THE DRINK ORGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24217, 7 March 1942, Page 6

THE DRINK ORGY

SCANDAL IN SYDNEY ' rationing advocated MILITARY AUTHORITIES LAX | SYDNEY, Mar. 5 Commenting on the announcement by the Premier of New South Wales that | certain night clubs and sly-grog dens in Sydney would be suppressed, the Sydney Morning Herald in an editorial article on March 5 under the title of % ' "Checking the Drink Orgy" says:— Though it might well have come earlier, the Premier's decision will be welcomed by a community whose conscience has been shocked by exposures of the conditions prevailing in city and suburban drinking dens, sometimes dignified by the name of night clubs. A clean-up of these malodorous haunts is overdue.

Industry's Lack of Discipline The sly-grog traffic, however, is only one aspect of the liquor question as it affects the nation at war. It will not be sufficient for public attention and official action to be concentrated upon this most obvious abuse, to the neglect of the general problem of checking an increase in the consump. tion of alcoholic beverages which has become a national scandal and danger. Failure of the liquor industry and trade to discipline their own members is a sure means of encouraging pro- : hibitionist sentiment, in spite of the disastrous experiments in this solution of the problem abroad. Were there no such failure to-day, the sly-grog shops would not be able to obtain supplies as freely as they do; nor would there be so extensive an after-hours trade among a section of hotels, particularly in the sale of bottled liquor.

Men in Uniform OSend. Drinking in the streets and parks after closing time, in which men in uniform are prominent, is one of the worst features of the present deplorable state of affairs. It is high time for the military authorities actively to interest themselves in the whole question of liquor consumption as affecting the morale and well-being of the men on whom the safety of the country depends. Drunkenness is the enemy of discipline and alertness. Apart, however, from remedies available to the Service departments and State Governments, it is imperative that the Federal Cabinet should intervene to reduce the flow of liquor at its source by the application of rationing. It is anomalous, to say the least, that while so many other commodities are being rationed to meet the war emergency, the output ot liquor should be increasing.

LIE DIRECT GIVEN MINISTER'S ALLEGATION i "INFAMOUS STATEMENT" SYDNEY, Mar. 3 Referring to the statement made oy State Ministers that, there were "difficulties" in the way of dealing with excessive drinking, the Rev. W. C. Francis, convener of the Methodise Church Public Questions Committee, said at the Methodist Conference in Sydney: "The real difficulty is the £50,000 which a certain political party is alleged to have received from, the liquor monopolies at the last elections. "We have challenged the Government on the matter, and it refuses to be drawn," he said. "The Premier and Government are under very grave suspicion." Commenting on this statement, the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. W. J. McKell, said that the implication behind Mr. Francis' allegation that £50,000 was received by "a certain political party" at the last election was scandalous, and it ill became a member of his calling to make it. "I notice, the Premier "that Mr. Francis is careful not to mention any particular party, and to say that this money is 'alleged to have passed.' Nevertheless, in his next sentence he goes on to say that his body has 'challenged the Government on this matter and they refused to be drawn.' "I have never heard of Mr. Francis, and I am unaware of any challenge—as completely unaware as I am of any money having been received by the party I lead from the liquor interests at the last election. "The whole suggestion which underlies Mr. Francis' loose, unjustified and thoroughly infamous statement is so utterly false that I was in two minds whether or not to answer it. "However, I feei that, in justice to my party, the Government, and the people of New South Wales, the lie direct should be given to propaganda utterances of this kind before they have a chance to circulate and gain credence among ill-informed and irresponsible members of the community."

FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS SALE OF BOTTLED BEER CANBERRA, Mar. 5 The Federal Government may soon restrict manufacture of bottled beer. Mr. Dedmrfn, Minister for "War Organisation of Industry, is conducting a survey of many industries, including brewing, to see where production can be cut down or diverted for war purposes. Both Commonwealth and State Ministers have expressed concern recently about excessive drinking. Courses being considered by Mr. Dedman include restriction of production, more rigid enforcement of State liquor laws (partflhilarly laws on after hours trading), and prohibition of lounge drinking. It is believed that restrictions or prohibition of bottled beer sales would be the most effective measures.