AUSTRALIA'S DRINK BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10755, 29 April 1913, Page 2

AUSTRALIA'S DRINK BILL.

INCREASE OF INTEMPERANCE. By TelegTapb.—Pres» Asiocw.tion.—Copyright (Received April 29, 10 a.m.J SYDNEY, April 29. At the annual meeting of the New South Wales Alliance reference was made to the statement prepared by Archdeacon Boyce covering the States' drink bill for 1912. It shows a total expenditure of £7,096,624, an increase of £694,917 compared with the previous year, making an increase for the two years of £1,371,640. The expenditure per head of population was £4 0s 6d, an increase of 3s Bd, making an increase for the past two years of 10s per head. While anticipating an increase owing to prosperous times Archdeacon Boyce says that he was not prepared for so notable an increase as the figures reveal, and for which, lie frankly admits, he does not think the prosperity sufficiently accounts. The increase is most marked in colonial beer, the conr sumption advancing 4,507,757 gallons in two years. The convictions for drunkenness last year were 32,977, including 3232 women. He considers the increase in intemperance, apart from commercial prosperity, attributable to three causes —the weakening of the moral fibre of the people generally, and the consequent loss of self-restraint; the neglect of the churches and other bodies to foster temperance societies; and the shortening of the hours of labour while the hotels are allowed to remain open. " The annual report points out. that the increase of convictions in two years was 5597, and as there has been- no corresponding growth in the population it is very evident that inwmperanc* has greatly increased.