ITC THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEOTA.TOR. " 1 SIR,---I have been
much interested in your articles and letters in connexion with the drink traffic, and think now is the time for the Government to step in and buy up "the trade" on a basis of so many years' purchase, give the holders market value for their stocks of whisky, and retain the best men in "the trade" to run the business for the Government. The business being centralized would free a number of eligible men for other more important work. Your correspondent Mr. Charles Stewart fears the amount of capital required for such a purchase might deter ecouomists from considering such a scheme, but would it not be possible for "the trade" to be paid by Government interest-bearing bonds, the interest for which would more than be earned from sales, which sales would leave a handsome profit for the Government, which profit could be used either to liquidate the bonds or be placed towards reduction of the heavy taxation the nation sees looming ahead P If the Government owned "the trade," it could then bring in total prohibition if it thought fit, but it would be bad policy to bring in prohibition before all whisky bonds had been paid off.--I am, Sir, &o.,
CONSTANT READER.
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