STATE PURCHASE.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 293, 18 November 1919, Page 15

STATE PURCHASE.

(Contributed by a White Ribboner.) Tre time when women have the privilege of voting either for the drink trade to remain with us, or to be for ever abolished from this Dominion, is drawing near. It behoves every woman to very carefully consider the three issues which are at stake, and vote for that one which will tend to the uplifting of the race. Have we women ever grasped the significance of the truth that the power to carry Prohibition really rests with us, owing to the fact that so many more women dt the present time art* eligible to vote than men?

Are we going to allow it to be said, to our eternal disgrace, that when we had the chance to purge our land of 'his curse, we refused to take it, and that it was the woman's vote —or failure to vote—that lost the day? I want to write more especially to those who have any doubt on the matter as how to vote. With all the specious aiguinents in favour of State Control, some seem to lose 6ight of the fact that whether the liquor is sold by a highly respectable servant of the State or by a drunken publican, its evil effects are just the same. Have we ever considered the financial aspect of the question? Under State Control, or State Purchase (for the business would have to be pur-(h.i-ed before it could be controlled), the State would purchase hotels, breweries, etc., at the present highly inflated values, giving anything up to £0,000,000 for them, only to find that at another election, in three years’ time, Prohibition would lx* carried, and it would be left w ith properties on it> hands which would have to be disposed of at a great loss. How many of our business men would "stand for a proposition of this kind 1 Of course »e hear a lot about the revenue that will be derived, and what an immense help it will be to help pay off our ever increasing debt, but if the business is • arried on legitimately, wilt the profits he so large ? If, as State Controllers tell us, hotels arc to be portioned out on a population basis, and no more than a certain quantity of drink sold to each customer, will not the profits dwindie very considerably? Again, think of the large amounts that will have to be paid out in pensions. We must never lose sight of the fact that PV ery employee—whether he be the State manager of a large hotel, or only a driver of a brew'er’s delivery w aggon

entitled to a pension on retirement. —will be a civil servant, and as such Why should wc Prohibitionists be forced to pay taxes to support a measure such as this. As true, loyal citizens we are willing to pay taxes that go towards the betterment of our land, but when it comes to making us help to support the liquor trade, which is dragging the manhood of this country down to hell, then 1 consider that, as a matter of principle, wc are called upon to resist. Let us do as the Americans did with the tea that was forced upon them by the F.nglish Government throw every cask of whisky and beer into the sea, rather than have it said that we arc aiding and abetting the liquor traffic, even if it lx* under protest. A hundred times rather let us have Continuance, with all its evils, than this other white-washed business, which is bound to be just as deadly in its effects.

In conclusion, I would urge on every woman of this land not to vote as some one else—perhaps someone very near and dear to her —tells her to, but to vote as her conscience dictates, and then I think the successful issue of the campaign will be assured.