The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 27th., 1916. DRINK AND THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1569, 27 June 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 27th., 1916. DRINK AND THE WAR.

T 1 IP Government appear to lie very hit I f-hca ft ed in the mullet’ of luckline 1 )|ic <i o’clock closing of hotels during 1 the wur. A petition containingl .1.0(1,000 mimes hus been pi'esenl - ed to I’ui'iiutuenl urging (i o’clock closing. The petition is befoi'e the Petitions Comtuillee. und its report will be submitted to Cubinel und Parliament ut un curly dute. Prohibitionists und Trude fuel ions u re holding public meetings to educute public opinion for und against tin* proposul. Depiitationisls for und ue'uinsl the proposul huve waited upon the Prime Minister, but- the kilter hus not so fur committed himself, except to suy (hut Parliamenl will have un opportunily to discuss the mutter, und if found necessury will deul with it in (he Wur Regulat ions Hill. It uppeurs us if Ike (iovernmenl is dodging Ike issue. A purl altogether I rom (he hot tiir let off by Prohibit ionisls und Trude factious, whut. is the fundamenlul question behind it all.' The winning of the wur. In order to do this we wunl the muximiim of physicul Illness. If victory is going be to Ike side lliut cun hold out the longest, then the side (hut run provide the physiculiy lit must win. Does Ike consumption of beer und spirits ussisl to this end linunciully, nioi’ully or physiculiy.’ Ol course it doesn't. Then why in the nume of common sense does (he Government kesilule to curiuil the hours for the consumption of I hill, which is u, kindrunce to our success. Ijook ut the business from the linuneiul side. Xew Zealand's liquor bill for lust yeur w:is neurly -I t millions, ;m inel'Ciise on the previous vein' of ,C1(!1,527, the inereuse in (he expenditure per heud of (he populution is from .C> Ms to ,C 5 Ids Sd — u largin' inereuse limn in times of pence. Are we proud of this, when our statesmen und economists ure asking us to “jjj'oduce more und consume less!'” It: is un ulmosf entirely unproductive expenditure. Our Wellington evening contemporary, in deulinn 1 with this plmse of the (piestion, s;iys“ r flie bulk of Ike expenditure of ,C 3 I (is Sd per heud on alcoholic liquor represents ;i luxury, und one of the least indispensable of luxuries. If the ordinary consumer made up his mind to deny himself (his luxury, and devote the money thus saved to some wur fund, there should be an additional £2,(100,000 a year available for the purpose of winning the. war. We believe that the self-sacrifice of the people would be fully equal to this demand if the matter were properly put to them. Patriotism and economy are the grounds upon which the appeal must be based, if it is to carry any weight at all. We believe that on these grounds public opinion is already ripe for a measure of early closing, but the Government does not seem ready to move.

'Vila I is needed to SCcHTC effective action is some modern to organisation, which, without aspersing 1 the patriotism or (lie good sense of either I lie Trade or its enemies, will focus the special needs of (he hour.”’