A “WETTER” WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20355, 12 March 1928, Page 2

A “WETTER” WORLD.

PROHIBITION FAILURES. AGREEMENT ABOUT THE COST. BOOTLEG LIQUOR IN RUSSIA. (From Odb Own Correspondent^) LONDON, January 17. • The Right Hon. Sir William Bull, P.C., M.P., in a letter which has appeared all over the Mother Country, has made some remarkable statements on the subject of Prohibition A few years ago (writes this wellknown citizen of Loudon), “dry” enthusiasts issued maps which showed an impressive part of the world labelled Prohibition. To-day there are only two Prohibitionist countries in the world— America and Finland—for the “ dry ” cavise had further setbacks during 1927. Here are some instances. Canada, which was at one time all “ dry.” now has but one Prohibitionist province— Nova Scotia. Last June Ontario reverted to “ wet ” by abandoning Prohibition for State control ,f liquor. So far as the British Isles are concerned, Stornoway, after being “ dry ” for six years, became “ wet ”in May. In tho same month Norway followed suit, resuming the sale of spirits, which had been discontinued in 1916. The Danish Royal Commission, which had for thirteen years been inquiring into various aspects of the liquor problem, presented a final report, to the effect that the introduction of Prohibition would be an unwarrantable interference with individual liberty. Turkey, Prohibitionist from 1921 on, has just gone into the distillery business as a manufacturer of an "alcoholic concoction called “the people’s raki.” . . Bhopel which supported the British during the Indian Mutiny and is tiie most important Mohammedan State in India, has abandoned Prohibition after five years’ experience. In Madras and Bombay, futile attempts have been made to introduce a “ dry ” regime. On the 15th of this month American Prohibition enters into its ninth year, and the “wets” and the “ drys agree that it has cost more in money and morals than the enforcement of any other Federal legislation. STARTLING STORY FROM RUSSIA. M. Kisilof, chief of the all-Rnssian Federal police, tells to the world a startling story of the ravages caused by Samo-gan-bootleg liquor in that country His statement, as given by the Moscow correspondent of the Morning Post, reads : _ “ Despite the seizure of 17,609 stills in the first half of 1927 and an even greater number in the last six Samoganbootleg liquor is going ahead in the villages, with an accompanying increase of arson, hooliganism, murder, and rape. “ In 1927 there wore 24,543 convictions of hooliganism in cities and 75,752 in villages, all directly due to Samogan. For the new drive which we are beginning to put down this evil, village executive committees will be empowered to impose a fine of 25 roubles, with a fortnight’s forced labour; city executives, 100 roubles with one month. *• The population will be given a time limit to surrender stills and denounce their neighbours. The discovery of a single bottle will be sufficient to obtain a conviction.” CELEBRATED IN WHISKY. To what a degree Russian country life is now saturated by Samogan is shown by the following facts : 1. In many regions, notably Tambof (tho Blackearth grain belt), ibhe police have been allowing peasants openly to brew this moonlight whisky, for th e chief religious festivals—Christmas, St. Nich6las, Easter, etc.—and for weddings, thus creating' a 'privileged tax-dodging class, somewhat like the French Bouilleure de Cru. 2. According to Comrade B. E. Trotzky (no relation of the long-suffering Leo), director of the Soviet Podka Monopoly, at least 90,OGO,OCOga] of illicit spirits is being distilled annually from 700,(300 tons of grain, worth 150,000,000 roubles. A PROHIBITION FARCE. It is related by the Washington correspondent of the London Morning Post that when the Volstead law was passed the appointment of agents to enforce prohibition was left to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of Prohibition, the consequence being that agents were appointed on the recommendation of members of Congress and other politicians solely as a reward for political services. The correspondent continues:— Many of the men selected were quite unfit for their places; they were without character, almost illiterate, some were former criminals, others saw opportunities for unlimited graft and became rich by bribery and protecting bootleggers. It was the agents that discredited the service and aroused sentiment against Prohibition, for among them were men who used their pistols freely, made false arrests, and raided premises in revenge or because they had not been squared. With the growing revolt against Prohibition, Congress last year provided in future that all Prohibition agents should be appointed subject to a civil service examination and after investigation as to their moral standing. Men already in the service were also required to take the test. “ UNEDUCATED.” Within a few days the first examination was held, resulting in three-quarters of the candidates being plucked by the examiners, their percentages being disgracefully low, and revealing that the men were unintelligent, ignorant of their d-.ties, and practically uneducated. In their defence the men assert that the examination was impractical and scholastic, but the Civil Service Commission has made public the questions, which show they were practical, and dealt solely with the duties required of a Prohibition agent. The Prohibition unit has come to the defence of its men, and a “ Dry ” Senator has introduced a Bill to retain in service all agents who have been employed for more than a year, and whoso work has been satisfactory to their superior.