Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XLII, Issue 10682, 10 August 1905, Page 1

Correspondence.

DRINKING IN NEW ZEALAND. j (To the Editor-) j; Sir, —Of late there has been a good . deal of discussion on the point as to whether there.has been, of late years an increase of drinking and drunkenness among New Zealanders between the ages of 17 and 30? Mr Wesley Spragg, manager in Auckland for the New Zealand Dairy Association, who . holds pronounced views on the liquor , question, answers Yes. Some doubt I was recently thrown on the truth of j similar allegations made by Mr Spragg as a member of a New Zear land Alliance deputation to the Premier; and in order to 'substantiate his position, Mr Spragg has written to the Premier, enclosing a report of the resultsi of a census taken in Auckland on the evening of Saturday, 10th September, last year, to ascertain, .the number of people frequenting the public bars, and also their condition1, so that the public might be correctly informed. The census was taken on the initiative of the Auckland Prohibition) and Temperance League, in conjunction with 'various kindred organisations. The report states: "Thirty-seve>a houses were under observation from. 9 to 10j two observers being -posted at each, and i the following are the returns sent to jthe secretary and tabulated:—43s2 (persons came out of these hotels;, of 1 these 560 were decidedly under, the i influence of liquor, 150 of th~em beI ing reported as absolutely drunk. Over 100 women and girls., were ob- ■ served, though some of the tabulators ! gave the numbers merely, without. : any distinction of sex. Im addition ■to the above, 52 children came.but (a ! number of them not moi'e than from '■ seven to nine years of age), who had i evidently been, sen* to procure liquor, i In, all oases the moat alarming feature I was the number of young men, whose '■ ages probably ranged from IT to ■ 30." - Several of the census collectors I remained in the street until a much '. later hour and report'a great deal of .intoxication1. —I am, etc., REFORM. Thames', August 7th-.