PROHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11770, 1 March 1919, Page 4

PROHIBITION.

MR FRANLKIN AT BULLS , . f There was a fair muster last night in the Ball* Town Hall to heai; Mr ’ Franklin The Rev Fonntain * ag in the chair, and he apologised f or ' the absence of the chairman of the Town Bosrd, who was absent on patriotic business. He then introduced Mr Franklin. Mr Franklin said he was there to get the ear of the people. All the ’ nations of the world were confronted with great problems, and he thought, that Prohibition was the ceatest of all the questions, and was one that occupied the thoughts of all the great thinkers. The movement had come about by gradual stages and i had net been sprung on the public all at once. The first stage had been in trying to keep the boy 8 away from the hotels, the second stage bad been in trying to save the victims; the third stage was local restrictions, which had proved partially successful, and now they:were oot to turn off the tap altogether. Where No-Liceose had h°e.u carried they would not go back to license. The local publicans are probably the biggest sly grog-sellers, as if they sell after hours they are sly grog-sellers. In 1916 she Government called to its aid five men of commerce. They started on the task as lovers of their country and tried to find the best means for ensuring national efficiency, as if you want an A 1 nation you cannot do it on CIII. population. They called 60 witnesses to give evidence as to the best method of procedure, and they decided that the best thing to do was to out ont the liquor traffic, and they suggested that a day should be fixed and a Rsferen. dum should be taken so that the population could express their views. On June 30th he considered that all licenses will end in New Zealand for ever, and that it will go ont by an overwhelming majority. In the past the three-fifths majority had hampered the Prohibition movement, bnt that was now of the past, as that fence had been pulled down. It was now more democratic, and they now had their opportunity. This was the first time in New Zealand that the business man had bound tnemselves together to tight for Prohibition, having at last discovered that the Trade is being condemned by all the business men in the world and “they are marching on,” and on the 10th April we shall he with the United States, Canada, etc., and not doing an injustice by getting rid of it as wb shall be paying 4M millions, and it will be cheap at that. Though he thought the 4>a millions should go to the poor beggars who have been ruined by the Trade Beer ia a good, thing to make a man work,but it will keep him working One hundred millions in the United States have said that it was no good and that they did not want It? The talk of the loss of revenue was only a ‘‘bogey,” as if the people did not buy beer they would buy something else, and it wonld be just as good for the revenue. He saw a young fellow coming out of a betel in Wellington who was objecting to being turned out, and the police came and locked him up, and be thought it wonld be better to iock np the drink with the man. After getting rid of the liquor business then we shall have more time to torn our attention to other great questions. He advised everyone to get on the roll (no prohibition abont that). Mr Franklin then said he wae prepared to answer all questions. Mr Watson asked if the United States or Canada had given compensation? Mr Franklin replied that no compensation had been given by them, but we were not called on to decide that, hut to vote for Prohibition with Compensation or Continuance.

A hearty vote of thanks was moved by the Rev. Cossnm, of Marton, and seconded by the Rev. Blackburn, of Bulls, who congratulated the lecturer on bis clear *nd lucid handling of the great question.