ENGLAND'S DRINK PROBLEM

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 181, 7 April 1915, Page 5

ENGLAND'S DRINK PROBLEM

"ENGLAND'S DRINK PROBLEM. REMARKABLE RESPONSE TO MR LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL. SUGGESTED SCHEMES. MR LLOYD GEORGE AND PROHIBITION. (Reed. 9.25 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. Following his appeal to citizens,, through the niawsap'srs, to write" him. ■ if they favoured absolute prohibition, the first mai.j reaching the Hon. Lloyd Georg e brought 15,000 letters, hit is siated that financial considerations ne?d iict Piiider the mest.drastic action to settle the drink question. The demand icr absolute prohibition strangely enough, comes principally from business and professional men desiring to participate in the great national sacrifice, while many temperance leaders believ'a the attempt to force absolutism would: create a dangerous reaction after the war. Opinion is hardening against complistls prohibition and growing in favour of personal abstinence with sevar,? legal regulation. The most favoured schemes are Sunday closing, shorter hours during week-days, the wholesale suppression i of spirits, and the compulsory brew--1 ing of light instead of heavy beers. The "Morning Post" does not think personal example would be sufficient. The "Daily Citizen" declares that the wealthy are re-stocking their win s Cellars and winle merchants are rushed with large orders. The paper adds: "The workingman cannot afford a wine cellar." The Allied Brewers and th e Nation--al Union of Brewery Workers, passed resolutions protesting against thousands'of men and women being thrown out. cf employment because ,of the drunkenness cf a few men.