LAST DAY OF PROHIBITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15595, 11 August 1921, Page 10

LAST DAY OF PROHIBITION.

VANCOUVER, Juno 14. At midnight, to-night the British Columbia Prohibition Act becomes a dead letter, and in its plate will appear the Government Liquor Act. The "dry" law is wiped oat, and a moistev measure, takes its place. It was in October, 1916, that a prohibition Act was submitted to the people of British Columbia, and it carried on the civilian vote, by about 5000. Iho soldiers overseas, however, voted against it, and their ballots wiped out the dry majority and substituted a wet majority of some 800. Only a small percenl age of the 40,000 British Columbia, men overseas were able to register thenvotes, however, and later, charges were made by the prohibitionists that their had been irregularities in the taking t»t the ballot. The Government appointed a commission to go to Cveat I'.ritaiu to investigate, and its report declared thai irregularities had been proved. The pro vincial administration therefore decided to bring into effect the British Columbia Prohibition Ait, which became effective in October, 1917. / The Act was never accepted wholeheartedly, and as time, went on it became apparent that a large proportion of the public was not behind it. Its enforcement gradually became more dithcult— prohibitionists freely charged that no attempt was made to rigidly adhere to its provisions—and the. feeling of opposition gradually crystalised. The Moderation League was formed with many well-known citizens on its executive, and in answer to its repeated representations the Government de(ided to take a referendum on the vexed question. So that there should be. no subsequent dispute as to who voted, a, new list was compiled, and for the first time the women of British Columbia used the ballot on the issue. The* question submitted was whether the people wished to retain the Prohibition Act or preferred a system of salo of spirits and malt liquors by the Government in sealed packages. The answer was so completo as to leave no doubt as to public opinion. Out nf 200,892 voters on the new list, 146,€66 went to the polls, and only two districts out of 39 gave a majority for prohibition. The rest of the country rolled up large quotas in favor of Government sale on a moderation policy. The vote was taken on October A>. 1920. a little more than three years after prohibition came in. The official returns for the whole of British Columbia \i ere : —• For Government salo ... 90,835 For prohibition 55,448 Majoirty 35,437 In Vancouver the official figures were :-- For Government sale ... 24,616 For prohibition ... -•• 14,277 Majority 10,359 Tho Legislature commenced tackling tho drafting of tho necessary statute at the February session, and after a great deal of debate came to the conclusion to stick strictW to the terms of the referendum. Accordingly all sales arc to bo made bv the Government, and even the near-beer bars and club bars are, to bo abolished. Tho mew Act becomes effective to-morrow, when Government.stores will be open for business and will sell to those holding tho necessary permits.