The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-30
ENGLAND MAY STOP
SALE OF ALL LIQUOR
Drink Is a More Deadly Foe of Great
Britain Than Germany or Austria,
Chancellor Says.

LONDON, March 80. - 1--WE are |
fighting Germany, Austria and drink,
and so far az | can see the greatest of |
these three deadly foes is drink said |
David Lloyd-George, chancellor of the |
exehequer, replying yesterday TO a dep |
utation of the shipbuilding employers
federation. the members of which were
unanimous in urging that, in order to
meet the national requirements at the
present time, there should be u total
| prohibition during the period OF the
| war Of the sale OF Intoxicating liquors.
| This should apply not only to public
houses but also to private clubs, so as
to operate equally with all classes of
| the community.
1T was stated that, despite the fact
that work was being carried on night
and day seven days in the week, the
total working time ON the average in
nearly all the British shipvards was
actually less than before the war and
the average productiveness had de
creased. There were many men doing
splendid and strenuous work, probably
as good as the men in the trenches. but
many did not even approximate full
time, thus disastrously reducing the
| average.
Notwithstanding the curtailmeut OF
the hours during which they are al
lowed to keep open. the receipts OF the
public houses III the neighborhood OF
the shipyards had greatly increased, in
some cases 40 per cent. As an instance
Of one of many similar eases, that Of q
battleship coming III Fey immediate re
4 pairs was cited. She was delayed n
| whole day through the absence of riv-
| etcrs. who were drinking and caIOus-
ing. In one ward the riveters have
been working on the average only 40
hours a week, and in another yard en-
lv Sc hours,
In conclusion. the deputation. which
included representatives. of the leading
shipbuilders Of the country. drew at
tenticn to the example set by France
= and Russia, and urged upon the chan
cellcr the need OF drastic and immeI
late action.
The chancellor of the excheauer. il
the course Of his reply, said the reason
u why the government had not taker
/ more drastic action on the liquor ques
= tion was because il needed 70 be rs
q sured that il was not going adverse K
e public sentiment; otherwise more harm
!. would be done than good. The govern
nent must feel that il had every elias
- in the community behind it when TAX
7r ing action which intcrfered severed,
Win lnutNlUN3i 1pelIlcS. bu1 now n
Is was cure that the country was begin
ls ming to realize the gravity of the stu
le | alton.
le Il have 4 growing conviction, base
:: on accommodating evidence, = continue
q the chancellor, that nothing but tn
II root-and-branch methods would be O
OF the slighteut avail III dealing with tn
III evil | believe i Is the general fee
lie ing that if we are to settle Germa
militarism we must first CT all settl
n, with drink. -
ng Mr., Lloyd-George intimated that Lor
In Kitchener, the secretary fer war, an
=, Field Marshal French, in command G
OF the British expeditionary forces on I'll
ed continent were of the same opinion
lly and he promised to lay the statement
in ct the deputation before the eabine
Ike He said in conclusion: II had ii
Ter privilege of an audience with h
Is, majesty this morning, and / am pc
as mitted by him TO say that he is yer
by deeply concerned on this question +
lis very deeply conccrncd-and the col
IN eern which Is felt by him | am eertai
we is Dbared by all his subjects in III
OF country.