THE LIQUOR QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 296, 8 September 1920, Page 8

THE LIQUOR QUESTION

A PARLIAMENTARY RETURN CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BIG INCREASE REPORTED The presentation of a return showing tho consumption of liquor in nc-license districts gave riso to a discussion on the liquor question in the Houso of Eepresentatiyos. There are now thirteen no-license districts, including Boskill, which was formed Qf portions of two districts in which no-license had been carried. Tho population of tlio nolieense areas is 205,208, and tho amount of liquor consumed in theso districts last year, according- to tho official returns, was 381,501 gallons, or at the rate cf 1.8 gallons per head. Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) claimed that the return showed the succcss of prohibition. The consumption of liquor in the Dominion as a whole was at tho

rate of just upon 14 gallons per head, lie stated, whilo the no-licenso districts had a consumption of only 1.8 gallons per head. The member proceeded to say that during the last eighteen months there had been an alarming increase in tho consumption of liquor in New Zealand. The consumption during the first six months of the present year had been 8.'i!)7,000 gallons, and this quantity, calculated on a, yearly gave a per capita consumption of 13.89 gallons, the highest ever recorded in this country. The pre-war consumption per head had been at the rate if between 10 and 11 gallons per head. Mr. M'Combs regarded tho figures as alarming. Many families did not use alcoholic liquor at all, and the amount consumed by the other families, chiefly by tho bread-winners of the families, must be correspondingly increased. Hoiv did tho Government propose to grapple with "this ever-increas-ing evil?" The member-reminded the House that the recent Labour Conference at Carlisle had voted in favour of prohibition by a very large majority. "The "arguments put forward by the honourable member aro simply pitiable, asserted Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisbornc). The official figures purporting to show tho consumption of liquor in no-license districts were worthless, ho continued, since they did not take into account liquor that was carried into these districts in retail quantities. The return was really a record of permits, and no permit was required if the quantity did not exceed two gallons. "It is tlie nolicenso drinkers who are swelling up the drink returns of the Dominion, added Mr. Lysnar. "They are getting so very much into the no-licenso districts." The reason' why convictions for drunkenness were, fewer in no-license areas than in license areas was that tho sly grog-shops kept their customers in seclusion whilo tnov ,wero drunk. The liquor question would have to bo solved by the moderate men in disregard of the views of the extremists on either side. _ 'ii These remarks brought Mr. L>. M. Isitt (Christcliurcli North) ■to his feet. Mr. Isitt-charged Mr. Lysnar with burlesquoing nil important social question. lie proceeded to advance, arguments in favour of prohibition. ITe thought that fhe liugo increase in the nation's drink bill raised a vory grave moral issue, llio liquor trade was wasting the people s mouey and directly discouraging thrift, which ought to be an important steadying influence at a time when men wero turning away from constitutional reform and seeking all sorts of irregular and unconstitutional methods. Mr. H. Atinore (Nelson) also condemned tho return as worthless. He told tlie House that State control in portions of Britain during the war had been a huge S. Malcolm (Clutha) rotorted that tho liquor taken into nolicenso districts in small lots without permits was inconsiderable in quantity, and could not possibly account for tho wide difference in the per capita figures quoted by Mr. M'Combs. Mr J. Bitchener (Waitaki) assured the i House that uo-license districts were prosperous and sober. Mr. Lysnar, by way of personal ex- 1 planation revised his statement ooncern- 1 ing the "no-licensc drinkers." He meant that prohibition districts, not prohibition people, were the grchtesf. drinkers. Mr. E. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) wanted to know why the people concerned in' tho manufacture and sale of liquor were so violently opposed to prohibition if its effect was to increase drinking. The statement that prohibition increased drinking.was as absurd as the suggestion that Nelson would be ruined if it had to produce butter and cheese instead of hops and barley. Mr. Wright had something to say about American workers owning motorcars under prohibition. He drew rejly from Mr P Fraser (Wellington Central), who said that poverty was net caused by drink, and that prohibitim would not solve industrial or economic problems. The-debate was brought to a close by ■ Mr A. Hamilton (Wallace), who said that tho return was a trustworthy one, ■ and that in any case the drinking that took place in no-licenso districts was the , fault of the neighbouring license . districts If liquor could no- be nought on the borders of the no-liccnw districts, the amount of drinking would bo fur- < ther reduced.

THE LIBERAI PARTY MR. T. M. WIT/FORD ELECTED LEADER. A meeting cf tho Liberal Party was held last evening, Mr. G. Forbes, the whip, in the chn : .T. The following 'resolution was proposed and carried, members standing: "The Liberal Party desires to place upon record ife appreciation of the great services rendered to tho party by tllie late Hon. W. D. S. MncDonakl, and desires to tender to Airs. Mac Donald and family its sincere sympathy in the sad loss which they have sustained" It was proposed by Mr. T. IC. Sidey, and seconded hy the. Hon. A. T. Ngafn, tlwt Mr. T. M. Wilford should be appointed Leader of the Liberal Party. This resolution wa3 carried. Mr. Wilford was born on June 20, 18707 of Quaker parentage. He is a son of Dr. J. G. F. "WiOford. He was first elected to Parliament in IS9G, nnd he has held a. seat continuously sineo ■lhat time. He has been Mayor of Wellington, chairman of the Wellimrton Harbour Board, • chairman of the Hariwurs Conference, chairman of committees of tho House of Representatives, and a Minister of the Crown in the National Governmeuil. Ho i<s a commissioner of sinking funds for the citv of Wellington, and one of the New Zealand trustees of St. John Ambulance Associat.on. PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE PRIME MINISTER'S PLEDGED WORD "Every plank in that platform will bo given effect to. A great many of them have been given effect to already," said the Prime Minister last night, pointing as he spoke to a. copy of the Reform manifesto issued during the recent election. "Before the torm of tho present Parliament has come to an end," Mr. 1 Mousey proceeded, "1 pledge my word to this House that if they liavo not nil been given effect- to it will not l>e my fault. I went to a lot of trouble over that manifesto, and I am glad to siiy that it appealed to the intelligence of the people of this country." INJUSTICEJTO_ NURSES ' Nurses who wish to qualify in midwifery are required tb give six months' service at one of tho St. Helen's hospitals. Mr. J. M'Conibs (Lvttelton) stated in the Houso of Representatives thnfl nuses with dependants could not afford to work for nothing for six months. «iml he asked the Minister of Public Health if fiho arrangement could be altered. Mr. Purr replied that tho matter was tinder- consideration. He had found when ho took oftico that nurses were required to pay a feo of ,£2O for instruction in midwifery, in addition lb working for six months in one of the hospitnls. ' Ho had already abolished this payment,