PUBLIC WARNINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1919, Page 5

PUBLIC WARNINGS.

LIQUOR'S LATEST! DR. VALENTINE'S INDIGNASfT REPUDIATION. "THE IMPUDENT USE OF MY NAME!" « » (Published by arrangement.) Wellington, Last Night. On learning of liquor's latest snbterfuge in displaying and circulating a so- ' called "proclamation" bearing his name, Dr. T. H. A. Valentine (Chief Health Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals) telegraphed as follows:

"Firstly, I have to say that th« proclamation did not emanate from mvself, or from any otticer of the Public Health Department, and I never attached my oflicial or private signature to any proclamation in connection \ritli the licensing movement. "Secondly, 1 have never authorised any person or persons to use my name as health ollker or as u private eiuzen in connection with any such statement, and um taking immediate steps to prevent tlii3 impudent use of i„v name.

"You are at liberty to make any use you like of this telegram. (Sgd.) VALENTINE, Chief Health Officer."

The ''proclamation" deliberately sets out to scare and inflame the public mind with threats of a return of the late and appalling epidemic, and implies that by voting prohibition on April 10 the people of New Zealand will leave themselves unable to get adequate supplies of liquor.

SO MUCH FOR THE FAKES, NOW FOR THE FACTS. Fact I.—Happily, so far, thero are qo specific signs that the dreaded epidemie will return. Fact 2.—Should, however, such be* come the ease, the Health Department can be safely relied upon to give the necessary warning that it will not be left to the profiteering liquor monopolists to gratuitously perform this publie service.

Pact 3.—Section 19, sub-section 2 of the Licensing Amendment .Act, 191#, states: "Notuing in this section shall extend or apfly to the importation, manufacture or sale in accordance witir regulations made by the Governorgeneral in Council in that behalf of intoxicating liquor for medicinal, scientific, sacramental or industrial purposes exclusively."

Moreover, the purity of the alcohol stocked by the health Department will be guaranteed. We will no longer have to put up With the doped and adulterated article.

hvait!. 7 minister of : h, ' a the following Statement: 'lu the event of national pioliibition "being parried the Public ealth Department would have to carry stocks of alcohol for medicinal purposes. To get this medicine people would require certificates and arrangements would be made for Government doctors to give these certificates free ot charge."

PROHIBITION THUS PROVIDES FOR THE USE OF ALCOHOL, BUT PREVENTS ITS ABUSE, but, of course, this is no good to the liquor interests. Thcv will no longor be able to make husre pioflts out of the degradation of the people. And there's the rub!

Thursday, April 10, will record th» r» Zealand S tothe tempt " ledUCed t0 BUch »»• TBS PUBLIC IS FURTHER WARNED th?« T liqUor interests have at this early gtftge published such a m<Ui rrjsm 7^ K£ to NOUNcSntJ S «bSSd«LI **"■ solve ou the only STRIKE OUT THE TOP LINE ,