DRINKING BY WOMEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 10

DRINKING BY WOMEN.

EXPERIENCE IN CHRISTOHURCH.

(PaOlC. OUB 'OWK COHEESPOHDENT.)

CHRISTCHURCIi, March 6. Women drinkors in hotels and publicI houses having been the subject of telegrams from-various narts, a Truth reporter made some, inquiries of the police to-day to ascertain to what extent, if any, the evil prevails in' Christchurch. According to the police, tho evil is no worse now than it ever, was, and. at no time has it been serious, The casual observer might think it worse than it is, because at;some hotels to which livery stables are attached farmers' wives and countrywomen generally wait for their husbands, and there are also a certain number of women who will go to a hotel for refreshment who could in no sense be called drinkers. The supervision oxercised by the police is too strict to permit of any such evil existing. The hotels are all -visited by the sergeants daily o'clock and closing time, and even later, and it would bo, impossible for women to drink on any scale without the police being aware of the fact.

METHODIST CONFERENCE SPEAKS.

IFbom Oub Own CoebbspondehtJ , AUCKLAND, March 6. At to-'dny'e meeting of the Conference the following 'resolution was carried:— "That; this Conference has learned with disgust and horror of the extent to which women are drinking in the hotels of Auckland. It is anothor illustration of tho in■vcterato .evil of licensed houses. Tho Conference -urges the police authorities throughout New Zealand to look carefully into this growing shame and degradation, with a view to providing a basis for remedial legislation."