The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, AUGUST 16,1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5735, 16 August 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, AUGUST 16,1879.

We have received a copy of a circular letter which has been sent round to all the Good Templar and Temperance Lodges in New Zealand. The superiors writing from the Grand Lodge in Dunedin remind us that l —“A short time ago “ we sent to you for signatures a form of “petition addressed to the Legislature, “ praying for such legislation as would “ bring the traffic in alcoholic beverages “ under direct popular control. Since “ then Parliament has been dissolved, “ and we are on the eve of a general “ election. The struggle over the country, “ is likely to be a severe one, and most, “ if not all the seats will be closely con-, “ tested. This crisis affords to temper- “ anco reformers a favorable opportunity “ for asserting their principles and making' themselves felt in the legislative “ councils of the colony.” We may as well premise that we are not prepared to second any attempt to make people sober by Act of Parliament, and that we believe that rabid and intemperate temperance reformers have done far more harm than good to the causa which they" advocate, by their injudicious attempt to paint every man as a sinner who partakes in moderation of the wine “which; maketh “glad the heart of man.” At the same time we recognise fully the great evil of drunkenness and: the enormous amount of want aiid suffering which is caused by the intemperate use of strong drink. , Any moderate Local Option Bill which “will place the traffic “in alcoholic liquors under direct popular control,” as the above circular proposes, will therefore at all times receive our best and heartiest support. We believe that the drinking habits of all classes of the community, but more especially among those who can least afford any such wasteful expenditure, are to a great extent encouraged |by the facilities afforded to people to procure strong drink, in the towns at any rate, within the length of half a minute’s walk. , Many publichouses exist purely on the profits which the proprietors derive from the liquor-traffic only, and so far as we can judge the general opinion of the public is that far too many drinking shops are sanctioned under the present system. The following table shows the

Customs Kevenuo for the financial years ending June 30 1879 and 1878 respectively, and the proportions contributed by the aeveial classes of imports.

From the above it will be seen that the three first items —viz., of wine and beer, spirits, and tobacco—brought in almost as much revenue last year as all the other duty-paying articles in the calendar. The increase in the duty paid on spirits is very small, and that on wine and beer is not large ; nevertheless the duty paid on wine, beer, and spirits alone, amounts to more than 225. per head of the population, which is equal to a poll tax of about £4 10s. a year on every grown-up man in New’Zealand. We have no intention of going into figures to show what an enormous indirect loss is entailed by this expenditure, neither do we think it necessary. A moment’s reflection will convince any reasonable man that when to the half-million sterling of duty paid, the prime cost of the drink consumed, is added, the expenditure by the colony as a whole is frightfully extravagant ; also, that the evil complained of is a great one,

and that it behoves all true citizens to do their best to check its growth by any just and equitable method which may receive the sanction of tho public and of the Legislature. No time could possibly be more suitable than the present. Numbers of men are out of employment, and thousands who are now in trying circumstances admit that but for the temptation to follow the fashion and waste money on drink, they would have laid by a fund of savings sufficient to tide over tho hard times without difficulty. We have no sympathy with repressive legislation, and any attempt to introduce such a system as that known as the Maine Liquor Law would be opposed, not supported, by us. It is believed that if coffeetaverns were licensed in many cases where public-house licenses are now applied for and granted, tho wants of the travelling public would bo at least as well catered for, and a moderate indirect influence in favor of more temperate habits would be brought to bear, which would certainly tend to diminish the extravagant wine-bibbing of the community at large. No doubt these drinking habits are fostered and encouraged by the men who depend for their living on the liquor traffic. It is useless for the Government of a country to setup a legal standard of morality which is much higher than that of the majority of those over whom it rules. Any such attempt is sure to be defeated by a number of those who glory in defying authority, especially when they know that the stolen waters are sweet, and that they can brave the law with impunity, because they are certain that their transgression will be either winked at or secretly applauded. A Local Option Bill, giving power to a majority of two-thirds of the residents of a district to forbid the renewal of a publichouse license . after the expiry of the former license, would probably meet with general approval. If such an Act as this were passed, it might perhaps be advisable to suspend the coming into operation of the Act for a term of at least twelve months from the passing of the same ; so that those who had money invested in public-house leases or buildings would' have a chance of making arrangements for retiring from business without suffering any loss which could be guarded against. Care would have to be taken in framing the Act that the districts formed should not be so small as to allow petty feelings of personal spite or local jealousy to be brought into play in working any Act which might be passed We hope to refer to this subject again before long ; it is no doubt a matter of vital importance to tho welfare of the community, and it is one which has up to the present been ignored by all the Parliamentary candidates for the city. In the circular letter from the Grand Lodge to which we have referred, there is much which we can neither approve nor endorse. But looking at the fact that even during a time of severe depression, such as tho past twelve months, there has been a considerable increase in the quantity of strong drink imported into the colony, the conviction is forced upon us that if the public, instead of the licensing commissioners, were allowed to exercise a control over the liquor traffic, its rapid and alarming growth would be quickly and firmly checked.

Goods, 1878-9. 1877-8. Difference Spirits Tobacco, cigars, and Snuff Wine and beer.. Tea, coffee, &c. Sugar Goods by weight ,, ad valorem Other duties .. & 337,015 149,672 72,006 73 84S 102,413 03,522 363,614 67,420 £ SS3.77C 151,034 63,995 89.401 131,539 77.SG0 330,770 46,0S2 & In. 3,239 De. 1,362 In. 8,011 De. 15.553 Do. 29,126 In. 15,662 In. 32,844 In. 21,338 Totals 1,309,610 1,274,457 Net Increase.. 35,053