LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2831, 24 July 1916, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE DRINK PROBLEM '

Sir,—Like the poor, "the . drink" is always with, us—only more so. The latest panacea, and one of tho most foolish, is' six o'clock closing of hotels. The unanswerable reply to that proposal is, tliat only when taking a drink 19 shown to be a business instead of a recreation, should such an act be forbidden during recreation hours and permitted during business hours. The more sensible suggestion would be to close the 'oars curing business hours, and open them during recreation hours, that is to say,, to Oo" exactly the opposite to what is pioposed by those "reformers.'' The fact of the matter is that irntn.v people aro envious of the profits made by publican?. One hears those who ought to know better asking why hotels should be allowed to trade .from early morning till 10 o'clock at night, when nearly all pther tradesmen liave to close at six o'clock. There may be some point in this, if the number of hours of trading is equalised, but to mate the hours identical by the clock is ridiculous. For the same reason, why should picture theatres open in the evening, or surgeons conduct operations f It is claimed by the writer that great benefit would result from bars being closed during tho day. The most dangerous hour- is 5 o'clock. A man's stomach is empty then, and alcohol far moro Harmful than when taken after a meal. If the seductive nobbier cannot be obtained, many a wile, anxious for hubby to bo home at tlie psycholog. ical moment when the succulent steitk is "done to a turn," will receivo her lord with the eye of gladness and the smik of amiability. And when the inner man has been dined, and, pernaps, wined (leave out the "h," please, Mr. Comp), shall'the outer then, leave the better half, and, if he is fortunate, the olive branches, in it word, his "home," to.drink with outsiders? llo' will 'not have much of a home if tie does. And daydrinking is detrimental to business.

Undoubtedly, if the hours are to, be limited during which the b&l'3 are 'to remain open, the opening hour should bo 7 p.m. But, nevertheless, I still hold that the root of the evil is the quality of the liquor. The amount of adulterated stuff sold, in this country under the name of "beer" is a scandal—a crime —and has rendered New Zealand a byword throughout tho mercantile mariDe. Mr. Massey knows something about it, and promised only some weeks ago to "confer with the Minister of Public Health." In the meantime the people continue to buffer, and tho brewgrs to benefit, but woe betide the milkman who adds a small percentage of water, innocuous wa'ter, to the juice of the cow!--. I am, etc., ■ ■ _ J. MARJORIBANKS STEELE. Auckland, July 21, 1916.

TAXI-CAB CHARGES

A SOLDIER'S COMPLAINT. ' Hay I crave a tow lines "f .vour vainable space to air a. little grievance? Five of us, all men of tlie Fifteenth Reinforcements, hired 1 car to tako lis to Petone on Friday, Only 21. Now, as tlio faro for car hire is 12s. (id. per hour, you may guess that wo' were surprised when ho chargod us .£2 10s. for the trip, which could not have taken us more than three-quarters of an hour. As that was his charge we could not stand arguing thft poiut in tho street, so what could we do hut pay? Tho only thing we • could do. was to take his number, which we did. and intend dropping a lino to tho right quarter. ' Now, il ■seems strange to men to be imposed ou so. much by civilians in that manner, when, before wo became soldiers, wo were in better positions than he. Though we. know our few shillings are gone, a Vord' of protest may protect the' few fihillings of others later. In conclusion lot me say that we of the Fifteenth protest against, this imposition. He seemed to forget that the soldier is in receipt of ss. per day, so can ill-afford to.spena two days' pay in three-quarters of an hour. Hoping to rtceire .your attention, —I am, etc., JUST A ITI'TEBNTH BLOKE.