C,D. SOLE AND PROHIBITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 14, 7 May 1914, Page 3

C,D. SOLE AND PROHIBITION.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.] gj r Several cables have recently appeared in your columns showing the marvellous strides the prohibition of the liqvfor traffic is making. Probably the one to make prohibition part’ of the United States constitution is the most important,'as showing the trend of public opinion in that country again the order to make all the officers of United States navy teetotallers while at sea or on duty ashore is another. The fact that 42 counties and 30 large districts m the State of New Torn voted foi straight out prohibition is further prom. New Tork arid Illinois (.another State )were considered the sheet anchors of the liquor trade, and yet Illinois by' an overwhelming majority in March last decided for State prohibition, while the vote in Maine to go back to liquor voted to contuivie dry by a tremendous majority. At the election ■a few weeks ago thousands of square miles of country further adopted the dry vote, and coming nearer to Europe we find Iceland by vote and also by legislation has totally piohibited the sale and importation ot alcoholic liquor into their country. Now we come to a country -who found that they had tp deal with the liquor trade and adopted State Control. lam speaking of Russia. What was‘the result? As the Greek Church is part of the political as well as the religions life of the Russians, the day the State took over the sale of liquor, the priests blessed the liquor bars in the name of the State, and endeavored to make them respectable. With what results? People have only to read your columns and those of other papers to find that the words of that great Russian states, man, Baron de Witte, are true. His words to the Emperor and Parliament are as follows: “Tne results of State control are simply appalling; even the children have been seen drunk at school,” arid he gave notice to move that a committee be set up to abolish the sale of liquor in that country. So much for State control. Our opponents say that nolicense and prohibition do not stop drinking. Well, take and compare the arrests for drunkenness in Invercargili, Masterton, Ashburton, Oamaru and Waihi, all much, larger places tiltin’ Stratford, and you will find we are an easy first. Again, they say it will cause sly grog selling ; alright, compare the; offences for this breach of the law, and you will find the license districts of (Auckland and Wellington are easy first, or, to use a racing phase, the,.no-license districts ‘‘atao started.” A large majority of the people of New Zealand are out for State prohibition, and the sooner it' comes, the better. I have recently been collecting a few figures on the monopoly question which I will deal with' on another occasion. Thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., C. I). SOLE.