ALCOHOL AND INFLUENZA.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 March 1919, Page 5

ALCOHOL AND INFLUENZA.

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

"With regard to the closing of Liquor B'ars, 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 be closed during the epidemic?

On the one hand stand these medical men of the highest authority, whose cue idea is to save the country. On the other hand stand the liquor sellers, whoa? -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 sane man or woman believe that in order to provide a sufficient supply of alcohol for a possible return of the epidemic liquor bars must be kept open year in and year out while there is no c-pidemic? 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 lath rust.) that:—

"In the event of National Prohibition being carried the Public Health Department would carry stocks of alcohol for medicinal .purposes. To get this medicine people would require certificates, AND ARRANGEMENTS WOTTUD BE MADE F-' V R GOVERNMENT DOCTORS TO GIVE THE CERTIFICATES FKEE OF CHARGE." —Advt.

£lB7 STOLEN. A SAFE RT7RGLED. CHBISTCHTJRCH. March 28. A safe in the parcels office at the railway station was burgled, and the sum of £177 stolen. The money was intended for the purpose of payingsurfacemen employed on the Arthur's Pass line. There were duplicate keys of the safe, and it is stated that one has been missing for over a week. RAID ON CHINESE DENS. WELLINGTON, The police i 'to-night naided three houses in Haining Street an'd one in Taranaki Street, occupied by Chinamen and suspected to be haunts of pakapoo players, and apprehended' seven Chinese -and eleven whites. Tho occupiers of the houses will be charged with keeping a common gaming house and the othe* men with, being found on the premises.