Tea “Swiping.”

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 23, 2 July 1894, Page 18

Tea “Swiping.”

We are not Prohibitionists in the sense commonly understood when a capital P starts the word, but we do think that measures, direct or indirect, should be taken to lessen the extraordinary consumption of tea in New Zealand. The colonies have long headed the list of tea-cbnsuming nations, and, having regard to the action of certain licensing Benches, it is just possible the evil will be intensified in New Zealand. . Wedo not

advocate the establishment of. an Anti-Tea League ; but we do advocate the alteration of our fiscal arrangements, to meet the case. The beverage, like many other beverages, is. not a bad thing when not taken to rxcess. But is it, or.is.it not, taken to excess, just as much as intoxicating drinks? Facts answer in the affirmative. One of the stock arguments against the. lowering of the imposts upon intoxicants is that they are not only luxuries as distinguished from necessaries, but luxuries, when taken in excess, of a dangerous kind. Now, it is admitted by high medical authorities that heavy tea drinking destroys the stamina, induces indigestion and dyspepsia, and brings about enfeeblement of body and mind; and it would be instructive to get the additional testimony of New Zealand doctors as to the cause of certain complaints peculiar to colonial women. The system of “ visiting,” so dear to the hearts of all New Zealand women, and which is carried on to such an extent, unparalleled *>y any other country, is, undoubtedly, responsible for the growth of the habit. Apart from the consideration of the loss of revenue which must follow the confiscation of hotel licenses, it is right that the Colonial Treasurer should swell his next year’s Budget by putting the consumer of tea —as mnch a luxury as intoxicants—under further contribution. The danger is growing, and self-preservation calls for resistance and safeguard 1