DRINK TRAFFIC IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2425, 1 April 1915, Page 5

DRINK TRAFFIC IN ENGLAND

; INTERFERENCE WITH WAR FACTORIES A BIG PUBLIC QUESTION (llec. April 1, 1.5- a.m.) London, March 31. The newspapers are giving prominence to the drink problem. Tho "Daily Telegraph" states that Cabinet yesterday discussed the drink question and the production of war munitions. It is proposed to submit new legislation to Parliament, enabling the authorities to. regulate the hours at public-houses in all districts. The total closing of the bars is not contemplated. Legislating will bo confined to the duration of the war. The Government is desirous of safeguarding the legitimate interests of the publicans. 1 The "Daily Mail" says that the Gov- ■ ernment practically decided recently to reduce the hours for selling liquor, but on later information revived the question of prohibition. The Admiralty and War Office supplied startling reports as to the time losses. The Director of Transports has stated that it takes thrice tho time to get the' transports away, as compared to the time taken before the war. A general prohibition would require Parliamentary sanction. The Government is also considering the prohibition of wines and spirits, but is ' not interfering with beer. lie "Daily News" states that Mr. Lloyd George proposed total prohibi- ■ tion during the war, including private clubs, but Cabinet lias not arrived at ' a decision. The general opinion in Ministerial circles is that further restriction of hours will not suffice to stop j the delays in the munition factories, j The "Morning Advertiser" (organ of j the Licensed Victuallers) states that s the licensed trade is ready to co-oper-ato with the Government in any reasonable remedy to provide against tho evil, but prohibition would be too big a pull. Ship-builders state that the defaulters are not drunkards, but they take sufficient drink to become slack, and disinclined to work. They get high wages and spend largely on drink. In two typical cases of attendance sheets in the ship-building trade, out of nine - hundred possible working days, 290 0 were lost through drinking, being j merely two days per man per week. • MEN RESENT CRITICISM. J (Eec. April 1, 1.5 a.m.) 1 London, March 21. r The executive of the Boilermakers' J and Shipbuilders' Union angrily denounce tn& libels on their members, particularly Mr. Lloyd George' 6 statements. 1 ■ | r ' :