STATE DRINKS PROFITS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16820, 27 May 1919, Page 8

STATE DRINKS PROFITS.

THE CARLISLE EXPEMMENT. I .Whatever be it's fait«, the "Carlisle experiment" in iiqujor control will have let'ii- its niaifc on the social h.siory ol England '»s tihe first pi-ece of constructive licensing retorin undertaken witii the pres.t:g9 and authority «f a Governmenu department. This is one of the conclusions, cf he general manager's import for 1918 to the Liquor Control Board. The exper.ment lias shown, lie says, that tlbs liquor trade can be carried on, subject to reason-able regulations; without detriment to the we-1-being of the community, and without undue, interference with "the liberty, tatt's, and .preferences of the large i mass of the adult population. "It has ; shown that the transfer from private ownership to public control can bo carried through without undue friction' and without loss to the National Ex-' chequer. Above all, it has offered a new solut'on of the problem of intemperance." Convictions for drunkenness in the Carlisle area fell from 275 in 1914 to 80 in, 1918. The board have acquired five breweries and 279 licensed premises (oof which 58 have l>?en delicensed). In addition 47 other licenses have beeni suppressed'. On the financial s'de there is a surplus of £107,392 for the Exchequer, equal ta 10 per cent, per annum otn the whole capital involved, apart from accumulated profits. , The total return is 15 percent, per annum. The capital involved, including accuwVted profits, was. in March last £835.035.