A STRONG INDICTMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16869, 26 October 1925, Page 14

A STRONG INDICTMENT.

CREATES CRIMINALS. BREEDS CORRUPTION. (By G. Gordon Battle, five years Assisttanfc District Attorney, N.Y.) “In the first place, Prohibition has undoubtedly added to the crimes of our country a large and formidable category of offences, either directly or indirectly caused or occasioned by the enactment and enforcement of the Prohibition measures.

"The bootlegger and the rum-runner have become conspicuous figures in our national life. The ussistauco of the chancelleries and the legislatures of foreign nations as well as of our own have been called into requisition to cnforco this legislation. Treaties have been enacted, statutes have been passed, departmental regulations innumerable have been promulgated,, all to the end that traffic in intoxicating liquors should cease.

“Perjury and corruption are common in the courts where it is sought to enforce these statutes. Recently a United States Commissioner of wide experience in the enforcement of the Volstead Act in New York City resigned his office and stated in his letter of resignation ‘that when ho entered upon his official duties ho found the Federal court house the cleanest building in the city and at the time of his resignation it was the foulest.’ Undoubtedly, this presents one of the most serious aspects of this subject. No one can deny that the attempt to enforce these laws has brought widespread corruption into the ranks of the Federal service. The widespread venality that has permeated the Prohibition service, must sooner or later affect the other governmental departments. Corruption is like a cancer that constantly grows and spreads. Up to the present timo the appointments in the Prohibition branch have been political spoils, with the result that many of the .appointees have been of the most unworthy character. It would afford a great measure of relief if most of these appointments were placed under tho Civil Service rules. Then, in addition to the crimes which are created by the law itself and those which have arisen incidentally in the enforcement of the law, there, has been probably an increase in the uso of narcotics, and therefore a greater volume of crime in connection with that unlawful traffic. "It must be conceded, therefore, by even the most ardent Prohibitionist that with the enactment and enforcement of these laws there has come a veiy great increase in the number of crimes.’’

"In conclusion, I repeat that the most dangerous feature of the present situation is to mind the official corruption which now forms a scanal in the enforcement of these laws.’’—“The North American Review,” 1925, Prohibition breeds more criminals every day. It is impossible for any selfrespecting citizen to respect the Prohibition law; contempt for one law leads to contempt for all. Under Continuance, crime in New Zealand is rapidly decreasing. Strike out the two bottom lines, 22