Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11729, 2 December 1905, Page 4

| THE §& Prohibition. Our next door neighbours quoted the " London Times." Not tlie following article, of which \;c give the date. London Times of May 26th. " Tho question is, after all, one th ij should be decided upon a, somewh&t broader basis titan that furnislied by donbtful assertions tilouc tlie operation of a siuiil.^m?!X3Lirc in somewhat different circumstances. Its acceptance or reject on should rest upon tho -extent to whi' h prohibitory legislation, for the apparent purpose of diminishing oven admitted evils, is cither compilable with trio liberty, or is calculated to produce any real improvement in the conduct of the communities who permit o1"o 1 " encourage it. lilt, whole question oi the effect of strong dunks upon those who use them in moderation is completely sub jddicr ;' aud any endeavour to dogmatise with regard to it is opposed to the first principles of scientific caution. Notwithstanding this the air is full of random assertions, many of which, in. all probability, have some foundation in half-truths, but cannot with propriety, be accepted as universally accurate statements. . . Whatever may he the cause of the change, there can be no possible doubt as to the increased sobriety of the general population of this country ; and the change has been less due to legislation than to the gradual growth of intelligence. A population that is merely restrained froni alcoholic drink by artificial difficulties placed in the way of procuring it will be practically certain to regard it as an indulgence which it is worth while to make an effort to Obtain ; while a population which abstains by reason of a knowledge of the ill-effects of excess, will be likely to rest its sobriety upon a basis of contentment which Prohibition would not be likely to produce." The neighbouring last evening was characteristic of their tactics all through. Fancy the absurdity of quoting The Hon. Chamberlain to the effect, "If the desire for strong drink were removed," or the Hon. Gladstone's opinion now worn threadbare. The}?- were theorising and applying their arguments to the affairs of a Nation affecting millions of people, if liquor was entirely banished. They in no way support the For the liquor will still be here. AH the NO=CONTROL Party ask you to do is to close the Hotels and purchase your liquor outside the district. Meaning, to begin with, that 300 Men with 1000 dependents will be without a means of live!i= hood. A large sum of money will be withdrawn from circulation locally and distributed in other towns. This Means LESS WORK in Wanganui, and the bad effects will be very far=reaching. The foolishness of NO=CONTROL is daily equalled by the inconsistency of the party supporting it. The old mis-statement re Ashburton Rates is again printed but we will leave the public to study the facts. The NOCONTROL PARTY quote increased values ; under License Property has almost doubled in Wanganui. We again urge you not to let sentiment get the better of your judgement. . NO-CONTROL Policy in brief is close the hotels and send many thousands out of the town. Liquor will still be here in a much worse form with all the old troubles, and hundreds of new evils. LEAVE THE TOP LINE UNTOUCHED. STRIKE OUT THE TWO BOTTOM LINES.