THAT RECORD BREW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 48, 26 February 1941, Page 4

THAT RECORD BREW

Sir,—l have been hoping a more able pen than mine would draw attention to several articles that have appeared recently in the “Chronicle," if not all in the same issue, still in close enough sequence to suggest an interesting association of ideas. One was headed “Record Shipment Made." It described how an order for a record brew of ale, 44,000 gallons, was dispatched for New Zealand troops serving overseas. To send this to the port of shipment required an entire goods train of 80 trucks. The total weight of ale was 440 tons. There were many small details given as one calculation that the metal tops, if dropped in a solid mass, would sink an Italian battleship, or at least give it a nasty jar. Several also weighty pieces of reasoning, which I will not now take up your space to repeat, have urged saving food materials, and shipping space, also concentration of activity upon efforts to help win the war. Apparently they have been presented too often, in various forms, for such a strong organisation as the brewing industry to take any notice of them, or for the Government to consider the amount of food material wasted in such a brew, or of space taken in carrying it overseas. As is aptly declared in a speech quoted in another page of the "Chronicle, “We can spend £10,000.000 a year in booze, but we must not stint ourselves to buy bombers fot Britain." And as a judge said in addressing the grand jury at the opening of the first quarterly session for 1941: “Charges against motorists of being intoxicated while driving were increasing out of all proportion to the Dominion's population. Time and again," His Honour added, he came across cases in which it appeared that motorists had taken alcoholic liquor before starting on a journey. “This dangerous practice appears to be on the increase, in spite of intensified publicity and education campaigns. Why this should be is a matter on which you, as responsible citizens, should at least think very seriously.” If drinking alcoholic liquors is dangerous for motorists and for airmen and “particularly to be avoided during heat” (another quotation), why should our men in a particularly hot climate, and by no means debarred from handling mechanised vehicles or weapons, be considered immune? Is this munificent gift, this record brew, anything in the way of a brewing campaign towards familiarising young lads with the products that pay the breweries so well? —I am, etc., KATHERINE MERCER.