ALCOHOL AND INFLUENZA.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 March 1919, Page 5

ALCOHOL AND INFLUENZA.

The Minister for Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell) gave the following evidence before the Epidemic Commission:—

"With regard to the closing of Liquor Bars, the matter came before the Cabinet. Before coming to a decision Cabinet obtained the opinions of Surgeon-General Henderson, Drs. Hay and Makgill, and these gentlemen were unanimously in favour of the closing of bars. The chief 'reason for the stoppage .of the sale of liquor absolutely was that it was the opinion of these medical men that no alcoholsoaked man who might develop pneumonia had a chance of recovering. It would be futile to close the bars if heavy drinkers could obtain beer by gallons or take spirits to their homes. It was possible also that these people would make up drinking parties and so spread infection.'' Whose judgment is to be 'accepted as to whether liquor bars should b' closed during the epidemic?

On the one hand stand these medical men of the highest authority, whose one idea is to save the country. On thi'o other hand stand the liquor sellers, whosi> one idea is to sell liquor, and those who insist on having liquor /not for medicine, but. 'as a beverage) no matter what the economic waste and moral ruin to the' country may be. • '

Does any sart. 1 man or woman believe that in order to provide a sufficient supply of alcohol for a possible return lof the epidemic liquor bars must be kept open year in and year out while there is no opidemie?

Or that all the year round the public must go on taking the medicine to cure something which is not in

existence'?

The Minister for Health further states (vide the daily press loth inst.) that:—

"Tu flic event lof National Prohibition being carried the Public, Health Department would carry stocks of alcohol for medicinal jnirposes. To get this medicine people would require ei l-tificates, AND ARRANGEMENTS WOUUD BE MADE FOR GOVERNMENT DOCTORS TO GIVE THE CERTIFICATES FREE OF CHARGE." —Advt.