DRINK AND ECONOMY. Me THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—Every
thoughtful person who has the ardent desire in hie heart to elevate and tune up the efficiency of the nation to the highest degree, especially at this time, in which the Empire is engaged in a mighty and bloody conflict for its very existence, dust feel most deeply grateful to the Spectator fur its honest and fearless witness (especially in the article entitled "Drink and Economy" in your last issue) to the cause that is hampering the nation, sapping its vitality, and blunting its efficiency in this terrific war. The arguments used in this article are convincing and unanswerable. The "Drink and Economy "article should be printed as a leaflet and distributed broadcast throughout the country, as there is so much appalling ignorance on the subject amongst all classes. You also allude to the diversion of labour, which
might be employed on war industries, and, above all, to the great diversion of material, which might be better employed
as food. This amounts to, every week, 73,000.000 pounds of barley and grain, 3,000.000 pounds of rice and maize, 9,000.000 pounds of sugar or sugar equivalents. To show what can be done in this direction, the following is an extract from the Memoirs of Admiral Sir Byam Martin, Vol. II., p. 197 (May, 181'2) :--
" Denmark and its inhabitants were reduced to a state of starvation, robbed of every sack of corn by the French. Sweden owes much to the foresight and wisdom of Bernadotte, who, at the hazard of his popularity, and contrary to the remonstrances from his Council, has prohibited distillation from grain or the applica- tion of it to any purpose but that of actual food. The consequence of this sensible decree is that scarcity is converted into such a plenty as to admit of exportation, but the prohibitory decree against the misuse of grain is to remain in force for a year."
I trust that the Government will take courage and face the question as it has been met in France, and especially Russia, and not fear to act in dealing more drastically with the liquor question in the interests of the nation, and thus enable us to put every ounce of energy and efficiency into the fight for
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