BEER V. TEA.

Inangahua Times, Issue 03, 9 October 1878, Page 2

BEER V. TEA.

In Iho dobnto on tbo liand Tax Bill nnd tho financial proposals ponsrally °f l " Government, Dr VValliM, onn o( tbo Aueklnnrf.incnibcrtf, thus drew iho distinction between tea «nl beer drinkiiiKi 1 — " Tlio Tronsurf.r evidently thinks te;i v iiooum-. Miry, iiad regards boor ns ii hixnry, I maintain that toa N both n luxury end v nocosHnry too. lam not npunlcin<; at pro* sunt of tho fxsonsive u<o ol tea or beer. ! I cpcnlc concorninj; thoso arlioleg bein^ U)iod in moderation. JN'ow, ns to Iho effect produced on the ho.illh find system by thoso two unifies, they nro both equally a luxury nml a norocsnry. Ton is rc^iirtied us v m-^'t hcal'hy bsvormj" ; but it producos very bad effeuts on oerinin constitutions or diatluMf.s, as medical mm nay. It tends to a larije oxlont, in certain cases, to fostor tbo prevalent complaint of honrt ciisouiio,. Heart disease, in my experience, obtuins moro in New Zealand than perhaps in any oth r country. I cannot nrcount for its prevalence rxcept through ihc excessive uso of tea. Peoplo tnko tea to breakfast, ten to lunch, lea to tea, and tea to Kuppcr. I think tho incog* snnt uso of toa is injurious to health, and therefore, although it may bo ncfio.'wry to a fcvrtian 05 tent, it is also a luxury. I do not bolioro that boot, used in moderation, produces as mmy ill offsets ns tea produces. Boor is moro in tho naturo of /ood than tea.' It, is ivnoutritious b'ovornpo. I nood only refer, iv proof of this to tho c'lnnioter of tho people who use tlio.so two nrticliis. From timo immemorial certain nations" linvo u<ed (en 11s A national boverugo, nnd J boy cannoi for a moment; bo compared with other nations which from timo immemorial havo used boor as n national beverage. Lst us compare China nnd England. Tho Ohin»;so nro J teaxdrinker.i 5 UlO Kn« is'i people, (Vom tho beginning of Imf.'M'y have boon boor* drmkers. O/in you oomnnro these nations P Whicjj nro tlu> bettor apocimuus of Immunity, tho Chiuoso or tho Knii!i.th ? Whioh of tho two nations is supirior in nits, in arms, in science, in literuturo or in government P Which of tho two nations has done tho most to promote tho world's welfare nn.l to tulvancc tho imuso of civilization £' Tho nn<wi»ra to thoso <jue»tionn nro so simple that I leavo them to the House.