HOW TO VOTE.

White Ribbon, Volume 44, Issue 516, 18 October 1938, Page 3

HOW TO VOTE.

(’haracters: Mother, Hal, her son. Jack and Tom, nephews. Hal: "Good evening mother. These boys have been trying to secure my vote and I’ve brought them here to see if you can secure theirs.” Tom: "Good evening Auntie. Have you got a little time to spare?” Jack: "How are you Auntie? Better 1 hope. Not the measles was it?" Mother: "Good evening boys, no I’ve not had the prevailing epidemic and am now quite well. But what is this about voting?" Hal: "These cousins of mine are telling in* that it is no use to strike out the top lines.” Mother: "And why, please?” Torn: "Well, Auntie, you surely don’t Itelieve that you can vote N.Z. dry as you so often sing, do you?’ Mother: “Of course, 1 believe it, there is nothing impossible that ought to be.” .Jack: ‘'That's alright. Au: U*-. but what's the use in throwing away our votes. We can’t get the absolute majority and w hy not try State Control as a middle course?" Mother: "Well if you vote State Control you'll most certainly throw your vote away.” Jack: "How do you make that out?” Tom: "I keep telling him that, Auntie. There never has iieen anything like a substantial vote for State Control, has there?” Mother: "No, that is so. And really Jack, if you only consider the position a vote for State Control is just the same as a vote for Continuance." Hal: "What do you mean, Mother?" Mother: "In the final issue the State Control votes are added to the Continuance votes and count against prohibition, which must secure an absolute majority.” Jack: "Look here, Auntie, we all know the evils of the Liquor Trade ami are. as keen to get rid of them as you can l*\ Rut if you can’t hanish it. is it not reasonable to try and banish its evils?” Mother: "I agree heartily to tianiah its evils, but can you banish its evils

without banishing the trade. For generations men have been trying to regulate tnw tiade and it refuses to bo leg u luted." Jack: “Refuses." Alothor: “Yes.' did you ever know this trade to obe> au> law, human or diviner* Hal; “That's a sweeping statement. Mum." Mother; “That it is a tiue one you have only to read the daily papers to see. 1 believe the licensed liquor tiade is a disgrace to our civilisation and Christianity, and I’m out to end what cunnoi be mended." Tom; “Would not State Control I** an improvement?" Mother: “iHies it matter who sells this poison? Whether publican or State employee serves alcohol it is still a body diseasing, a soul degrading, and a race destroying poison." Hal. “Now, mother, give the boys facts. Has State Control been a success where It has been tried?" Mother: “Depends on wnat you mean by a success, it has certainly not lessened the consumption of strong drink." Jack: "Are you sure, Auntie? Give us reliable figures." Mother: “Certainly, hero they are, make a note of them. In seven years the population of Canada increased lu per cent., liquor consumption increased 80 per cent, and minor offences increased 153 per cent., while major crimes increased 77 per cent. Don’t overlook the fact that the vote here is for State purchase as well. Now if the Stab’ spends millions to buy out the liquor sellers, breweries, etc., is it likely to start a campaign to urge people not to drink?"

Tom: "Hut Auntie the State Control people say that when the liquor trade is owned by the Government the> can start an educational campaign and gradually reduce the conaumptlon." Mother: “Well, neither Canada. nor even the Carlyle experiment In England reduced consumption. The Ontario Liquor Hoard for 1936 shows a great Increase in sales, from which the Government made a profit of over nine million dollars. For the same period the increase in sales of spirits was 517.623 gallons, and the increase in beer drinking was 7,792.963 gallons." Tom: “That’s pretty serious isn't it?" Jack: “It is, and makes one furiously to think, because we do not believe It would be a good thing to increase the sale of liquor." Mother: “It is serious, and more serious is the opinion expressed by leading citizens. The State does not control the Trade, but the Trade controls the State." Hal: "Mother what do the people in Canada think about it?" Mother: “The Preacher (l>r. Irwin) says Government control Increases drunkenness. Canada’s liquor hill increased in every province under control. The Politician, Chairman of committee of alcoholic traffic in the House. said: ‘The Government is frankly In the liquor business and ts pushing the trade vig irously. although the whole system

