LIQUOR POLL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20959, 24 February 1930, Page 2

LIQUOR POLL.

■ VICTORIA'S TURN NEXT.

(From Odb Own 1 Correspondent.)

; „ SYDNEY, February 13. Money is said to be scarce in Australia. A visitor to Victoria would be excused for believing that statements to that effect are a little exaggerated, for the State is in the midst* of a prohibition campaign, and both 1 sides are spending money like water—as both sides invariably do on such an issue. And as the poll will not be taken until March 29 there is ample time for the spending of a whole lot more money, and the printing firms and the newspapers must look with joy on the possibilities.

So far there has not been much bitterness in the campaign, but that is sure to develop within the next few months, aa the prohibitionists make claims which will be refuted by the other side, and vice versa. All sorts of extravagant claims are being made, and the parties are bound, to , clash, in a wordy warfare before very long. Public meetings, too, have been planned, particularly by the prohibitionist party, while .the liquor interests are relying on the value of newspaper appeals and other written publicity. The prohibition alliance has already been attacked for dropping the use of the word prohibition in their reference to the campaign, and the substitution of the term “State-wide Local Option Campaign,” and it is asserted that it knows yery well that the term is distasteful to the people of Australia. However, the issue will be: " That licenses be abolished,” and it is said that that can mean nothing if it does not mean complete prohibition. ' ,

, There seems to be no doubt that if the issue is carried the sale of liquor will be entirely forbidden, and questions are being asked how Victoria will be able to enforce the decree with Hie wet States of New South Wales and South Australia at its borders. In, this connection, of course, the experience of the United States has been given' much prominence. The .cost of enforcing prohibition there has been made much of, and estimates have been prepared by interested parties as to the cost of encomplete prohibition in Victoria. A fabulous sum has been mentioned by the liquor interests, and the prohibitionists have retorted with the remark that no sum would be too great l to achieve the great purpose for which they are fighting. The prohibitionists draw pictures of Victoria without licenses as the most State in Australia and,say in effect that liquor is at the bottom of all existing evils. The moderate section of the % community, which would retain licenses, clairps that Australia has already made sane progress ' ;in temperance reform, and say that this is particularly the case in Victoria. It is pointed out that the restrictions on, intemperance have been systematically developed during the last few years, and have given- results notable enough to indicate that the community is already on the right, track, and may safely travel along it much further. In 1007, when the compulsory reduction of licenses was begun, there were 3507 hotels, or one hotel for every 300 persons. In 1928 there were 1828 hotels, or one hotel for every 970 persons. Other' licenses were reduced in much the same proportion.* In 1907 the number of persons arrested t i^™ 6 ? 31083 was 8 - &3 Per thousand, in 1927 the proportion was 4.47 per thousand, and it is believed that the proportion has been furiner reduced since then. The consumption of spirits per head 1 -in Victoria fell from ,69 gallons per head in 1913 to .29 gallons per head in 1928;- and the consumption of beer from 14.04 gallons per . head to 13.47 gallons. lu the light of such progress, it is asked, is the State to ta f° a P. lun S° in to the unknown? ~ ill 0 38 ever y indication at present that the proposal to abolish licenses in Victoria will be overwhelmingly deteated. • . *