GROWING INTEMPERANCE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 101, 29 April 1913, Page 5

GROWING INTEMPERANCE

IN KEW SOUTH WALES. CAUSES OF THE INCREASE. (Received 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, tliis clay. The New South Wales Alliance annual report pointed out that the increase in the matter of convictions for drunkenness for two years was 5,597. As there had been no corresponding growth in the population, it was very evident that intemperance had greatly increased. At the meeting reference was made to the statement prepared by Archdeacon Boyce covering the State's drink bill for 1912. This shows a total expenditure of f 7,096,624, an increase of £694,917 compared with the previous year, making the increase for two years £1,371,640. The expenditure per head of population was £4 0/6, on increase of 3/S, making the increase for the past two years 10/ per head. While anticipating an increase owing to prosperous tiruas. Archdeacon Boyce says he was not prepared for so notable an increase as the figures reveal, and for which he frankly admits he does not think prosperity sufficiently accounts. The increase is most marked in colonial beer, the consumption advancing to 4,507,757 gallon** in two years. Convictions for drunkenness last year numbered 32,077, including 3,232 women. He considers the increase of intemperance, apart from commercial prosperity, attributable to three causes: Weakening of the moral fibre of the people generally and consequent loss of self restraint, neglect of churches and other bodies to foster temperance societies, and the shortening of hours of labour while hotels are allowed to remain open to a late hour.