STARTLING DISCLOSURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1919, Page 3

STARTLING DISCLOSURE.

Marked increase in Brink lay ing Amongst Women. ity - What an Inspector of £ * Police cays. : lS (From Our Special Correspondent.) 1111 WELLINGTON, December 10. At the recent Licensing Committee Meeting held in Wellington, the Inspector of Police for the district, reported ks thus: rg . “ ... I regret to have to advise that my Sergeants have reported to me, as a result of their observas tion when visiting hotels, that drinking by females is very noticeably on the increase in the. l City, and is bey coming exceedingly prevalent, even in the company of men in the open bars 0 of sonije of the licensed* houses—,a even as many .as thirteen women were found drinking in one of the smaller hotels a few days ago. In _ l mentioning this matter, I wish to _ say that lam not reflecting upon s the genera'l conduct of the premises where the women are supplied with i liquor. I feel that this information j should be given you in the public interests.” , Unfortunately, this marked increase ■ in drinking amongst women is not cont fined to Wellington alone, but has be- , come an unpleasant feature of every 3 district in the Dominion. The problem is ono which is causing deep concern to those who have the welfnre of the nation at heart. Those who have considered the matter most fully and carefully have come to the conclusion that the only way in which to stop the growth of this dangerous custom is to entirely eliminate the License Trade, . and it is probable that the Prohibition vote at the forthcoming election will , he considerably incemsed as a result ) of the failure of the Trade to read the i signs of the times and set its house in j order. • I (Published by Arrangement.)