THE POPULAR TIPPLE.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 947, 20 February 1897, Page 3

THE POPULAR TIPPLE.

"What Are We Coming To?

The Customs returns of the Port of Auckland for the year 1896 have been published. Some of the figares are a bit Btartling. There is joy in the camp of Bung, Boniface and Co., aud there is commensurate grief in the hearts of the Tea-and-Bun Brigade over that portion of the statiatics which relates to the drinking habits of the people. Daring 189 d the money paid in Customs duty on imported spirits increased by £8,223, on wine by £280, on beer by £917, and on cigars, cigarettes and tobacco by £8,835. More than that, the excise beer duty showed an increased consumption of beer during IS9(> of over 200,000 gallons as compared with 1895, And the amount yielded by the duty on tea decreased by £3,765. What is the inference ? The brewer and the publican claim that the popular taste is running in the direction of strong drinks and tobacco, and that the festive tea and bun are losing all their charms and allurements. As for the other 3ide, they make no sign. Can it be that they are flattened out by the indictment of the Customs returns ? Is there no champion to enter the lists on behalf of the cup that cheers and never inebriates ? We have a strong attachment still for the tea-urn, and are loth to let the case go by default. But, then, how are those awkward figures to be twisted to suit our purpose ? How are those 200,000 extra gallons of Auckland beer and Chat additional £8,233 worth of imported spirits to be explained away in the light of a decreasing } importation of tea?

It is quite evident that the . communityis getting thirstier, and it seems also, sadly plain that it is not hankering after the teacup quite so much as one has a right to

£8,223 spent on imported spirits ? Whisky and beer, of course, were running free on election day, but surely the brewers and the publicans didn't shout for their sup porters tD the vast extent suggested by those figures. The weather was excessively dry and sultry during November and December, but it surely didn't require 400,000 long-Bleevers and 328,920 sixpenny nips of whisky to quench the thirst of on* citizens in the dog days. Water, certainly, was scarce, and there may be a good many patriots in the community who mortified the flesh to stave off a water famine by saving at the kettle and spending at the beer cask or the bottle. But that sort of mortification is rather expensive, and, in the present temper of the police, might lead to awkward consequences in the neighbourhood of Chancery Lane. We had better confess it at once : the problem is too deep for us. Two dread alternatives confront us. Either the thirst of our habitual tipplers — not topers — has intensified to quite an abnormal degree, or the tea- cup is running a losing race with the tot of whisky and the long-sleever in 'he competition for popular favour.

expect. Why this thnsnesß? - Time .was when soirees were quite the vogue, and when a large proportion of 'onr most -respected' were patting np rather a big record at tea-and-pastry spreads. . But the pace was made too hot even for them, and the ' anniversary soiree ' era seems to have passed away. Or perhaps it was the ' aftertea ' oratory that pnt the damper on this form of mild conviviality. At any rate, let the cause be what it may, there stands the concrete wall of fact, built up by the Collector of Customs from his returns, that tea is going out and whisky and beer and baccy are fast coming in. Where are our Bands of Hope and our Good Templars ? Once upon a time they made a great noise' in the land and filled np a good many corners in the daily papers. But they have long since retired into private life, and their regalia no longer charms the eye on gala days. Under the regime of Mr Isitt they have withered up and perished, and there is nothing but -Prohibition to take their place. How in Heaven's name are we to explain away those superfluous 200,000 gallons of beer and that quite unnecessary extra