PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17425, 20 September 1918, Page 8

PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN

address at mosgiel. C u' Cl T wintl ' y ni ° llfc no doubt was reponsiblo lor a small attendance in tho a f t,on to lle »r an adchess fiom. the Hon. Goo. Fowlds. The itev. L). balder presided, and introduced the Tw U ! e £' W , i° Wi - S , re , cciv ?d with applause, i-i. iu s . in a time ot stress like the present it behoved the nations to ascertain wherei any wastage existed or retarded efficiency. Alcoholic liquor made loi inefficiency, and the Efficiency -Board had recommended that provision should bo made by legislation for an early poll o£ the electors on the matter of having it abolished, •the United States had decreed that no more brewing be earned on after the end of this year, and total prohibition would be put in force after Juno next for at least the period ot the war. The liquor traffic was the yeHow dog" of industry. It had proved disastrous to our own nation, and also to that of our enemy. More success would have attended tho Marne conflict had it not been for the fact that the Gejman soldiers had drunk champagne too freely in the Champagne district. The rum rations of our own soldiers had caused greater casualties in the ranks, because they overstepped the distance in the excitement caused by alcohoL Such ill effect had alcohol on either individual or national efficiency that no one could make under any shape of form a defence of its use. Mr Fowlds condemned the compensation clause as a wicked thing, seeing that it compelled tho injured people to compensate those who had injured them. However, rather than lose the opportunity which now presented itself, the lemperance Party was willing that compensation should be paid to irid tho country of this menace to efficiency. Some objected to compensation because the liquor might bo introduced again; but, once away, no one would- ever vote for its restoration. As to tho cry of loss of revenue, the very opposite effect would be experienced. A large saving would be effected in hospital and charitable aid, upkeep of gaols asylums, etc. There was no extra taxation in Canada or the United States of America, and there would j>o none here; and in addition we would have a sober people. In Russia, in the early stages of the war, tho Czar abolished the national intoxicant vodka, and the savings of the poople readied £177,000,000 as against £6,000,000 for a like period before the drink had been abolished. The American Minister of Finance had stated that the efficiency of the worker had been increased .from 30 per cent, to 50 per cent, since liquor had been abolished. Canada's experience was that three of the principal gaols had been closed up altogether. In this connection he pointed out that there had been quite a phenomenal decrease in the short-term imprisonment in New Zeaand since 6 o'clock closing had been carried. The drink bill of New Zealand was stated at £4,500,000; but it really cost tho country twice that sum. He condemned tho proposed ballot paper of the Trade, which they asked should be submitted at next election. The Trade often said the No-license Party were not " sports." He asked were they sports themselves when they endeavoured to mislead the public under so many aliases as "The Sports Protection League," "The Moderate Party," and so on? Mr Fowlds dwelt at length on State control. What improvement would that make? None. It was not the seller who was doing the harm; it was the liquor. And oven under ecclesiastical control it had proved a failure. If the country was to prosper it must be rid of liquor. He specially appealed in the name of the boys to remove the temptation from our country. He implored his hearers to he a unified people and win through at this opportunity. A vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer, who _ was frequently applauded throughout his_ address. A collection was taken up in aid of campaign funds. . (Fbou Our Own Correspondent.) PALME RSTON, September 19. | In the Town Hall last Tuesday evening tho Hon. George Fowlds gave an address on the liquor question. The fact that the • evening was cold and threatening no doubt accounted largely for the smallness of the attendance.