ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10240, 17 May 1911, Page 6

ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

(To the Editor of the Alliance- News.)

Sir, The following illustration of lioav one mail's expenditure affected the tradesmen of the district ho lived in is very striking. The particulars ■were given 'by the late Mr J. H. Raper. Ho said: "I met a brickmaker at the door of a Temperance Hall in Manchester a few years ago, and I recognised him a® a man who has signed the temperance pledge. I asked what wages lie was earning, and what he had earned at the time he was (drinking. As I conversed with him.' 1 found a very great change had taken place in his circumstances, and so before I left him I said, 'You be kind enough to put down on paper how much you have spent in the ordinary beneficial channels of trade during the twenty-two months, you have been an 'abstainer.' He said, 'I will.' Now I have here a letter from him, which is very important. He says: 'You asked one some time ago to give you a statement a® to what amount the home trade had benefited through my 'being a total ■abstainer." Below is a statement of the principal expenditure: Tailor, one suit .of best clothes, £5 4s.' Are there any tailors here ? Understand that (this movement is for the bene-' fit of tailors. 'One suit of second best, £2 10s; working clothes, £2 ss; shoemaker, two pairs of best •shoes £1 13s, and two pairs of working shoes £1 10s; shirts, flannels, ties, stockings, £2 "2s; one costume for my wife, £3 2s.' There is not a finer wife within a mile of his door at this hour, .though whilst ho was drinking and earning 36s a week she got no dresses, but ,when lie is a sober man and can appreciate the girl he took to the altar, lie buys her a 'costume,' £3 2s. I like the word; it is not a gown ot frock—it is a 'costume.' 'Extra furniture, £9 15s; clothing for child, £2 IQs ; altogether £3l lis.' And then when I turn over hesays: 'My -wife has looked over the list, find .she says there arsi a great many tilings which I have omitted—ipots and pans, and other requisites for household purposes—making many more .pounds than the £3l on the other side.' And then he says: 'I iforgot the hatter, and he has been benefited in proportion. As to the kind of clothing I used before signing the (pledge, I' attended Knott Mill Rag Fair, and I speculated upon a isuit, the value of which was 7is 6d.' That avas a British workman complaining of low wages, and sometimes earning 36s a week, who went down to Knott Mill Rag Fair in Manchester, where they sell clothing that had been used by teetotallers and handed over, and all that he thought of was a 7s 6d suit."— Yours, etc., R. P. MONGRTEFF. G-osforth-on-Tyne, Feb. 27th, 1911. Prohibition is good, fair - trade. Turn ofF the liquor tap, and the expenditure on liquor is .diverted into other and more [beneficial channels, and each branch of trade will get its share of it, as is proved by the above letter. If you want trade to improve in the Wairarapa, strike out the top line in November next. ***