Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPT. 17th, 1920. THE DRINK QUESTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPT. 17th, 1920. THE DRINK QUESTION.

V return presented to Parliament shows ■hat during the past eighteen months ■here has been a great increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquor in the Dominion. For the six months ended last June the total consumption was nearly eight and a half million gallons—which measures out at nearly fourteen gallons per head per annum. These firm res are very large, and it would appeal*, to reflect the living conditions of the country—which are higher in standard now than ever they were. Mcfney is plentiful for various reasons There are better wages; more money is coming into the country for its commodities; bonuses and gratuities to the tune of millions have been paid out; and there is a general air of prosperity pervading the whole Dominion. Luxuries arc more in demand, and despite the increased cost for liquor, it has grown more and more in demand. In 1911 the per capita consumption of liquof was just over ten gallons and two years ago just under ten gallons. It is clear that there has been a violent reaction, rand we must attribute it to the greater buoyancy running through trade, commerce and production throughout New Zealand. While this very substantial increase is to remarked upon, it does not appear that there is a marked increase in drunkenness and crime attributable to drink. This is so far satisfactory where he liquor is mostly consumed is not disclosed, but it does not appear- that the -much maligned—in the past—and alleged “wet” West Coast is a great transgressor. The population here generally appears to he on its usual good behaviour, arid there are no evidences of special demoralisation as a result of the traffic in drink. In regard to the question of the control of the liquor traffic, it is interesting to note from a further return presonted to the House thqt in prohibition districts, prohibition does not prohibit. The return shows that during 1919, a total of 384,500 gallons of liquor were sent into the thirteen no-license districts of the Dominion. This large total does not, of course, represent the whole of the consumption in the districts referred to and it will be of some interest to enumerate the several districts, and give a record of the importations to quench the thirst of the no-lieense areas: Ashburtdn 29,983 Bruce 28,262 Clutha 21,387 Eden 15,854 Grey Lynn 5,339 Invercargill 98,301 Masterton 47,771 Mataura 49,103 Oamaru 49,456 Ohinemuri i 19,420 Roskill 59 Wellington South 10,362 Wellington Suburbs 9,203 Such places as Eden Grey Lynn and Roskill are adjacent to Auckland and other licensed areas; so also are Wellington South and Suburbs adjacent to areas in which liquor is procurable and the import given in those five instances, is of course much below the actual consumption. The figures are arresting even in themselves, and give food for thought as to the extent of the drink traffic even in localities where folk have to ;;o to considerable trouble to obtain supplies. The situation is suggestive of the public inclination, and to the great difficulty there would be to enforce universal prohibition were New Zealand called upon to gc "dry.”