FROTH AND HYPOCRISY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1055, 26 May 1910, Page 22

FROTH AND HYPOCRISY.

“I think the liquor business as legitimate a trade as any. The prohibitionists have declared war upon the liquor traffic. They think that by calling everything rum they will give the business a bad name. The movement has much of froth and hypocrisy. For 60 years a great religious denomination has been teaching us that the use of any alcoholic liquor is a sin. This doctrine is a menace to the industrial

and moral welfare of our people, but the fault for its wide-spread popularity lies largely with ministers who detest the prohibition movement, but do not make their opinions public. Fourfifths of the clergymen of my denomination are opposed to prohibition, although they favour a sane temperance. People are following the prohibition movement because they have been misled by misrepresentation and fraud. Ninety-five per cent, of those who use liquor use it temperately. The Government should attempt to popularise the lighter alcoholic beverages. The American wine growers are

producing our best temperance drinks.’’ Dr. Watson, at the American Wine Growers’ Association meeting, New York.