LIQUOR AND LIBERTY

NZ Truth, Issue 701, 23 November 1918, Page 5

LIQUOR AND LIBERTY

] State Control the only Sound and Sure Solution The sparring preliminaries of the forthcoming liquor fight are over, and the two extreme factions are preparing to raise that tumult of recrimination and contradiction which, m the past, has been characterised by the frenzied utterances of irresponsible, "win-at-any-price" partisans, rather than by a definite indication that a solution of the problem has come appreciably nearer. When one casts his thoughts back to a review of the agitations that have, periodically, during rhe last two decades, been engineered by Prohibitionists, lie Is forced to the conclusion that no progress has beijh made m the direction of bringing public opinion into line with that of the hysterical kill-joys who would seek to PURITANISE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY for their own personal gratification and profit. Thousands and thousands' of pounds have been spent upon wowseristio propaganda— money that might well hava beon expended m feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or some other humanitarian work which these self-styled exponents of Christ* teachings seldom devote themselves to. All this hysterical argument and all this money have failed to convince the reasoning voter that the Prohibitionist has found the key to the situation. In spite of the multitudinous wiles and devices seized upon by the wowsers of New Zealand. 'to- stimulate interest m their viewa, and to bring their vaporings prominently before the public, things remain exactly where they were years ago. Any change of sentiment with regard to an alteration m the control and distribution of liquor, cannot be credited to the ranting s of Prohibitionists, but to "that gradually developing confidence m the advantages or" State ownership, which has become general, not only m New Zealand but throughout the democratic world. In their blundering blindness, the Prohibitionists have failed to appreciate the growing volume of this trend of the public mind, just, as they fail to practise the works of Him whom they profess to represent. In New Zealand, where public utilities have always been under the direct control of the State, it is only natural that the people SHOULD FAVOR STATE CONTROL of the liquor . business, seeing that ho solution of the problem has been approached after twenty years of agitation. Throughout the country there is an overwhelming desire that an opportunity -be given electors to express their opinion on State Control, and he would indeed be a case-hard-ened, purblind advocate of total prohibition, who would have the temerity to deny the granting of such an opportunity. In their so-called 2e&l, the Prohibitionists become autocrats of the most despicable type. Why is it that they oppose the placing of a State Control alternative on the referendum paper? If their cause is so popular, and if they are assured of a victory against all comers, what is there to fear? The Prohib. -wowser clique know full well that if the State Control lssu'e is placed fairly before the electors there will be only one horse m the race, and that the animal ridden by Gray and trained by Dawson shall have to be put out to grass for ever. The earlier minor "successes" of the Frohibs. have rebounded to their own hurt. In those districts where, thr-ough their efforts, hotels were voted out of existence, the drinking propensities of the inhabitants have not been curbed. Indeed, it is held that, m many instances, the quantity of liquor consumed is now m excess of what it was m the days of license. Yet the Prohibitionists themselves have told us, with damnable iteration and m word pictures that would have done credit to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, of the ideal conditions that obtain m these thirsty areas and of the prosperity ana progress that have conic upon them, DESPITE THE UNQUENCHABLE DROUGHT that absorbs so many thousands of gallons and thousands of pounds m money. If such ideal conditions are to be found m these thirsty, "dry" electorates, why should " they not flourish throughout the whole of the land under a strict and rigorous- system of State Control? Under such a system many of the avenues for the abuse of liquor which now exist m no-license* areas would be abolished, and even a more satisfactory state of affairs established. It is somewhat significant that the wowser propagandist has ceased to expatiate upon the virtues and prosperity of Invercargill and Masterton. Too well does he realise that these two towns offer the very best argument that the advocate of State Control can advance — hence he has dropped reference to them out of his repertory. The means that will be adopted to transfer the control of the liquor tz-affic from private to State ownership need not now be discussed; neither need there i be opened up, at this stage, a discus- ! sion as to the form of distribution the State will adopt. The voter is entitled to an opportunity to express his opinion as to whether the State should or should not assume control of a business, the destiny of which has caused, and is likely to cause for years to come, a wasteful EXPENDITURE OF THOUGHT AND MONEY. Jf a majority, declares for such a transfer, the details of its adoption -and conduct can be left for subsequent adjustment. All sorts of endeavors will be •made to side-track the public m order that bewilderment regarding the main point at issue might be promoted. The questions as to whether the Government will buy out the entire trade — lock, stock and barrel — breweries and hotels, at present-day valuation; whether the Government should wipe out the trade and make a fresh start on its own account; whether distribution should be on the lines of that which now exists or limited to the opening of depots for supply but wherein consumption of liquor is prohibited — these and various other side-issues will be raised so that the main point may be obscured. But the elector must refuse to be side-tracked. Once he votes State Control the various methods of its adoption will be placed clearly before him, and by disinterested parties.^ m such a way as to enable him to de-* ; cide for himself the most serviceable and practical methods of its employment. Until the broad principle of State Control has been decided upon no attempt to cloud his conviction should be tolerated. The attempt wijl, undoubtedly, be made and he should guard against it.