THE DRINK BILL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1890, 27 October 1913, Page 11

THE DRINK BILL.

Sir, —Your contributor, "Moderate," utilises two columns of to-day's issue of The Dominion for the purpose of making some "startling comparisons" between lnve-rcargill (under No-License) and other towns which still adhero to the open-bar system—a system which is dear to tho hearts of so many monopolists. "Moderate's" comparisons make Juvercargill suiter so severely that 1 felt dubious about, the accuracy of his figures, and on reference to the Year Book 1 find th.at_ tho population oi' that town is--15,858, and not 12,782, as given by your contributor. I include tho suburbs, as residents in these parts of a town enjoy the "flowing bowl" equally with residents 'of tho- central portion of a town. As "Moderate" misleads yo-ur readers regarding Invercargill's population to the oxtent of 3000, it is only reasonable to infer that his other figures will-be equally inaccurate. "Moderate" gives the population of tho licensed area as 608,369, and that of No-License areas as 340,080, the figures being for the year 1906. In that year there were six "dry" areas giving an average population of over 68,000 to each electorate, and 70 "wot" areas, giving an average population of less than 9000 to every licensed electorate! Does "Moderate" expect that lie should bo taken seriously? Surely not—l am, etc., ' "NUT CRACKER."