ABOUT QUEBEC.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1923, Page 6

ABOUT QUEBEC.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issue of Thursday is a report of what Mr. W. C. Weston says about prohibition in Quebec. It is interesting in that it is quite the opposite to what is said by Mr. A. B. Macdonald. an experienced journalist, who also visited Quebec Province to learn how State control of the liquor trade was progressing. His experience and opinions are given in the Ladies' Home Journal for November, and may be seen by anyone in the magazine room at our public library. Everyone should read it. Mr. Macdonald first interviewed the Controller of National Breweries; and, of course, he reported all going well: “No drunkenness to speak of.” Then the Recorder of the court in Montreal was seen, and he said that in the last two years there came into that court 12,0+M persons who had been arrested in Montreal while “lying drunk in a public place.” Mr. Macdonald gives an account of what he saw in :he Government drink shop-, which quite contradicts the assertion of the chief brewer that there is no drunkenness to speak of. Again, I say, let everyone read the Ladies' Home Journal for November. Mr. Weston thinks, or his informant thinks, that, under the present State control of the liquor trade the people of Quebec will drink themselves out of debt. It may be that States can drink themselves out of debt; but we know that usually individuals drink themselves into debt. If any one is enquiring what drink is doing in New Zealand—for that is what we are concerned about—let him read the parallel column to the report of Mr. M es ton's opinions, and a.sk himself whether it is not true that “drink” is the vilest fiend of all. —I am, etc., G.H.M. New Plymouth, December 20.