is supposed to promote temperance. The illustrated liquor advertisements are drawn in the most enticing way. They make the mouth of an old alcoholic water, and tempt even youth.* The people at the ballot box speak m Ontario Province the last 2J years. Out of 75 contests the I>rys have won m 53 of them. In West Flamborough a vote was taken to repeal the local option law’ of 20 years' standing. Their vote was 222 wet —983 dry." Tom: “There is one thing to the good and that is the state control would stop sly grog selling." Mother: “Not on your life. In British Columbia there are 526 liquor making, liquor selling, and liquor drinking agencies, 452 of which are not owned

or operated by the government. And that's your government control, boy." Hal: "Doesn’t look too good does It?" Mother: "Look at this bright spot. Prince Edward island refused to have state control and remained dry. It has nei her policeman, gaol, nor serious crime." Jack: "Do you think prohibition was a good thing in U.S.A.?" Mother: “It was. When liquor refill ned the brewers were lamenting that all their customers were middleaged and young people must In* taught to appreciate and drink beer." Hal: “In other words, prohibition roared a sober youth. Young America did not drink.*’ Mother: "Many states In US.A. were dry by their own vote. Kansas was dry for over 50 >ears and still Is. 51

of its 105 counties are without any la. sane, 54 without any feeble-minded, 9$ without any poorhouses, 53 without any persons in jail and 56 without aa> 1 epiesentatives in the penitentiary." Tom; “My Aunt, what a record." M.other; “During the worst of the dtpression, Dry Kansas lias a balance! nudget and cash in the bans, atau debts have been reduced, anu tax* iigntened. Topeka, in Kansas, is the only city in the L.S.A. without a goaL Hal: “Could prohibition be enforced in New Zealand?" Mother: “1 think it is the best couutiy in the world to try the experiment” Tom; "How do you muse that out?" Mother; “Well we ve got the Pacific around us. The Breweries supply local demand and government could easily deal with them. The spirits come from over seas and 1 do not think the consumption here would warrant the risk of rum running across the Tasman. We have not a Canada across the boruer nor a Bahama group within easy reach and our consumption it infinitesimal compared with the population of U.S.A.” Jack, “i always vote against restoration in our No license urea- We don't want a hotel near us." Mother: “Oh you scalawag! You vote to keep it from your own door, but *oto for it to remain in other electorates." Hal: "If you compare the votes taken in No License areas you will find that the vote f •* non-restoration i.e., prohibition in their own area is much larger than the vote for National Prohibition." Tom: "Yes, so it is, I’ve noticed that." Mother: “Boys, did you hear Bishop Bennett’s fine appeal to vote dry for the sake of our Maori people? Once, I was speaker at a deputation to Sir Maul Pomare, then Minister of Health. It was upon social diseases and alcohol and Sir Maui said: ‘This alcohol and consequences which your English people brought to my Maori people.’ I felt so ashamed I would like to have sunk through the floor. Bishop Bennett, too, pointed out that the Maori had no alcohol before the advent of the white man." Tom: “So you think we ought to strike out the two top lines?" .Mother: “You will never regret it If you do, but bitterly you may regret if you vote continuance." Jack: “Auntie Is election Day your birthday?*’ Mother: "Clever boy to remember that. What about it? ’’ Jack: "I’ll give my vote for you as a birthday gift." Tom: “I’ll do the same." Mother: "Thank you boys, do more—study the question." Hal: “Were converted Mother, we were only confused and you have shed light upon the question. Good night. Mother I must go or my wife will wonder what has got me." .Tack and Tom: "Good night. Auntie, may the electors give you a Dry Dominion fora natal gift on Oct. 15th"