DOCTORS AND PROHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19824, 16 December 1919, Page 8

DOCTORS AND PROHIBITION.

Tho following speaks for itself. 200, Willis Street, Wellington, Rev E. 13. Gray, Wellington. Dear Sir, —I am instructed by tho Council of the N.Z- Branch of the jjj.M.A. to writ© to you as follows: At a meeting of tho Council hold on December 12th it was resolved unanimously that any enquirers should bo informed that tho results of tho referendum on tho alcohol question will not be published; that members of Council themselves do not know tho results, and that tho statement made by the Rev Mr Gray that the results show a majority in favour of Prohibition is purely an assumption,—-Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) E. W. GIESEN. 16th December, 1919. Dr Giesen, Chairman of the Council of British Medical Association, Wellington. Dear Sir, —I beg to acknowledge receipt of 3'ours dated 15th instant, concerning the referendum on Prohibition, 1 desire to call your attention to the report in the New Zealand Medical Journal of October in which it is stated. on page 270, “Tho votes had been ■’ tho results wore now available. It is quite clear, therefore, that your statement that “ members of the Council themselves do not know tho results ’ is accurate only in tho sense that all the members of the Council do not know the results. Tho subsequent action of members of the Council known to be interested in tho liquor +i r. n °PP OS ' n S the publication proves that the result was certainly known to them. Why else did they threaten to leave the Association if the results were published P You say that my statement that the results show 1 a majority in favour of Prohibition is purely ail assumption." _ You arc careful not to say that it is untrue. You are aware, of course, that very ninny nssumntions are absolutely according to fact. *1 am prepared to stand by the statement which I have made, which the scrutineers appointed must know is absolutely accurate and I challenge the Medical Association to disprove the fact that tbe vote is " overwhelmingly in favour of Prohibition." This is known in quite a number the divisional sections of the Association, and indeed is a matter of common knowledge, and the action of the Medical Association in allowing itself to bo practically coerced by a minontv representing so dishonourable a t-radf* ns tho Liquor Trade is exceedingly difficult to understand. Yours sincerely, R. S. GRAY, Dominion Organiser, • P-S—The following telegram has just been received:— Christchurch, December 15th. "Men’s meeting to-night crowded and enthusiastic; fourteen doctors on platterm; cron spoke, ten' others sent apologies.’’