DRINK BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1920, Page 5

DRINK BILL.

HIGHEST POINT REACHED. LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE AREAS. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The return which was presented as the result of a motion by Mr. Isitt showed the quantity of liquor gent into nolicense districts last year to be as follows: Gallons. Ashburton ■ 25,083 Bruce 28,262 Clutha 21,387 ISden 15,854 Grey Lynn 5,339 Invercargill ........... 98,301 Masterton 48,771 Mataura .' 40,103 Oamaru .......... 49,456 Ohinemuri 19,402 Roskill 59 Wellington South 10,382 Wellington Suburbs 9^203 Total 381,504 The return contains also the usual comprehensive tabulated statements of charges and convictions for offences, and the number and a fifes of persons convicted for drunkenness in no-license districts. ,v By Telegraph.—Press Association. i. Wellington, Last Night. >•. Commenting onlte Teturn laid on the •table showing the quantity of liquor sent toto no-license districts, Mr. McCombs (Jajrl tile return showed there was an farming increase in the drinking habits §% the people; Our consumption was iifow -just' on fourteen gallons per head, •Mid our expenditure on liquor was £6 ili)s Cd per head, which was the highest liquor bill rte had ever had. Still, from jilie figures available (crime statistics, Stc.), it was clear that was |bing good, so far as it went, but lie' Isked the Government to go carefully ilito the question, for the fact was there thft there was a consumption of liquor going on which was never before equalled in the history of the Dominion. The Government should give the House a lead as to how it proposed to deal with this problem, at the next general election, along the lines of national prohibition. This reference to the paper promoted ageneral discussion on the liquor trade, tjiij; arguments pro and con following the conventional lines.