TEMPERANCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42749, 18 July 1905, Page 1

TEMPERANCE.

By Reformer.) LABOUR’S BIGGEST BURDEN.

THEECONOMICS OF DRINK IN A NUTSHELL. Suppose four workers came to town, each with a £5 note in his pocket. One goes to a draper’s shop, one to an ironmonger’s, one to a hoot ahd shoe shop, and the other to a hotel, and each spends his money in the place he visits. After two weeks I come to you and say: “ Let us go those producers; We drive to the nome of the man who spent his money with the draper. ‘ What did you get ? “Do you see that dress which Nellie is wearing and the suit Tom has on ? Well I gave the Merchant £5, and he gave me in exchange those things. He is better off; we are \ betteroff.” Both are benefited.

We go to the man who traded at the ironmongers, and we say, What did you receive ? “ Do you see these pots and pans, and the axe, and these kettles ? “ Yes.” Well, I gave him £5, he gave me these. We are better off.” We go to the man who spent his money at the boot and shoe shop. “ What did you receive for the money you paid ? “ You see these boots which I am wearing and the shoes Nellie has on and the boots Will, Dick and Harry and the rest are wearing, I gave that merchant £5 for them* We needed the boots and shoes he needed the money, and we traded.” An exchange of value, both are benefited. Now we go to the man who spent the £5 in the Hotel, and say to him : “ Sir, you paid that non-producer £5, What did

;on b>rk ?” “ Come here and 1 will show you.” No; he will hang his head and say: “ I got this flaming nose, these bleared eyes, and hare been sick ever since, find my family are in want of dresses and boots and shoes and everything.” My fi fluid, would you not have been better off if you had put the £5 in the fire and burned it, and never had gone into the drinking place at all? Yes ! because you would have had a clear head, hard muscles, and could have gone to work at once, and produced more wealth to take the place of that '- destroyed* The liquor-dealer took your money, and unfitted your brain and muscles for the production of more wealth.