PROHIBITION SUCCESS IN CANADA.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 286, 19 April 1919, Page 12

PROHIBITION SUCCESS IN CANADA.

IT TO THE MINUTE TESTIMONY FROM CANADIAN CITIZENS.

Hon. W. M. Martin, Premier of Sas katchcwan, Canada, wiites under dan of Junuaty 8, 1911;, as follows: “I hr reports coming from all parts of the Province indicate that our pmhibitoiv law is generally satisfactory. Economic ally and socially it lias been a success, and there exists no desire to revert to the licensing <*f the liquor traffic.

A. E. Tedd, Mayor of the City of Victoria, 8.C., wiites under date 30th December, 1«> IS, as follows:--“It is quite certain that c onditions under the Prohibition A< t ire to-day better than previous to the enactment of this legislation.”

The Minister of Lands and Mines, New Brunswick, Canada, writes undei date February 8, 1919, as follows: — “There is no doubt but that thousands of families are enjoying homes which in the past have been neglected by the husbands, and such evidence is seen in all towns and villages.” John Oliver, Premier of British Columbia, Vic., wiites under date nth January, 1910, as follows: —“I am pleased to say that the effects of the Prohibition Act have been only beneficial. Some di'ficultv has been experienced in its enforcement, as always is the case for some tir'e after a measure of this kind is made oik*rati ve, but I believe the concensus of opinion, as well as the united testimony of business men, employers of labour, industrial concerns, as well as officers and administrators of the law, would support ine ii, the opinion that great good has resulted from the enactment of the Prohibition law, in spite of its imperfect enforcement. I am quite sure that the people of this Province would not revert to the old conditions were they given an opportunity to express their conviction at the polls.” J. R. Boyle, Esq., Attorney Ceneral, Alberta, writes under date 25th January, 1919, as follows; “While we find .he Act difficult to enforce, it being verv difficult to detec t all the "mugulmg and the illicit distilling, vet I an quite satisfied that the amount* of •iouor cohsumod is verv small romparu, \ ith that of the period of the open

bar. I am satisfied that there is but a very small minority in this province who would be willing to revert to the oid conditions.”

W. R. Motherwell, Esq., M .P., Ii :m erly Minister of Agriculture for Sas katchcwan, writes under date January 27, 1919, as follows:- “I have much pleasure in stating that Saskatchewan has benefited very considerably from the prohibition legislation which was In st introduced here in the' Spring of i«> 15. The abolition of thy licensed bar, which was the most pernicious feature of the recent legalised traffic in strong drink, has simply worked wonders in the betterment of social and economic conditions throughout Saskatchewan and Canada generally, and we would not return to the old order of things in this resect under anv < onsideration.”

W. Pundfoot, Esq., Leadei of the Opnostion, Ontario, Toronto, writes under date' 14th January, 1919, as follows: “In Canada Prohibition has worked well. So far as Ontario is concerned I don’t believe you can find one man in a thousand who would ask to have the old bar system and public sale of liquor brought back again. The benefit to the people of the Province has been such that no Government or Party could for a moment stand against public opinion if they advocated another license system. Merchants in the c ities and all over the country will tcdl you that men who formerly allowed their accounts to be - come in arrear .end impoverished th-ir families, now pay promptly; their h«»mes have an air of prosperity, and instead of spending their money as they previously did in bars on their way home from work, they now go home and spend their evenings .is decent citizens. The bar and license system in Ontario has gone out, and 1 can assure vou that they have gone out for good.”

Ceo. Lang ey, Esq., Minister of Mu ntcipal Affairs, Regina, S.isk. writes under date January 8, 1919, as follows: “Our two years’ experienc e of Prohibition has been in every way satisfactory. One thing that seemed peculiar has been the very small amount of serious protest made against the* new order of things. Its good results have* been so patent and undeniable that even those* who w4ce in the habit of taking intoxicating liquor in verv moderate quantities have felt that the result obtained justified a hundred

times the sacrifice they were called upon to make in going without it. I think I may claim fairly w ide acquaintance with the* sentiments of out people, and I «un sure any proposi tion t< re-establish the sale of intoxicating liquor in our midst, would be opposed by the united opinion of at least eighty per cent, of our people.”