DOMINION'S “DRINK BILL."

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2283, 31 May 1921, Page 1

DOMINION'S “DRINK BILL."

An estimate of the direct expenditure on alcoholic liquors in New Zealand during 1020, has been compiled by Mr 1\ B. Adams, of Dunedin. lie sets down the amount at £7'557.229, including £3,762,095 op beer of New Zealand manufacture, the balance representing imported spirits, wines, and beer. This shows an increase above the corresponding estimate for 3919 of £1,307,003, and above that for 1018 of £3,1-10,-008. The expenditure per head of the whole population, including Maoris, is given at £0 3s sd. Mr

Adams emphasises the dimensions of the “drink bill” by a number of comparisons with expenditure in other directions. Among them, lie states that the total of seven and a half-millions would pay the interest on war loans of £1,000,000,000 at T£ per cent., and leave a sinking fund of £3,000,000 for the year. It would pay the whole annual cost of our public schools, technical schools, high schools, and universities; postal, telegraph, and telephone services, public hospitals, and charitable aid. It is equal to all the whole of the rates, rents, and license fees received by all the cities, towns, harbour boards, and other local bodies in Now Zealand for tho year 1018-191.0. It is equal to 90 per cent, of all wages paid to mule and female workers engaged in actual production in the principal manufactories and works in New Zealand.