous in law as in com. mon sense. Would Mr Perry, the speakei asked, consider that drugs should be sold openly? The contention of t)ie Prohibition party was that the drink traffic should be restricted just as the sale of drugs was- restricted. Were the regulations concerning drugs not prohibition? He contended* that they were, .and what the Prohibition Party asked was that- the dangerous drug of alcohol should be prohibited just as were other and more dangerous ones. (Applause.) THE WOLF AND THE LAMB

The main purpose of his address tonight (continued Mr Isitt) was to deal with the Moderate League. In the first place, he objected to its origin. In the second he did not believe that it would do any good. He did ' not • bejfeve that it was possible to turn a ravening wolf into n wpojly lamb. Before the Rev. Gordon Bell was born ho was working for the happiness of the people of the country and to combat the curse of drink. The Prohibition Party had tried to save the drunkards, and had found that the only way to do so was tp do awdy with the drunkard-makers. It was a lie to say that the'Prohibition Party had not done all it could to reform the liquor traffic. They had. But It was found impossible to do anything definite, and the only thing to do was to wipe it out. (Applause.) Jt was ridiculous to ask the police to control the liquor traffic. Far from doing that, the liquor traffic controlled the police. It controlled the politicians of the country, and it controlled the Press. He contended that the Moderate League was fathered by Mr Bankart, one of the most prominent brewers of the Domlnidn, and stated that Corporate Control would do nothing to lessen the drink evil.

In conclusion, the speaker made an appeal to audience for the support of the Prohibition cause at the coming election, and stated that the sacrifice of something in the interests of humanity was the highest expression of Christianity. The sacrifice of the satisfaction to be got from drink by the l moderate drinker was the way to extinguish the liqudr traffic,—-(Extended report, pub* lished by arrangement.)