DRINKING AMONG WOMEN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 213, 2 June 1908, Page 8

DRINKING AMONG WOMEN.

THE POSITION IN WELLINGTON.

POLICE SUBMIT A REPORT. NOT EXCESSIVE.- ' : i'V Tho disquieting' statements ; regarding ex'sessivo drinking among women, which emanated from Auckland a little tiino ago, will bo remembered. Yesterday, at the mooting of tho Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Association, the Chairman (Dr. M'Arthur) read the following letter, which' explains itself: — "A M'Arthur, 'Esq., N " Chairman of . tho Licensing Committee, Wellington. "Dear Sir,—At a recent meeting-of the executive of the. Now' Zealand Alliance, there was- brought under their notice the report of the Auckland police, as reported in tho daily Press, as to the amount'of drinking among women that took place in somo of tho Auckland hotels.. The executive _is' of opinioji that a very grave.;state of affairs; is; disclosed by,the said report, and aro desirous of' ascertaining ivhother this condition of things is at all general !in other cities and towns of our Dominion. With this object.in viewi lam instructed to communicate, with your,committee, asking you/iri the inforests of the public generally; to'.direct that inquiries be made, and that/a report'be furnished to you as to whether drinking amongst; womon; has attained any magnitude, or"whe- :; ther it is on the increase in' the district under your jurisdiction.'. ~ ..V "My executive is of opinion that, could < you, arid other prominent committees.; they' are addressing,. see your way to-take this course, and. to hand to the local Press for. publication your findings, it would help to, check the evil, whatever its proportions, and may, 'perhaps, allay the uneasy feeling on this subject which the Auckland police ,re- , port'has engendered. . . " Feeling sure -that you will recognise that only good can. come out-of the disclosure of what is ' tlio true .proportion of this Svil; and thanking you in anticipation, " Yours, etc., , , "S. G.HOARE, I. . • "Assistant Secretary, .; . " N.Z. Alliance." • ;;; THE POLICE REPORT. .; ~

. The-Chairman stated that inquiries had Aeenm-ade, and that the following report jad been furnished by the Inspector of ?olico:— "May 13, 1908. Memorandum from InJpector of : Police. Re women frequenting,' hotels: Dear Sir,—Referring to your"memo, of March 12, attached, I beg to inform you special, observation has been made on the ibove. subject.' The Tesiilt is that in the ?ity -hotels in -the busy thoroughfares, women _ are seldom seen either drinking or jarryjng out liquor for consumption at home. In the hotels where . a special room or. bar is kept for selling liquor by:the bottle at, wholesale prices, women are frequently seen, with bags or parcels buying bottles. In tho hotels; situated in , residential parts of the. city, women -are frequently seen with jugs or bottles,/especially, so in evenings and at dinner, hour, calling to purchase liquor, mostly beer, to carry home. . Many of the women doing so are clearly messengers for their • husbainds, and many of them appear to be working men's wives. In some of the hotels; in residential parts or in side stroets, women: are often, seen ito ■ go in and purchase liquor for consumption on the premises. At several hotels sis or seven women-have been observed to enter and leave within half an hour ./Some of them have a drink on the premises, but-tho majority carry the liquor away ,in bottles, jugs, or cans. The bulk of the women, who are observed - to. drink on tho , premises aro'those of doubtful or bad reputation, and the samo women are sometimes seen to enter hotels, to drink therein two; or three times the :same.day.. None.,of. : thenfreriiajn more than a'few minutes oh hotel premises,. apparently just long enough to make itheir purohase and drink it or carry it out, as the case may be. ■: "I havo just, concluded an j inspection of the city hotels, and paid .particular attenthis subject ,when-visiting. In sovenor eight hotels I'saw ono or two women, who had called in for a drink, or to buy somein a bottle. In three cases I saw women having drink,- each one by herself, in "different houses. 'Tho:most of them seen in afternoons appeared respectable and well-conduoted; they'only remained-long enough-to consume' ■ the.,,drin|j,; and-then wont out. No woman was observed in any of the hotels, either by myself or tho sergeants, , who made special visits, ■■ in an intoxicated or semi-intoxicated oondition. A- great deal of liquor is purchased by both :men 'and women for consumption off licensed;promises., ■■■ "I have, etc., ■ "J. -w. ELLISON, ' .... . ; - ; ''Inspector.". ' : PLEASED TO KNOW. - ' The Committee, said the Chairman, was pleased to know that tho amount of drinking' amongst women in the City of Wellington was not at all in accord, with-the : report-that' was given in .Auckland!'

' CONDITIONS IN OUNEDIN, , 1 REPORT BY THE POLICE. ! (by telegraph.—mess .association.) ■ Dunedin, June l. ■ At :the annual meeting of the Dunedin 1 Licensing Committee, Mr. Widdowson, S.M., read a report from the policfe inspector and ; sub-inspector as to women and youths drink-: ■ ingV in hotels. .Tho report, - made'-, at., the' special request of thb^Bsnch,-stated ■ that > women certainly eould be seen going to hotels, . with jugs or bottles to procuro liquor, for tome consumption, but that it was extremely rare to see-women in hotels consuming liquor. There were instances where young men just over eighteen had been arrested in a condition' of .drunkenness,, but the. hotels keepers generally appear anxious to prevent ; luveniles from frequenting, licensed! premises. The practice was : for; young fellows to procure liquor in bottles for consumption, and, drink the contents in the street. The Chairman said the committee were, of opinion that hotelkeepers ought, not- to permit young men who had been drinking .'at thoir bars to get liquor to' take away with them. The practice should be discontinued. Bottle license holders, should recognise that . it was'against the law. to supply 'young persons with liquor, even though in bottles. All renewals and transfers were granted.- ;