OUR DRINK BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1101, 27 May 1913, Page 4

OUR DRINK BILL.

EAST YEAR’S INCREASE.

According to the annual “drink bill” compiled on behalf of the New Zealand Alliance, New Zealanders last year spent 2s 3d per head more on alcoholic refreshment than they did in 1911. This year’s statement, which was compiled for the Alliance by Mr A. S. Adams, was issued on Friday. It shows the “drink bill” for the Dominion for the year 1912, based upon the Customs returns of liquor cleared for home consumption and beer manufactured in the Dominion. The basis of valuation 1 adopted by the Rev K. Walker, who for many years up to 1910 prepared and published a similar annual statement, has been retained, although, as stated by him in his report for 1910, the cost to the actual consumer is probably more. The period covered is from January Ist to December 31st, last. Mr Adams’ figures are as under:— DRINK BIU, FOR 1912. £ Spirits, 863,796 gallons, at £2 per gallon (increase 71,006 gallons) 1,727,592 Wines, 153,616 gallons, at £2 per gallon (increase 10,464 gallons) 307.232 Imported beer, 296,380 gallons, at 6s per gallon (increase 22,730 gallons) 88,914 Beer brewed in New Zealand, 9,787,120 gallons, at 4s per gallon (increase 260,160 gallons) 1,957,424 Total £4,081,162 The total for the year 1911 - was 2^3,859,371, and the increase last year was ,£221,791. The estimated mean population for 1912 was 1,039,016, which, with the number of Maoris, 49,844, gave a total of 1,088,860. The estimated - increase was 25,012. The cost of liquor per head for 1912 was £3 I 4 S and the cost of liquor per head for 1911 was £3 128 thus showing an increase last year of 2s 3d. The quantities of different liquors consumed per head of population work out as under : Spirits, .79 gallons; wines, .141 gallons ; beer, 9.26 gallons. An increase of 2s 3d per head is shown over 1911. In New South Wales the increase for the same period was 3s Sd. Mr Adams adds that it is right to say, also, that it the basis of computation adopted in New South Wales were applied in our case, the consumption per head would appear as ,£3 is 3d instead of £3 14s n}4d.

COMMENT ON THE NEED OF REFORM,

“The figures ought surely to give all thoughtful persons serious 'cause for reflection (proceeds the statement). The gross total of £4,081,162 spent on drink In one year in this little country speaks eloquently of the urgent need of reform. This sum would pay the whole of the passenger fares and freights for goods carried on all the railways in the Dominion, and in addition pay interest on the total cost of the whole railway system, and then leave a balance to credit. It would pay the whole cost of education three times over, and leave a balance sufficient to recoup to the Treasury the whole liquor revenue. If the money were distributed among the persons employed in our reproductive industries, it would increase their wages over 50 per cent. “Taking the average household of five persons, the average expenditure on drink per household (including children pf ell ages) works out at £lB 14s g}4d. Now, it is of course beyond question that in many homes all the inmates are practically abstainers, and the same remark applies to the inmates of asylums, hospitals, gaols and other public institutions. It follows, therefore, that the charge for drink upon the income of homes where the inmates use (or abuse) it, must attain a much higher average,

“There is a great outcry about the cost of living and kindred subjects. What about Cutting out the drink bill ? That is assuredly worth trying in addition to other reforms? Richard Cobden truly said, ‘the temperance reform lies at the rppt pt all sppjal reforms.' *'