VOLSTEAD ACT IS FAR FROM EFFECTIVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18043, 31 December 1926, Page 11

VOLSTEAD ACT IS FAR FROM EFFECTIVE.

Desiring to base his conclusions on first-hand evidence rather than on hearsay. Mr P. Selig. who returned to Christchurch yesterday from a six months’ trip abroad, made car Cul observations as to the effects of prohibition in America, and he satisfied himself that there is no difficulty whatever in obtaining liquor anywhere in the States. On one occasion, he told a reporter yesterday, he was taken by a representative of one of the newspapers to a place where, after gtv’ng certain knocks, they were admitted, and had no difficulty in obtaining whatever liquor they desired —not synthetic stuff but good quality liquor in the original bottles. And when he called on various people he was offered liquor While he was travelling through Canada and the United States, said Mr Selig. he inquired from those he met whether they thought prohibition was a good thing or a bad thing Most of those to whom the inquiry was addressed said that it was a verv bad thing and led to very bad results. They said that it had been sprung upon them in a way that was resented, and that even people who did not drink thought that it should have been put to a plebiscite of the people instead of being brought about by an amendment to the Constitution. •‘ I met two men of the party, however,” said Mr Selig. “ who thought that prohibition had been a good thing for the working classes, because it had resulted in shutting up the saloons, which had been very had. They said that the working classes who formerly dissipated their money in drink were now putting it into the bank and buying motor-cars and property. *’ Prohibition is not effective; it can't be effective because there is drink all over the place and it is real liquor too. “ In England.” Mr Selig added. “ I did not see a drunken person The only drunken person I saw during rhy six months’ travels was pne man who was staggering about one night at Lausanne. I have no doubt that a great deal of drinking goes on in England just before closing hours when the men and women come away from work, but as a rule they drink beer and do not get drunk. I daresay there were some drunken persons in London while I was there but though I travelled through the East End as well as the West End and kept my eyes open. I did not see any drunkenness. Possibly it will be said that I did not go to the right quarters to see drunken-