CANADA AND PROHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16267, 6 November 1920, Page 18

CANADA AND PROHIBITION.

LIQUOR EASILY OBTAINED. (By W. A. BRENNAN in the Melbourne “ Argus.”) VICTORIA (B.O.), August^., It is always interesting to discuss how people in prohibition countries obtain their liquor, '['hero is general I agreement that it can be done in Oan!ad a, and most people say that it is ! done. The public saloon has disap- ■ lieared except in Quebec, where light beers and wines are still sold over the bar. Few people regret the absence of the saloon, but n groat number regard the present arrangement as an unsatisfactory permanent _ solution ol the liquor problem. It is undeniable that people in good circumstances aro able to ’nave all the liquor they require. It is no breach of hospitality to say that spirits aro offered in the old way in every grivato house to visitors. Tllo law allows it and custom sanctions fry Those who can afford to keep stocks do so, and a number who are uncertain of the future aro stocking up very freely. These* safeguards are not within the compass of the‘majority of the population, Wages, however, are very high, and nearly everyone can buy all the liquor required for immediate consumption. The now arrival who does not ” know the ropes ” meets difficulties at first, but if ho docs not decide to do without spirits ho quickly finds out where they arc to be had. There is an element in human nature which works against the nominally drastic provisions of the present law. No one caret) to admit that ho is so innocent an to bo unable to cot’ liquor if he wants it, and the„.result is that a great number of people see to it that supplies are obtained. The law in short, has not the moral force of the whole people behind it, and to that extent the low lacks the force which law should have. AMUSING ANOMALIES. The present position is full of annI nsalies. In British Columbia, for in- } Stance, the sale of spirits is forbidden j in t[To province. Its manufacture is not forbidden, because the provincial Legis-lature-has ho power to forbid it. Nor is its transportation illegal. Spirits therefore aro distilled in British Columbia, and are sent, to other provinces. Needless to say, there is considerable evaporation in tho province. | -More spirits arc manufactured in British Columbia than are exported. It is no offence for a British Columbian to keep spirits in hi? private stock. Ho can legally bring them from tho neighbouring province of Albettn., and it is to be feared that he can and does illegally obtain them from tho manufacturers and merchants in British Columbia. The same law with modifications applies in all the other provinces. Tt, is not satisfactory that a. British Columbian should he permitted bv law to drink spirits imported from Alberta, but should not be r.’lmvpd the use of spirits distilled in British Columbia. The members of the _ Empire Press delegation had the privilege of drink- ■ mg champagne in n large marquee erected in tho spacious ground sup--1 rounding the home of a private entertainer. That was as legally sound ns it was socially acceptable. " But none I of the various mavovs. or premiers, nr lieutenant-governors, who have offered hos* i ’tnlitv to the delegation' could give , anvthiug but wed -waters and orangpi ndo at the official sen t/-jrt a foments at , the very large and cyc'dlcut hotels in , carious parts of Canada-

EVASIONS. Tfc cannot be claimed that external appearances justify all the restrictions imposed. I have Been only two people in Canada under the tiiflnenco of drink One was a peculiarly hopeless and besotted wreck, who obtained possession of a, bottle of “moonshine. 1 ' and fin ished it as rapidly as possible. “Moonshine" is an illicit product, homo-mad* from potatoes or pineapples. The other man was agreeably intoxicated, and ho declared that had taken too much, in order to vindicate the eternal principles of freedom. Each mon stands for a class which cannot be altogether disregarded. “moonshine" and the “ bootlegging" industries are still in their infancy, but it is in each case* a precocious and an active infancy. "Moonshine” relates to manufacture, while “ bootlegging ” is the term used for irregular traffic. Neither class has been eradicated, although the law. both in Canada, and in the United States, is vorv_ active, so active indeed that tlie police have no time for burglars and garrotters. Ibere is a considerable amount of crime in northern United States, and, while no one hot extremists attribute this to prohibition, a great many people point out that pro hlhition has not had anv effect in re moving crime. The uoint is that tho manufacture of spirits of a kind is comparatively easy, and that the business is likely to become more widely known and move generallv practised. On the other hand regulations against transport must become more and moro inoperative as people become accustomed to evading them, and as the zeal of officials relaxes. A convivial person mav become “under the influence " in order to voice his protest, and there are a number of people who feel resentment against tho laws, am! who remain unite sober. The most thoughtful people do not like laws which imnly that the community, ns a whole. lacks self-control, and they tlko the law less which becomes subject of cvery-dar Jest, ami is habitual! v brol mu. directly or imlivectlv. Tho experience of Canada, so far ns it has gone, seems to favour moderate and gradual reform rather than extreme courses. Quebec, whore wines ami light beers can he had, is certainly not less sober than the other provinces. There is,no use in prohibiting tho sole of spirits in a province when it is admitted that the importation to and the consumption of spirits in the some province cannot bo prohibited. Tho law attempts mpro than it can compass, and it is held in poor esteem accordingly.

LIQUOR OBTAINABLE. 1 . Load option is utterly discredited by ! tho Canadian experience. Where laws operate over even tho wide provinces ot Canada, glaring anomalies arise between province and province. Difficulty is found in enforcing prohibition in those American -State,s adjacent to Quebec because illicit traffic cannot liq controlled. It is said that a constable was put off tho scent of a gang of criminals who had settled in his district because, as he explained, ho thought they were only a nest of .‘bootleggers.” Traffic between provinces cannot be prohibited, no matter how strong tho law may Ik> made. Local option M ovor small sections of n. State like Victoria would only bring all measures of reform into contempt. Liquors would certainly flow from one “Tjtriet to another despite local option, u hatever laws are made should operate over ns wido an area as possible. At present prohibition does not prevent excessive drinkers obtaining nil that they want. It places some difficutties in tho way and involves a little extra expense, but these considerations only give a little piquancy to the quest by the bibber for his stimulant. The moderate drinker, harassed by a law which ho regards as unnecessary, may incur the expense, and may habitually fvadfi the law, But these things add no piquancy to the ordinary man's life. I ho present law Tn Canada does not help to maintain the status of the medical profession. _ Many doctors of tho least reputable kind are making good incomes as more bur tenders. They not only prescribe for the patient, but they dispense tho prescription too, and charge for both services at professional rates, tor eight dollars a man suffering from dryness of tho throat can be treated most sympathetically. On the whole it cannot be said that Canaria lias settled the liquor question or any phase of it. The public bar has been abolished, and that in itself seems good. _ Bub drinking, illicit and seraiilhoit, is still gong on. The law looks very solemn in the face, but people walk behind ite back and smile at it,

Turner, the famous artist, was th© son of a Sheffield barber. The sun rotates on its axis in about */wenfcy-flvo days seven hours.