THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18050, 25 September 1920, Page 13

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Could you kindly give space for a few lines by a famous humorist, one who is well known in this country on prohibition? The Cape Argus }ias published an interviow with ' Sir Harry Laudisr, in tho course of which he spok-a of his recent tour in America, which country, hs said, he had visited annually ifor tho last 12 or 13 years. Asked what were his impressions regarding prohibition in tho United States, the famous entertainer emphatically declared taat it*was a glorious success. He was of opinion that prohibition had conie "to stay in America, nnd that it would result in great good in every way. Already there was unmistakable evidence of this. "Even some of my oldest and olosest friends in America, men who arc competent to judge from their own experience," remarked Sir Harry, "agree that prohibition is a grand thing for the nation, and that it will confer an inestimable boon, on the country generally.—l ani, etc., J. R.

Sir, —Your report of tho liquor debato in Parliament, as recorded in the Daily Times, should make interesting reading to those advocates interested in our socalled prohibition movement. Wha-t is the meaning of prohibition, or the' good of it if the liquor can still be sent into prohibition areas, and use it without tie law and regulation of the licensed areas? Why not support license and the honesty of trading? Then, in a reoent report of your jouxnaL ro consumption of liquor for the paet year, the returns furnish an increase since the continuation of G o'clock closing, and we read daily of many .advocating a continuance of early closing and the reform of prohibition. The falla-cy of it all is very evident, and it would soc-m better to remove all restrictions and grant the people the right to honest trading-, and the country's finances the benefit of it. Wo may drive people very near a reform, but we cannot make them accept it, ag tho reports cf your journal have proved.—l am, etc I. S.