The Dominion. MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1915. THE ANTI-DRINK CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2427, 5 April 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1915. THE ANTI-DRINK CAMPAIGN

It has been made abundantly clear during the past month or two that the labour situation in Britain has threatened to seriously interfere with the efforts of the British forces in the field. It has not been made at all clear,.however, how far this state of things is due to ignorance amongst the working population of the tremendous nature of the issues at stako in the present war'; or to unworthy labour agitation: or, as is now suggested, to over-indulg-ence on the part of the workers in intoxicating drinks, For the moment there appears to be a widespread opinion that over-drinking is at tho root of the trouble, and a movement has been started to check this evil. So serious indeed has the position become that His Majesty the King has expressed his readiness to set an example to the nation by abolishing the use of intoxicants from the_ Royal Household, and many leading public men have intimated their intention to do likewise. While it is probable that other influences than over-indulgence in drink have been responsible for some of the labour troubles which have hampered the efforts of the military authorities, it seems to have been clearly enough established that drink is an important factor. For some time past various English papers have commented on the increase in tho amount of drunkenness amongst women, which is attributed to tbe fact that under the arrangements made by the Government the wives and women dependents of soldiers at the front have been receiving more money than they have been accustomed to, and have been spending it unwisely. So also lin many cases with tho workmen, who, as the result of the war, have found labour plentiful and - their customary earnings considerably augmented by tho demands on them for overtime work. Naturally enough those engaged in factories and workshops producing materials required in connection with the. war have been especially busy; and the same pressure has existed at most of the large ports where shipping has been concentrated and at the ship-building vards. Unfortunately the tendency on the part of many of these workers appears to have been to. celebrate the good times from the wage-earning point of view, by spending the money in drink. The result has been reduced efficiency and lost time in tho very departments of industry where it i is most vital that the highest possible pressure of speed and efficiency shall be maintained. With the nation practically fighting for its existence and in a large measure dependent for its success on the workers who are producing the munitions of war ana assisting in their transport to the_ soldiers at the front, it goes without saying that such a condition of things cannot be allowed to continue. Moreover, it is plain that drastic measures are required to meet the situation. Early in the war the Tsar prohibited the sale of vodka in Russia, and the Russian Army became, in effect, an army of abstainers. It was a tremendous step to take. It meant not only an enormous loss of revenue, but it _ was also a direct and autocratic interference with the habits of tho people. Yet so far as can be gathered from cablegrams and from our foreign files tho restriction imposed has been accepted witli the minimum of friction. The Army and the people have recognised that vital issues arc at stake and that sacrifices have to be made. It is claimcd that the prohibition of the sale of vodka has had an appreciable effect on the Russian Army and has improved its qualities as a lighting machine. Our other great Ally, France, is now said to be contemplating a similar step by prohibiting the sale of the French national drink, absinthe. It is not a time for half-measures. If it is found that the sale of alcoholic drinks is, through over-indulgence, hampering the efforts of any of the Allies, I lien plainly it is the duty of the nation concerned, not only to (he other nations concerned, but for its own selflirijtafiMofl,- Ui wittKjVf the Great Britain it dcsis not

to Ijo regarded as necessary to go to extremes. What is suggested apparently is a' stricter regulation of the sale of liquor in certain districts by greatly restricting the hours at which it may bo sold. Should this not prove effective—and quite possibly it may not, for' liquor may be bought in quantities while the hotels are open and the drinking be continued in the home long after tho bars are closed—then further measures will havo to be taken. Even those who do not. believe in- tho coercive measure of State, prohibition on a majority vote will not be inclined, under existing conditions, to nmke any strong protest should the British Government deem it necessary to temporarily impose on them the extreme obligation of compulsory abstinence. This step is hardly likely to be taken, but much will depend on the effect of the new regulations now under consideration.