THE LIQUOR CAMPAIGN.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14871, 20 September 1918, Page 4

THE LIQUOR CAMPAIGN.

LABOUR SUPPORTS STATtf C-OMTitUL.

MB SEMPLE'S VIEWS.

™%f £%»s£, SS« Subsequently the Labour Party dpS? iW g P C°d UPO" the baUot PaSer, urgent til** *?? P? rty'B poJi^ «* *« piesent tim«. Having travelled abrvir the country a «««t deal, he could sky from personal experience that this policy lii-ei, with the gcnei^l. approval of tli« Laoour people, aad there was greater unanimity m the political field of Labour than ever before. He believed t.iat xt would be inadvisable for Labour to allow nny oat-side interference with its policy, firstly, because the drink question was merely a side issue, aud consequently of secondary importance. mo Labour nioyoment stood for basic principles and in. his-judgment should nox, bo side-tßjckfid by any side issue Laboiy-s.proscnt policy gave the individual a. perfect right to express his opinion upon R»y one of the questions placed iipon tho ballot paper, namely Umimuance, Prohibition, or State Control.

! "While I yuite appreciate the honjesty vt purpose that has actuated many ; Harden**! fighters in the Prohibition xjj the past," ... said Mr. Semple, "I vie-w with suspicion th«». Jntervontion of a certain section of wealthy people who have rushed into the Prohibition rqyvement, and who are claiming to be actuated by humanitarian, and patriotic idoals. This policy is pursued by those man under the "guise of efficiency and patriotism. In my'opinion such a policy is nothing short of commercial cannibalism. ' Knowing some of the ijrrns who are very iiv<> advocates of the present Efficiency Board's proposals, and who are finding untold wealth, for the propaganda, I cannotbring.myself to realise that they are actuated by. any other motives than personal selfishness, and I am strongly opposed to the singling out of any &cc~. tion of the coniuiunity and placing itupon the altar of. commercial destruction.

"Jjabour Ktayii.iy for the socialisation of all industries; smd I personally stand for the placing of the liquor' question inthe saiv-e <;ai<?gory. In othrr words, I am a hardontxl State. ■ controller, believing that this is the only practical •solution of the liquor question. . "Jn voicing i-jy opinion in favour of State control. 3 feel pretty confident that I am expressing the opfnion of tho overwholmiug majority of the miners I represent, most of whom take their glass of beer after a hard day's work in the .underground infernos, and who shall \say that-'they should not?" Every -doc-ty;.- of 21 years of age is invited to sign the National Council'sMonster Pofcihiuri for- -the alteration of the Ballot Papnr at the next General | Election, to contain three issues, nameHv, National Prohibition, National [ Ovrnership (or S^ate Control), and Na- | ti'.vi.'il Co"ntinis:int>a. ]_ Sign this {"■:>' Patriotism, Freedom,. Democracy.'"