“GROWING DAY BY DAY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16876, 30 October 1922, Page 7

“GROWING DAY BY DAY.”

WHAT WILL IT BE BY ELECTION DAY? New Zealand's drink bill is a theme" upon which the prohibitionists car* build many romances. But never ha* there been such an elastic “statistic. ’ The “official estimates’" of this country’s expenditure upon liquor—“ offi eially ” prepared by the New Zealand Alliance’s own expert ” —is £7.500.000 That figure has been advertised hx press and platform for many months Now, however, the poll is drawing near, and the enthusiasm of these people spurs them to greater effort. Hence Mr L. M. Tsitt in the Housesaid that this estimate was “ far too low -it must he at least £9,000.000.” Next came an advertisement figuring it at £11,000.000, and now we get “ Vanguard.” the doleful organ of the party, with a big headline which boostthe hill to £12.000.000. All tliis within three or four week- ’ As there are still a good many non* weeks to go before voters record their decision, no doubt wo shall have *i drink bill as big as the national debt, by that time ! Tt is, of course, usual to stick to « “ statistic” once you've worked it ou f but the New Zealand Alliance has »f ways exercised its right to vary it« arithmetic as often as it pleases. Tt wouldn’t do to take the “ estimates ” of prohibitionists at their face value. Goodness only knows what they were last week or what they will be next week. All statistics notwithstanding. the fact remains that this is a sober nation, quite fit to be trusted with its glass of beer Vote Continuance. 53,