The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1894-02-24 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

THAT'LL DO, I WANT TO BE GOING."  TEMPERANCE NOTE 6,  FROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.  It was perhalis only riatural that the drink question should come up for consideration at the Meetings of the National Liberal Federation in Portsmouth. At an influential conference of the Women's Liberal Federation, C.unte,S A cs KeftrireV presiding, Nis.; Balgarnie tinived `• I hat this Conference earnestly hopes the Governeocrit . will tv.* every effort to nos into law the principle 'of the Liquor Traffic (Direct Veto) Bill.' Miss Southall seconded the resolution, and Mrs. Sheldon AMOS said she had just come from the Liberal Federation Conference, where the greatest enthusiasm prevailed on this subject. The resolution was curled.  In connection with a resolution upon reaistration and electoral reform at the Liberal Federation meetings, it was proposed that all elections be held on onei and the same day, and that the public-houses be closed upon that day. This was unanimously adopted, as was also the following resolution :—" That this council re-affirms its declaration in favour of the direct popular control of the liquor traffic, believing that the power of deciding bow many, if any, licc.nsed houses there shall be in any district should properly be entrusted to the inhabitants of the district themselves."  The Liberal Three Hundred for the Oswestry Division, meeting at Shrewsbury, have passed a resolution urging the Government, amongst other measures, to press forward with the Local Veto Bill very early next session.  The Sceptre Life Association has Just issued its twenty-ninth annual report, in which may be found some interesting statistics for temperance retormers. There is a General Section as well as a Temperance Section in connection with this growing association; but of the 656 policies issued during last year, .435 were on the lives of total abstainers, or over 66 per cent, Indeed ever since 1885, upwards of 60 per cent, of the business done by the Sceptre has been with teetotalets, And, according to some tabular statements prepared by the actuary for the last five years, there is no mistaking the superiority of the lives in the Temperance Section, from an insurance point of view. During last year the expected claims in the General Section were 117, and the actual claims were 118. In the Temperance Section, while 74 were expected to die, only 53 did so—thus showing 29 per cent, in favour of absthiners. A similar percentave in favour of the temperance people is shown during the quiriquennium. Figures like these are surely eloquent in support of the contention that drink-, ing, even moderate drinking, shortens life.  A New York paper says that the money invested in the manufacture of poisonous alcoholic beverages, if invented in the six leading useful manufacturine industries of the United States, would, according to the census figures, give employment to thirteen times as meny men as it does. No wonder, says the journal, Professor McCook declares the tariff question to be a "mere baby" compared with the economic aspects of the drink question.  The Medical-officer of Health for Brighton publishes statistics to show that between the ages of 25 and 45, 18 publicans die to one clergyman, and from 45 to 65, 33 to 15. In fact, he adds, tile occupation of potmen or publican, in the majority of instances, implies a slow process of suicide. He complains that the real cause of death in ordinary Cases, when due to alcoholism, is seldon given. Doctors spare the feelings of relatives, and there will be no possibility of getting at the real facts until a medical man is required by law to send his certificate of death in a sealed envelope direct to the Registrar, instead of handing it open to the friends.  The annual statement, now well known as  the "Annual Drink Bill," has appeared from the pen of Rev. Dr. Burns. The total for 1893 was £138,854,829, as against £140,866,262 for 1892. Laid year there was an increased expenditure on beer of £231,387; but the decease on spirits was £1,830,104. There was also a decrease on wine of £412,716. The expenditure per head on intoxicating liquors was £3 12s. 6d., or £lB is. 3d. for each family of five persons. But as many millions of persons, including children, take no intoxicating liquors, the average expenditure of consumers of such drinks was very much higher than £3 12s. 6d. The average expenditure per head was £5 15s. 11d. in 1892, £3 15s. in 1891, and £3 14s. 4d. in 1890.  As between the three kingdoms the expenditure per head in intoxicating liquors is highest in England. Scotland coming second, and Ireland third, the figures respectively being a 18s. 5d., £3 Os. 5d., and £2 2s. 9d. ; but as between the kinds of liquors the expenditure is very unequal. Beer takes £2 12e. 3d. from each inhabitant of England, of Scotland 19s. 9d. and of Ireland 15s. 7d. With regard to ardent spirits it is different, England paying 188.5 d. per head, Scotland kJ 14s. 2d., and Ireland Li is. sd.  Amongst our soldiers in India there are more than,2o,ooo total abstainets and nearly 3,000 temperate men—one-third of the British Army in India. Lord Roberts, in commenting on this at Chelsea Barracks meeting on Monday, said but for drink, "there would be very little crime in the army,"