THE DRINK BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2180, 2 May 1908, Page 4

THE DRINK BILL

THE DOMINION’S CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. FIGURES FOR 1907. Tlio Rev Edward Walker, who lor some yours past has annually calculated and published the dominion’s drink bill, has just got out'the figures for the last year. In issuing them, with those of tho previous year for comparison, he says they reveal a state of tilings to afford laughter for those who can be jubilant over tho increaso of human degradation and wreckage. In spite of tho restraint exercised by a widespread temperance educational propaganda, and tho increasing number who take a keen interest in national temperance reform and personal total abstinence, tho figures show an increased consumption, not merely in proportion to increase of population, but’ per head of population also, to the ominous extent of -Is Bd s per head. “It means,” ho says,“that prosperous times increaso the means of indulgence to tho victims of tho drink habit, and also that drinking lias become, as lias been boforo pointed out,more widespread among young men, and that a certain proportion of them are becoming increasingly victims of tlio habit.’ Ho contends that, in view of the teachings of modern science upon alcohol, the licensing of its beverage sale involves the State in grave responsibility for tlie consequences; that in licensing districts n majority of tlio voters should have power to exclude it; that instruction in tho nature and effects of alcohol should bo obligatory in all public schools; and that for physical, economic, and moral reasons it is time that the municipal governing bodies of tho Dominion followed the example of so many borough councils in tho United Kingdom, and public authorities on tho Continent of Europe, in posting up educative and warning placards respecting the character and physical effects of alcoholic liquors. Mr. Walker says it is necessary to repeat that tho drink bill is calculated from the Customs and Excise returns, upon the basis of tho whole being purchased by tlio gallon, at per gallon rates, and that as much of tho liquor is purchased over the bar by the glass at a much higher rate than at per gallon, besides being often increased by dilution, adulteration, etc., to say nothing of increase by illicit manufacture from essences, exciso frauds, and tho like, tho actual cost to tho consumers must be enormously greater than tlio fig-, ures indicate. Tho figures show an increase of considerably over a quarter of a million for tho past year in tho expenditure by consumers, namely, £307,258, tho actual increased expenditure in a single year being probably not less than half a million, a, fact that should be sufficiently appalling to legislators, public teachers, civic authorities and all who take an interest in the economic and. social public welfare. The figures for last year bring the total estimated drink expenditure in New Zealand to date, on the Customs -and Excise basis indicated, to £116,95-5,310. tho real cost of the liquor to the consumers and the country, direct and indirect, being almost fabulous. The following are the figures:— '

*The population is calculated by taking the mfeati of tlio four quarterly estimates issued by the RegistrarGeneral and adding Maoris (47,731 as per last census), and not the population (12,340) of the Cook and other islands in the Pacific annexed to the colony in 1901. fThc slight apparent excess in these totals is accounted for by unexpressed fractions of a farthing in the amounts standing over them.

JANUARY 1 to DECEMBER 31 (inclusive), 1906. Cost per Cost to Head of Gallons. Consumers. Population i£ £ s. d. Spirits at £2 per gallon, £692,324increase. £57,498 1,381,648 1 9 3S Wines, at £2 per gallon, £118,107 ; in- . crease, £4947 236,214 0 5 0 Imported beer at 6s per gallon, £251,- ! 610: increase, £33,310 ... 75,483 0 1 7 Colonial beer at 4s per gallon, £8,318,880 ; ill crease, £522,640 ... 1,663,776 1 15 2 i £3,360,1211£3 11 1) "Estimated population, 944,490; increase., 29 a 4d(J. JANUARY 1 to DECEMBER 31 (inclusive), 1907, Spirits at £2' per gallon, £740,931; increase, £48,1 10 : 607 ... 1,481,802 Wines, at £2 7J per gallon, £146,034; increase, £27,927 ... 292,008 0 6 01 Imported beer at 6s per gallon, £279,070 jincreaso, 0 1 Si £27,460 ... 83,721 Colonial beer at 4s per gallon, £9,048,640 ; increase, £729,760 ... 1,809,728 1 17 5 £3,667,379 t£3 15 10 Increase ... £307,258 £0 4 81 "Estimated population, 967,1)17 ; increase, 22.02 1.