PROHIBITION FALLACI S.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6552, 1 August 1899, Page 1

PROHIBITION FALLACI S.

• ■ . (Published by arrangement.) CLUTHA AND CANADA. No one is surprised at the frantic attempts of the coerdonists to cover the disastrous consequences to morals in Clutha under prohibition. Every day strengthens "the proof that the attempt to force people into total abstinence is fatal to . everything that constitutes true manhood or even goodmanners. . Fanatics never profit by experience ; indeed, they are so fully possessed of their own fad thait they have no inclinajtion for that intelligence which ought to shape the thought and action of every rational being. Ample as was the evidence to prove, not what might, but what inevitably would, follow the introduction of prohibition, the fanatics either wilfully or ignorantly ignored it, and now that it has happened, they seefc.to.hidai-fc by garbled' statement, frothy Reclamation, and impudent denial. ' ' Inquiry as to the working of the " Scott Act " in Canada proved that where in operation there invariably followed the substitution of. unlicensed and unregulated for licensed and regulated trade. " The demand for drink remained the same, but it was supplied in illicit ways." A memorial, signed by 300 citizens of Woodstock, including nearly all the principal men of business and the professional men, but nobody connected with the drink trade, said:. — "The Scott Act in this town has not diminished drunkenness, but has increased it ; it has almost wholly prevented the use of lager beer, which was becoming an article of common consumption ; it has operated to discourage the use of light beverages, substituting therefor in a large measure ardent spirits, and it has led 'to the opening of many drinking places which did not exist under the license law, and to the sale of liquor being continued till hours after mi-^night." A leading physician, speaking from his own observations, sa*£S : — "I am satisfied that tlie most extensive illicit traffic prevails in Woodstock." At Milton the effects are declared to have be^n the same as in Woodstock. Before the adoption of the Act there were five places where liquor was sold, but after its adoption no fewer than sixteen sprang up. Here fortyeight men of business, including the Mayor and Chief Constable, signed a declaration to the effect that " the Act had signally failed to reduoe drunkenness ; that the trade, instead of being in respectable hands as before, was in those of bottle-hawkers and keepera of low dens ; that the effect of the Act had. been to substitute spirituous liquors for malt wines, and cider as leverages ; that drunkenness, lawlessnesg.and perjury wero much more .prevalent than they had been under license ; and, that the Scott Act, instead' of removing temptation from the jourtg, had had the contrary effect, aiid cases of juvenile d-inikenpess had , .become alarmingly fre-jue_jfc." .'*' Aid* this is the -polluted stream 1 for which ) the 'floddgates , have been opened in, Clutha.- " Too ignorant to knb*vv,''and ' too fanatical* to inquire; 1 ' they havo become the easy prey of professional prohibition agitators, and have let loose upon 'their fair land* this foul stream, which deposits the slime of corruption, perjury, Hypocrisy and ill-will wherever it flows. 1988