IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15268, 3 May 1915, Page 8

IN BRITAIN.

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

MR LLOYD GEORGE ON ITS

URGENCY

EFFECT OF TAXATION ON

CONSUMPTION.

("Times" and "Sydney Stm" Ssrvicee.) (Received May Ist, 6 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. Mr Lloyd George, in his speech on the Drink Bill, declared that the Allies possessed a great supply of the finest quality of men, with, sufficient reserves to overwhelm any enemy. The problem of victory on land and eea ivae largely a. question of material, "When the time came to drive the enemy out of Flandors and France, the expenditure of munitions must be on a scale unprecedented in any war in history. Wβ were straining every nerve to increase the production of munitions, without which the armies, with all their gallantry, could not hope for complete victory. Everybody .at first agreed that <Trink was the evil, until faced "with the remedies. Then it was alleged the evil had been exaggerated, and it was declared to be mo worse than in peace time, but this was not peace time. could afford slackness then, but not how. We must look the facts in the face. The true optimist's horizon was courage. False optimism was the veil of •lowarilice. The consumption of wine had fallen 25 per cent, since the start of war, and the additional spirit duty of 3s 9d had reduced the consumption of spirits by 30 per cent. If an additional 14s 9d would have the same proportionate effect we ehould have achieved our purpose.