THE DRINK BILL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 251, 11 July 1918, Page 6

THE DRINK BILL

Sir,—Your contributor, ".A. S. Adams barrister," Ims written another Drinl Bill for New Zealand. Now, this pre cious Drink Bill allows "A. g, Adams harrieter," docs not know much abbu liquor, whatever ho may know alxm law. Here is a sample: "It appears," 11 re S "Y S . "that the fair value of the spirits of duty paid, was a< fraction over 365. pw is, Rallon in 1010; tllis'.yaliio in 1917 was i iir fraction loss than 31s. 3d. The ijriee hm p- therefore been raised by 50 per cent. v- while the value, duly pnid, was reduce* it 1C per cent." Putting that 'postulate nt anyone who knows anything at njl nbou io whisky and other spirits, must knov is that "A. S. Adams, barrister," has pn nS forward for pnblio nccoptanco a ronl °1 n'nd positive absurdity. And on thii '0 hp bases his Drink Rill! But tbn<: v '3' not all. Ho says: "The addition of 2! in ;) o r cjnk o f water reduces the prieo o: :1 > whisky to 255. per Dillon." Why, tin " duty alnno is 18?. per gallon, leaving , 7s per gallon for whisky—and whisky ii I s bond selling in Qrent Britain at di ppi ''" inllon! What does "A. S. Adams" kno'vi nbont whisky anyhow? Then he snyi publicans ore 02 per cent, nrofii , at fid. a fflass fnr spirits, and 188 pei ' ri>nt. profit nt 9d. Anyone who know: , nbout this subiect must now realise thai jj , "A. K. Adams'' bv so long ptftinsr as j ' Prohibitionist on. the Drink -Bill, has, tc eKnnge the metaphor, pit all his ejfgf addled, nnd is wnstltio; bin tirnn on in> •■•oiitli)!' fictitious Drink B*Hs. The tvntJ 1- is, that compared with tho Motherland '" our drink bill is relatively small. W( , spend, nllegedly four and three \ oua"*er millions (i.e., according to Mr. A ' R. Adams. Prohibitionist), nnd n^enrdins £ to another Prol'iliilionist (Mr. "Wilson), the people in Great Britain snent last 'w 250 millions in Honor. As one k i 9 to 45 so is 43 to 250. To be as temperate n as New Zealand England's drink bill ... would have to he GO millions less than it is—l am, etc., ' V.B.