THE DRUG LIE NAILED.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15033, 2 September 1922, Page 6

THE DRUG LIE NAILED.

The liquor - traffic in New Zealand is.this month circulating the following statement regarding alleged drug addiction in the UjS.A-:-—"ln .19IT the import of opium was 750,000 lbs, in 1920 it jumped to 1,100,000 lbs.” Official figures supplied direct by the U.S. Department of Foreign Commerce give the import of opium for 1919 as 316,713 lbs, which is less than half what the liquor traffic says it was. In 1920 the, import was 224,152 lbs, or just about one-flfth of what the liquor traffic says it was. In 1921 the import was only 96,668 lbs. Taking round figures, the imports of cocaine into the U.S.A. in 1919 wer e 12,000 ozs., and in 1921, 7000 ozs.; morphia in 1919 was 13,000 ozs., and in 1921, 3160 ozs. These immense reductions the liquor traffic calls ‘an alarming increase.’ This is one only, but a typical sample, of the liquor traffic mis-representa-tions about the effects of prohibition in the U.S.A .

Ask the liquor traffic if any drug evil is found in no-license districts of New Zealand. Ask them, too, how they make this alleged increase in drug taking because of . the absence of alcohol, square with their statements that there is more drinking than ever in th e U.S.A. since prohibition. If folks are getting the drink, why do they need the drugs? , And if the liquor traffic will use cooked figures to mislead you about drugs, can you trust anything else they say about prohibition? Keep your eye on the liquor lie when the “Trade” is tslking prohibition.—N.Z. Alliance Publicity (66).