LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 68, 14 December 1918, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DRINK, SLUMS AND INFLUENZA

Sir,—ln your issue of December. 9 you report Dr. Gibb's remarks at St. John's Church re drink and the epidemic. The doctor says the epidemic swept its victims oil' like ilies through drink awl dirt. Medical men say dirt was not the cause of Hie epidemic, nor drink. We had both these evils in our midst before (he epidemic came, and it is an undisputed fact that the epidemic was introduced seaborne and'hns afflicted all nations. If we had had a vigilant Minister of Public Health .and officers we would not 'nave suffered as we have done, and if municipal authorities had done their duty, and not allowed landlords to defy public health, then without slums wo would not breed drunkenness. AH would like- to see the drunkard extinct, but as long us slums are allowed we will have the blot of excessive alcoholic drinking. As a nation we can hold our heads up and feel proud of our position. The Commissioner of Police states that a net decrease of 3196 for this year, against 1916. The decrease of 2033 convictions for drunkenness shows clearly that we are on the right road, and as the proportion of offences was' reduced from 2.1(i to 1.98 under all crimes, offences, etc., speaks' volumes for the law-abiding and sobriety of the people. If Dr. Gibb would take hie coat off and get the public to demand that our workers should have decent houses to live in, then the degrading influences slums breed would disappear and drunkenness would not have its hold. Last month in this town we registered 127 deaths against a normal 20. As a voluntary helper and assisting in the block apportioned. 37 cases I can state that drink or filth had nothing to do with being attacked. It struck indiscriminate-' ly the user of alcohol and the teetotaller,. and in many cases the total abstainer suffered the most. If people would eatinoro vegetables and fruit and attend to their bowels I inn sure if attacked it would' be of a mild nature. As a New Zealander. I resent statements being issued that give people the impression that drink is a national evii—it is not, and no other country can equal us for our sobriety and law abiding. -I respectfully object to anyone slurring our good name as a nation us regards excessive drinking, and, so.sidestepping the real cause—bad administration, Governmental and municipal.—X Bm, eIC " WANGANUI. '