PROHIBITION VICES CREATE NATIONAL JETYPOCRISY.
I (Published by; arrangemnt.) I - {To the Editor;) .' j ! Sir, — My finkl letter to you on the question of Prohibition, is the outcome of observation, reading; and deep ' thought ; and with an honest desire to save my native country from degenerating into national hypocrisy, I will; ask you to print the following home-truths: — The habitual disregard of the probititory law engenders disrespect for all law. i It benumbs thi^ moral sense and leads to evasion, subterfuge, and hypocrisy, resulting not infrequently m perjury. Its blighting ' effect on the material prosperity of the people is strongly marked. j It cuts off from the community the ! revenue derived from the liquor business m the' vain hope to enforce the law. It adds seriously to the burden of taxation. It depreciates the value of real estate and throws many men and women oufc. of employment. 'It drives away many citizens, and prevents others from immigrating to New Zealand, and thus checks growth m population. t It discourages investment. Capital has learned to shun prohibition, localities. It is tyrannical, and interferes unwarrantably with the rights of the citizen. • The long list of States -which have tried and repudiated prohibition shows it to be destructive of moral welfare and prosperity. ; Prohibition, is wrong m theory, because f,orce is not a proper or successful instrument of moral reform. It is impracticable,* and results m the free and unregulated traffic m liquors. . It will riot prohibit. Experience everywhere demonstrates that regulation .which can be t made . effective is better than, prohibition which cannot, be enforced. If prohibition ' becomes ihe law of the land m this Dominion, it will be a splendid thing for Australia. The man -with the big cheque m search of relaxation after months and months of bush-whack-ing, etc., etc., will gravitate towards a country where his natural appetite is appeased. Australia is not far away, and even the man who wants only a few weeks' holiday -will assuredly make the trip. The whole of the money spent by these tourists to Australia from the Dominion will be lost to us here m New Zealand. Ifc will affect eyery branch of industry — especially that class of mei*cha_t—mostly, rag merchant— who . is masquerading under the title of Efficiency Leaguers (m . reality '* ex-members of No-license '!_e&gile I s ' working iii * tow ■with their fo_"mer compatriot^ to* unwittingly bring desolation on the land). In conclusion, ' I appeal to the unprejudiced men and women of ' New Zealand who do not wish' to see Australia made a dumping-ground for New \ Zealand's hard won gold and notes and j silver. — I am, etcr,-' -\ I STffDENT.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14880, 7 April 1919, Page 9
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439PROHIBITION VICES CREATE NATIONAL JETYPOCRISY. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14880, 7 April 1919, Page 9
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