PROHIBITION DISLIKED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1930, Page 11

PROHIBITION DISLIKED

REPEAL OF LAW FAVOURED “SPEAKEASY” OPERATOR’S VIEWS ALLEGATIONS OF EXTORTION. By Tesogr&ph— Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 8.30 p.m. New York, March 30. The New York World has presented the results of a poll taken among “speakeasy” operators which showed them to be overwhelmingly in favour of the modification or repeal of the prohibition laws. The principal reason offered was the operators’ problem of graft expenditures, exploitation *>y the authorities, extortion by the pol'ce and Federal agents. The next in impoitance were, first, the hazard due to the possibility of official raids; second, the fear of hold-ups by gunmen who know their victims will not compia.n to the police; third, fear of padlo.-k proceedings; fourth, higher rentals; fifth, nonpaying customers such as the pciice; sixth, the social stigma plaied upon a speakeasy owner and his family; seventh, the joss of high-class patronage due to home delivery. The opinion of virtually all who were questioned was' well expressed by un operator who states, “Sure I am for repeal. My last payment to the police will take me two rnout is to make up.”