240 THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM 
in force, whatever they may be, its strength can always 
be tested by means of a referendum. This oppor- 
tunity for legal remedy removes the feeling of com- 
pulsion which is so apt to incite evasion of the law, 
and the Canadians are for the most part a law-abiding 
people, and are very temperate. They have pro- 
gressed much further than we have in the direction of 
controlling or prohibiting the sale of alcoholic liquors; 
but I think that the chief moral to be drawn from their 
methods of control lies in the scope they afford for 
trying experiments and subsequently for testing public 
opinion by means of a referendum. 
We have seen that in Great Britain a small step 
in the direction of testing public opinion at regular 
intervals has been made in Scotland, but the local 
option areas are too small, and the choice of options 
is too limited. Areas of larger size ought to have the 
right to choose, not only Amitation or no-change, but 
schemes of reform such as that now in force in the 
Carlisle area. No-licence, on the other hand, because 
of its drastic compulsion, should be allowed only if 
desired by an overwhelming vote, such as a three- 
fourths majority. 
If an area does succeed in introducing a scheme of 
reform, with improved public houses controlled by 
disinterested management and other methods on some 
such plan as those now in force in the Carlisle area, 
what effect will it have upon the sobriety of the 
inhabitants 7 ‘We have seen that the evidence obtained 
at Carlisle, though not absolutely conclusive, does 
point to a distinct improvement of sobriety, especially 
during the last few years. This improvement appears 
to depend chiefly on the fact that no pressure is brought