YOUNG NEW ZEALAND'S DRINKING HABITS

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 12 August 1905, Page 15

YOUNG NEW ZEALAND'S DRINKING HABITS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I am sorry to say, as an old Wellington resident, I can confirm the facts set forth in Mr. Wesley Spragg's letter to the Premier. A few years ago I went into one of Wellington's leading hoteds, in company with three other old Wellington residents, none of us being less than 50 years of age. One of the party called my attention to the number of young men around the two ■bars — I should say not less than 30 or 40 — and remarked, "When you first came to Wellington you did nob see young fellows in hotels like you see now." I agreed that that was so, adding, "I really thought that when we imported folk from the Old Country died out there wouia be little need for no-license or prohibition legislation." Like Dr. Bakewell, I am a moderate drinker, but abominate drunkenness as one of the foulest blo v ts bn our muchvaunted civilisation, and in consequence of -what I have seen of young men — very many of them quite youths— Agoing along, our streets after 10 o'clock at night, an eyesore to the public and a bitter sting and reproach to their parents, I have for some years voted for no-license, and am prepared, when the proper time comes, to vote for total prohibition. Like Dr. Bakewell, I know of many, other moderate drinkers ■who will do the same whenever^ and wherever the opportunity' presents itself. God grant, for <J;he sake' of our young men, that the reform may not come ' too late. When, during the Duke of York or Contingent mania, Mr. John Hutcheson, with his usual outspokenness, called attention to the large number of our young men he had seen parading the streets at night time in a state of intoxication, he "was met with howls and imprecations, instead of receiving the support that a. public-spirited citizen should have got. - • I would urge upon the young men in rowing, cricket, bowling, and collegiate clubs — especially the latter — to take Up this question calmly and deliberately, and have* a census taken for, say, three or sis months as to the number of young men who come away fn>m these clubs in a helpless or inaudlin condition; and, if they are then satisfied with the results, I shall be veiy much disappointed. I should very much like to see the same, thing done in the I working men's and other clubs. All ! the blame is laid on the pubs., and perhaps they deserve a fair share ; but a wide and long experience tells me that the seeds of drunkenness are too often sown amongst our young men in the _6ocial «lubs of the cities of New Zealand. I know that, on the whole, taking coun-v | try and town life, gambling is perhaps a. greater evil, but the taste for gambling is too often begun and cultivated; over the drinking bars in clubs and public-houses. — I am, etc., - - FORTY YEARS A COLONIST. Wellington,. sth August.