SUBVERSIVE ECONOMY. [To sna EDITOR or TILE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—We will all gladly do with a minimum of sugar, and with darkened bread, but in the name of a practical economy, which ought to be pregnant with all-embracing results, may I ask wherein lies comprehensive wisdom, which largely consists in nibbling at children's sweets and vexing and unnecessarily incon- veniencing already impoverished householders, whilst all the time thousands of tons of sugar and cereals—apart from muni- tions requirements—are being pllowed to be used for the manu- facture of intoxicating liquors, which is diminishing our revenue (see Russian Imperial Finance statement in the Times), impair- ing the efficiency of our workmen, and eclipsing the womanhood of modesty? The present preference given to manufacturers of alcohol is simply suicidal policy I Shiproom is required for stuffs needed by householders; bread and meat could be reduced in pries if materials now used for alcohol were not destroyed, and grocers could supply sugar, needed as a necessity by the poor, if by order certain kinds of sugar were not " devoted solely to the use of brewers, &c." Surely this is false economy. Add to this condi- tion of things, loss of time, higher freights, indifferent workman- ship, and special temptations to drink increased by large wages paid to men and women, and we have a state of affairs France or Russia would not tolerate for a month! Lord Davenport, Mr. Lloyd George, and Mr. A. Henderson have now a chance to
prohibit the sale of all drink until after peace and demobilization inch as may never occur again! You have done much, Mr. Editor, to help this cause, so pressing and vital! Do, Sir, con- tinue to urge all in authority to heed the voice of the patriotic people of Britain ere it be too late! Some of us know that sixty thousand mothers and wives in Canada never would have allowed their sons and husbands to cross the Atlantio had they known that a British Government would have exposed them to such temptations as they now meet. Gratitude to Canada is another
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