Beer and Blue Ribbon.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 54, 9 October 1883, Page 2

Beer and Blue Ribbon.

Already is beginning to become manifest in New Zealand, a* in Great Britain, the fiscal influence of the latest temperance movement. The Blue Ribbon A rmjr has very materially modified the conditions under which the revenue of the United Kingdom is raised. The fallingoff in the revenue derived from alcoholic liquors is too large and persistent to be | due to any mere casual disturbing influence, and is now distinctly recognised as being a direct result of the extension of total abstinence principles. The same thing is beginning to be felt in New Zealand. Careful investigations haTe demonstrated plainly that there is a substantial diminution in the average consumption of alcoholn* liquors in this colony. The effect on the beer duty cannot yet be accurately ascertained, bnt that an effect is being produced is unquestionable. It is nothing new for the consumptioa of beer to be less in winter than in summer, and we do not doubt that the next six months will show a large increase on the half year just expired. But the noteworthy fact is this — that September exhibits a decrease of some 55 per cent, as compared with the preceding month, and about 10 per cent, as against September, 1883. Now this cannot be due to winter non-thiretiness, for the decrease of September, 1883, it as against a winter month on the one hand and the same spring month of last year on the other. And the authorities put it down to the growth of Blue Bibboninm. We sincerely hope that they are right, for w* conid well afford to dispense with the lost revenue" from iloohol and to replace it by some other \ impost, if only this change were rendered *y necessary by the improved sobriety of the public habits. — Post.