LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LIQUOR LAW IN ENGLAND.

Sir, —I have no interest in what Mr. "Scotus" thinks of Mr. Walker as a recruiting agent, but as he is doing the nation's work, I respect Mr. Walker, no matter what his trade or occupation. How little in that way ha 6 "Scot/us" done? It is when "Scotus" attempts to olucidate tho liquor law of England, and says it ought to bo adopted m New Zealand, that I am tempted to say that "Scotus" does not know what he is talking about. Liquor restrictions are imposed in certain areas in England by the Liquor Board of Control, which asumes absolute control of the district, and may purchaso or close any hotel at will, paying compensation. The board may, and does, fix tho hours of sale at all hotels within tho restricted areas. The board, for tho convenience of workers, has set up canteens in munition factories, engineering shops, and dockyards, so that those engaged therein may have such alcoholic drinks as they require without leaving their work.

Man 3* protests from the labour organisations have been made against the restrictions of the Board of Control, and so vehement have these protests become —3000 women of the Women's Branch of the Union of Printing and Paper Workers sent in a petition asking for an extension of the hours when beer oould be bought for their dinner that concessions have been made in the interests of industrial peace.' The general effect of these restrictions has not been satisfactory all round. The brewers and spirit merchants are, however, satisfied, and their satisfaction is found in the fact that drunkenness has decreased 50 per cent, in convictions sincq the restrictions came into force, and the drink consumption expressed in sovereigns has increased from eighty to eighty-eight millions sterling in six months._ The decline in drunkenness is a delight to the temperance advocate as wall as to tho brewer, but the delight of the former is mixed with consternation that the drink bill should be so enormously increased. He cannot understand it. The, temperance advocates "deplore the seriousness of the drinking habits of women," but do nothing to lessen this growing evil in England.

Yet "Scofcus" would hare the system of liquor control in England transferred to New Zealand. He knows not what.he asks. We have here in New Zealand a diminution of drunkenness and a lessened consumption, and a reduced expenditure upon liquor without any interference in the present system. The war is preaching sobriety more effectively than ivas ever done by a whole army of prohibitionist advocates. New Zealand is prosperous, and an increased consumption of luxuries may follow, but under present conditions we are a sober people —England has to become 50 per cent, more sober before her people come on a par with New Zealanders—and it would bo tempting Providence and a sober peoplo to do as the short-sighted "Scotus" proposes.—l am, etc., ANGLICANUS. [Onr correspondent is in error in assuming that Mr. Walker is a hotelkeeper. He is chairman of the Bulls Patriotic Society, and in that capacity wrote defending a hotelkecper who is also a recruiting agent, against what he regarded as aspersions contained in a letter written by "Scotus."] EASTBOURNE FERRY SERVICE. Sir, —The writer was one of the few who travelled by the 9.30 boat from Wellington to Eastbourne on Friday night, and which boat was thirty minutes late. The reason was chiefly due to the obsolete system of taking tickets that still holds in this service. It surely should be simple enough to'take these fares on the boat, and keep faith with ihe time-table, rather than hold passengers up on the gangway for half an hour or more. Especially in view of the'fact that so comparatively few people travel 011 these boats after 6.20 p.m.—l am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO. January 24.