Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-26

considerable, but not nearly so great as
some would think. The vast ma jority of
tourists into Canada from this country
| are not, believe, attracted by liquor
sale. They are quite orderly people,
| in most cases, with their families along,
| and they don't want drink.
I'VE have, however, a certain check.
In Ontario last year, 419,79 permits
were issued to citizens of the province
and 106,987 to non-reSidentS. II we
| allow that these tranSientS during their
few weeks or few days stay consumed
as much liquor as q native during the
entire year-and that seems generous
enough-we find that non-residents con-
| Sumed almost exactly one-fourth the
amount Of residents, or one-f1fth the to-
tai consumption.
Since Ontario is by all odds the
banner tourist province of the Dominion,
| 1t is certain that If we project these
| figures to the whole Dominion we will
be giving government control a very
generous break. Applying this to the
per capita consumption of spirits would
leave the figure $40, which is still a
very serious increase over .204 In 1928.
Government control as a means Of re-
ducing the consumption Of legally pur-
| chased spirits has not been a success
Ontario, Drury went on, was the only
Canadian province in which sincere
attempt" at government control had
been made, but he added that the at
tempt had fallen down."
The witness said any home, tent or
hotel room was considered legal place
Tor consumption of liquor in Canada
and that only drinking in an auto
mobile was barred.
Some Drink in Cars.
Unfortunately, people do consume
liquor in automobiles" he said
Drury testified that the bulk Of Cana
dian bootleggers sold government store
products. Those who patronized the H.
licit statesmen, he said, did not object to
the high price, but were largely those
who were barred from purchasing from
the government, such as minors. Illicit
distilling In Canada, he said, was not
important
One system of obtaining bootleg sup
plies, he said, was to divert boatload
of legally purchased liquor after 1t had
started from port by landing the boat
there.
In Quebec, he added, 1t was well
known that automobile loads destined
for American rum runners were obtained
by the simple expedient of having the
driver fill the machine at the govern
ment store, carrying one bottle az
time from the store to the curb.
Drury, described liquor sales in Can
ada as tremendous and increasing.
I'm the first full year--1928, $48, $685.
SOL worth of liquor was sold," he said.
Last year the amount was SIS, $780,
$50 ola stable drink bill for prov
ince Of approximately 100000 popula-
ton.
Arrests for Drunkenness Increase.
I'm the second place, arrests for
drunkenness, ySlicIr were 1870 in 1929,
had increased to 1891 In 1928.
breaches of the liquor act for the same
wear were 1888 and 1912 respectively.
Even more instructive are the figures
for Jail commitments. For the province
these totaled in 1924, S0S6. In 1926,
the last full year Of prohibition, they
were 1871. In 1927, with f1ve months
of LIQUOR sale, they we're 20,672. In 1928,
the first full year Of government con-
troll, they were 23,786.
"The effect on deaths from motor &C
cidents is very noticeable. In 1923 there
were In ontario 236 fatalities from this
cause. In 1926, the last full year Of
prohibition, there were 298. In 1928,
the first full year Of government con-
troll. there were ATT. Last year these
were $751;