• THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN S017TH - AFRICA.
[To THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."] SIB,—The able article on "The Natives of South Africa" in the Spectator of August 10th will command- the sympathy of all who desire the wellbeing of the human race irrespective of colour; but I submit that in that portion which deals-with• the liquor traffic you express too sanguine views. The question is not of the Transvaal only, but of all the South African Colonies, and the moment for making the sale of liquor a State monopoly is not propitious. The Dutch farmers make brandy on a large scale which is sold free of duty ; while they have to be conciliated and reconciled to the results of the war interference with their industry, although it may provide for them a constant and easy sale of their produce at fair prices to a Government buyer, will be deeply resented. But it is a fact that legislation prohibiting the sale of liquor to natives has become a farce, and the matter should be dealt with without delay. It is obviously necessary to place intoxicants as far as possible out of the reach of the natives, and this can best be effected by making them as expensive as possible by the imposition of a duty on domestic spirits as high as that upon spirits imported. This course would no doubt have been taken long since but for the importance of the Dutch vote in the Cape Parliament. The licensing system, which is on all fours with that at home, has pro- duced the same difficulties. • Restriction of licensing has forced the values of licensed properties to figures far in excess of value apart from the licenses, and set up the tied. house system in rigorous form, the trade being for the most part controlled by German capitalists. These and others engaged in the liquor traffic may have experienced inactivity during the war, but some have prospered exceedingly, and it is quite clear that the elimination of private interest in the liquor traffic would involve large outlay for compensation, and other difficulties. But a first and easy step to protect the blacks—and whites—from demoralisation is the imposition on spirits produced in the Colonies of the high duties on those imported into Cape Colony and Natal. The proceeds might be earmarked and applied hereafter to the extinction of private interest in the trade, should such a course be found necessary and expedient.—I am, Sir, &c., H. F: [Our correspondent's proposal does not meet the difficulty that under it there will be hundreds of persons personally anxious to push the retail sale of liquor, and to get the customer to take more liquor than is good for him, or than he really needs. Only the elimination of private profit will eli.minnte the pushing of sales.—ED. Spectator.]
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