DRINK DISCUSSION

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 17

DRINK DISCUSSION

INCREASE WITH “EASY MONEY" ANGLICAN SYNOD VIEWS THE FREE SATURDAY [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, April 10. A lengthy discussion was provoked last evening at the General Synod by a motion moved by Archdeacon It. Hodgson (Rotorua) —“That this synod views with apprehension the excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor in this country, and would urge stricter application of the existing laws.” The Archdeacon stated that the position was brought home in Rotorua, where the hundreds of men employed on afforestation and a Public VVorks contract job were fair prey for the Rotorua hotels. There was no question of graft or connivance by the police, but there was excessive drinking. People did not get drunk in the Dominion as in lliugland. . They were drugged, as an inferior quality of liquor was often sold. The speaker had heard of prosecutions regarding the quality of the liquor sold. “ I’ve seen the statement that there is excessive consumption of liquor in this country,” said Mr H. A. H. Huggins, a layman, of Wellington. “ Whatever the position might be at Rotorua, New Zealand is admittedly one of the most sober countries.” The motion was supported by Bishop Bennett, who said that at a recent Maori gathering in the Wellington district the Maori leaders deplored the increase in drinking among the young men of the various tribes, and hoped something drastic would be done to protect the young men from the ravages of the drink habit. “ I have noticed a tremendous increase in the drinking habits of the people, Maori as well as pakeha, since easy money has come into their hands. Every Saturday finds the bars crowded, and I know of one case where the number of barmen has been increased six times over on account of the free day on Saturday. “It is very pathetic to find some Maori mothers roused almost to tears when they realise the havoc which is being done to the race by the Increased drinking habits of the people. They express the hope that the Government can be induced to prohibit the Maori people from procuring liquor altogether.” A novel note was struck by Bishop Holland (Wellington), who stated that he once ran a public house for seven years—an hotel known as the Parson’s Pub—under disinterested management, and the profits went to pay the church organist. “ My association with the public house led me to take up the whole problem. “ The only hope of making the liquor traffic a normal and not an abnormal thing in the Ijfe of the community is the elimination of private profits.” The advisability of urging State Control or other means of eliminating private profits, also methods of dealing with the drink at dances problem were being discussed when the Synod adjourned.