Prohibition and Sly-Grog Selling.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6901, 13 February 1894, Page 4

Prohibition and Sly-Grog Selling.

Sa,— The thoughtful letter of "Alpha" m lwtt night's issue should be read by every elector. " If prohibition be carried there! E£ * W^V 1 111" 11 . 0 ' • I y-« M « wiling," say some. WjU there be as much aloohol sold nnder prohibition as at present? That is the question. If not, your objection against prohibition falls to the ground. It is the drink that is the ourse of the country, and not the fact that one here and another there ■ell on the sly. So far from there being more strong drink sold under prohibition than at present, it is extremely doubtful if there would be more «?y-grog selling than at present. Every pint sold m the various hotels after hours, and every pint sold on Sundays to those who have not travelled three nutes, is sly-grog selling. If only the amount thus sold m the Waiapu electorate could be stated, I think very few would assert that there would be more sly-croc selling under prohibition than at present. But, as has been said, the real question is, will there be as mush drinking under prohibition as at present? I answer, " No," for the following reasons :— *•, Under prohibition sly-grog selling would have to be very sly. The heavy penalties would force sly-grog vendors to be very cautious. If this is denied, I have only to ask why there is not more sly-grog selling outside of hotels now. It would be a profitable business, as the license fee could be saved. Liquor could be sold cheaper than at the hotels, so as to secure more trade. Why is it not done? "The risk is too great. It would be equally great under prohibition. Prohibition, then, it may be safely asserted, would mean a great decrease m the consumption of liquor. 2. Prohibition would certainly diminish drunkenness, because it would abolish the temptations to drink which meet the drunkard at almost every street corner. He cannot walk down the main street with* out passing some public-houses, and the temptation is too strong. You may call him weak, base, Ac. You may say "Let him alone, let him suffer." But for the sake of his innocent wife and children, not to mention himself, we must seek to remove this temptation out of his way. He himself may be wisring to overcome his habit, but as long as these public-houses are open he cannot. Had he, however, to go out of bia way to sly grog-shops m back streets, and to nse every precaution to escape detection, he might abstain. Of course there are Borne that would not, but many would. 3. Prohibition would diminish drunken* ness because sly-grog selling besides being risky, would be considered most disreputable. It would be one of the greatest preventatives to the rising generation becoming drunkards. 4. Prohibition where tried, and especially where backed by strong temperance feeling as is now ensured by the three-fifths majority has greatly diminished drunkenness. The following clipping from the Poverty Bay Herald will show that prohibition, even m a small district snrronnded by non-prohibition districts, is an effective remedy for preventing drnhkenness :— "A year ago a prohibition committee closed all the hotels except one m the extensive agricultural districts of Kakanui, Maheno, and Otepopo, south of Oamaru, and it will be interesting to know that the step has been a complete success. At Otepopo there had been two hotels. One was closed and converted into a fine temperance boardinghouse, the other has now been purchased by the local medico, and is being turned into a hospital. At Maheno the only hotel was ■hut up, and a fortnight ago the owner of the premises applied Tor a fresh license. A public meeting was called to consider this application,' and it was one of the largest meetings ever held m the district. The chairman was one who bad been one of the most habitual frequenters of the hotel, and he told of his cure from drunkenness and consequent prosperity, m place of poverty. Another old man who used to make the 'pub' his home spoke, and said that whereas formerly he used to be m rags, every penny going for drink, he could now rattle shillings m his pocket. A farmer's wife got up, and ■aid that her old man used to be constantly at the public-house, her home had been a miserable one, and her boys were required to { support her, but last year bad been a happy one m that home, for the * old man' had only j been drunk once— when be had visited town. Another woman told a similar tale. Others gave testimony to the good that they had derived through the hotel being closed. The butcher of the village stated that before the hotel was closed, bis takings on Saturday oighto wen never more than 41, but since then he had never taken leu tham £1, and often fully £2. The village baker told a similar tale, and then the meeting was asked to vote as to whether they were m favor of granting a license to the old house. Only one hand was held up, the rest of those present being unanimous for pro* hibition." Who will not vote for prohibition after this ?— I am, &c, Prohibitionist.