SALE OF LIQUOR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 83, 27 July 1942, Page 2

SALE OF LIQUOR

FARMERS WANT MORE

CONTROL

Unanimous support was given by the annual con Terence of the 'sew Zealand Farmers' Union last week to a remit asking the Government to provide that the production of and facilities l'or the sale of liquor in New Zealand should be restricted for the period of the war and twelve months thereafter, "with a view to improving the efficiency of the war eilort and the conservation of grain, sugar and other supplies for essential purposes." The remit was moved by Mr H. Johnstone (Frankton) who said he was not a prohibitionist.-The manufacture of beer and stout in New Zealand totalled 20,000,000 gallons a. year and required 100.000 bushels of barley, 300,000 bushels of mall, and 3(j.oooewt of sugar. A broadcast from a glass works recently stated that a 24-hour day was being worked to produce 1,000,000 bottles a week. A great many of these bottles, no doubt, would be for beer. Consumption in the year 1930-37 was 13.000,000 gallons, and that had now risen to 20,000,000 gallons. Mir W. Collins (Maungaturoto), who said he was neither a prohibitionist nor a wowser, claimed that over-consumption of liquor impaired not only the efficiency of the fighting and work : ng men but also the women and girls. Those who had been in the cities must be appalled at the drinking by young women in hotel lounges. A great deterioration to the morale Avas threatened by increasing alcoholic consumption.