THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 3

THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — writer of tho article in tho Sydndy Morning Herald, and published in your columns of to-day, is, in the matter of the State revenue derived from the traffic, wholly one-sided in his presentation of tho matter. Tho solid fact of the very large Stato expenditure which both directly and indirectly is caused by the traffic in strong drink renders it but common fairness that such fact should be well remembered. If Mr. Bateman, or some equally capable individual, woii'J undertake to supply the statistics which relate to this side of the matter, he would indeed be a public benefactor, inasmuch as such facts and figures would serve as a useful eye-opener to many. Compulsory prohibition being neither just, right, nor practicable, it becomes needful then to examine what means can be reasonably adopted towards minimising the temptation, by legal measures, and also all, according to their ability and opportunity, to persevere in tlie philanthropic work of moral suasion, by either private or public endeavours. Now to the point under consideration, viz., the State expenditure, which, at the present time, through the too wide drink traffic, is caused. In bulk it might perhaps be statod somewhat thus: Court and prison expenditures, onethird; asylums, two-thirds; hospitals, onefifth; police force, one-third; charitable aid, one-half. At a rough estimate it may be supposed that not less than 75 per cent, of the State income derived from the drink traffio is expended on remedial measures relating to crime, poverty, and sickness. Be it remembered, too, that outside of this is the catalogue of accidents, private losses in property by shipwreck, fire, etc., and sickness arising from the present very insufficiently controlled drink traffic. A successful prohibition, apart from personal conviction, is an impossibility. A Prohibitionist is, in one word, a coorcionist. Coercion is ever a national degradation, and therefore many abstainers thus find themselves quite unable to support coercion. —I am, etc., NX