The sun., 1916-12-24

cent. must now be added or fiscal rea-
sons. These prices are due to the
Governments requirements of alcohol
for munitions; the Governments Or
der prohibiting the use OF potatoes
and grain AS raw material in the
manufacture OF spirits. and the high
duty OF refined stuff which II has
been necessary to impose. 1t IL thus
rather obvious hat the sudden cry
for prohibition may not be from pure
tect the worker.
IL has been necessary to take meas
ures to prevent excessive drinking by
women. This sad feature OF the war
is the subject OF special studies in the
Gallon laboratory OF ~eugenics in the
University OF Liverpool and In an
article in the NcdicdI officer.
1t is well known that women work.
crs are increasing IN most OF the
trades. They are taking the places Of
men. They are the objects Of especial
care: they are to have In the indus
trial cantcens n diet suited to their re-
q%uircments. a diet OF hot. appetizing
food. served during the night. for the
shifts working at night. Now. what IL
the view as to the alcohol allowance
for womcn2
Whatever ones opinion a. to the
food value Of alcohol and the lesiti.
macy OF the trade In normal times. at
the present time in England when the
efforts of every man and woman are
required either in tho services or for
work OF national Importance. the tide
I 80 alrnhpIlann v,yrnt1l ~~,n.-- -.
some, has swelled ominously among
certain classes. particularly women.
during the past two years. One rea-
son is that the rules to protect mcn do
nc affect women so much. as. for OK.
ample, the prohibition of treating. the
shortening Of the hours OF the sale OF
intoXicants, and tho various local re-
strictions which have been put in
force.
Women not only have n different
way Of drinking from men, but they
are differently affected. They do not
require so much food as men, and they
have an organization which burns up
alcohol as "A rule more rapidly and
completely than the organization OF
men. On the other hand. they are
much harder to cure, to control. Thus,
in spite Of the canteen, the other in
dustrlal and social measures adopted,
convictions for drunkenness have but
slightly decreased. and there Is still a
high rate OF admission to reforma-
tories. How enormously important the
welfare OF women workers in England
Is may be Judged from the cantcen
proposals.
Another factor is the great numbers
or men employed in the manufacture
and distribution OF liquor. who, II not
so engaged. could be making NUM-
tons. This work OF making munitions
must go on night and day to secure
prompt delivery OF the goods. Moth
ing is more characteristics Of England
than the fuss over women workers
and the almost complete silence as
to the army OF men employed In the
liquor trade. There are al least $780,
900 employed directly. apart from those
required for transport and distribu-
ton.
England has n giant task Of OUT
matching the Germans In the organi-
zation Of the women workers when
the control OF alcohol In still unsettled.
It, seems almost hopeless 10 build up
the canteen system on the Industrial
plans of Mr.. Lloyd George in the midst
of war. II successful Il In destined "a
rank AZ high az All achievement 40 any
rooial work OF the nSs.