Prohibition of Liquor to Indians

OUR Bombay contemporary says:--The Indian Government is not willing to curtail the ‘rights’ of Indians to drink liquor and other intoxicants. The press might be gagged but not the drinker’s mouth. The Government of Fiji, however, enforces the law that in the colony no intoxicating liquor should be sold to Indian under any circumstances whatever without a written doctor’s order. We believe that this prohibition is intended to enable Indian workmen to give the best of their labour to the planters who employ them and is therefore an economic measure. Nevertheless it is worthwhile to enquire whether this law has benefited Indian coolies and enabled them to save their earnings. It is suggested that the Government does not prohibit gambling and other vices. The inference is that Indian coolies are demoralised. Prohibition of liquor will undoubtedly benefit the working class. Will Government adopt this reform?