THE DECLINE OF DRUNKENNESS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 20, 24 January 1881, Page 4

THE DECLINE OF DRUNKENNESS.

The convictions for drunkenness id th 9 colony in the year 1878 reached the formidable total of 5353, or one conviction to every eighty-one of the populatioc. There is no record of the cases in which the eaote offanders were more than once oonvioted within the year, and of course a large allowance ought to be made accordingly, though for the purpose of our comparison it does not materially matter. In 1879 (be number of convictions was 4888, showing a large fulling off. This aives a proportion to the estimated population at (he end of the year of one conviction to 95. Stated in a different way, there is a decrease on the former year of 8.6 per cent. The decline of drunkenness, es stated by these figures is greater than the decrease of crime. In 1878 the number of persons chfireed with criminal offenoes was 22,237, or one person to every 19 of the population. In 1879 the number charged was 22,492, or one person to 20 of the population. The decline of drunkenness bos been more or, less marked for several years. What is the cause ? We think (says the K( Wanganui Herald ") if the statistics were co arranged it would be found that the cause is simply the yearly increase of persons born in tho colony to those arriving in it from other countries. There can hardly be n doubt ihe£ the young colonial has not the same taste for intoxicating liquors as thoBQ who bring their habits with them from " over the ccc." Whatever the true cause may be, it is gratifying to find that this ouree on our civilization is diminishing. We cannot vesture to hope (bat the diminution will continue to prooeed in the same ratio that it has done in 1879, but if we oan onlj con* tinuo to show some advance each year, we may rest satfefied in the assurance that, as Germany has wiped out the stigma resting upon her at the begin* ning of tho present century, so New Zealand will be able, even before tbe end of the prerent century, to say that drunkenness, as a prevalent national vice, uta become a thing of the past.