STRIKING STATISTICS.

Some remarkable statistics demonstrating the sobriety of women were cited by Lord D’abernon, chairman of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) in an address at the Royal Institute of Public Health, yesterday. Lord D’ABERNON, who on a previous occasion had shown the improvement in public health since the Board got to work, said that the wages reserved by female manual workers had been increased since the war started by about £200,000,000, and that figure did not include Government and employers’ allowances to service men’s dependents. Excessive drinking fluctuated mainly under the influence of purchasing power up to the outbreak of the war, but, notwithstanding the great increase in the purchasing power of women, there had been a decline of 73 per cent. in female drunkenness, as compared with pre-war figures. The decrease was not confined to public drunkenness, as was shown by the corresponding decline in sickness and mortality from alcoholism, and that was an answer to those who asserted that reduction of the hours of public drinking would drive drink into the home. The Board had organised 750 canteens for workers, and facilities for well-cooked meals at reasonable prices, in clean and comfortable surroundings, afforded a welcome change from the old system of cold food brought from home, or to the discomfort of ill-equipped refreshment houses, and removed one of the most prevalent causes of unnecessary drinking. High prices had undoubtedly their effect in reducing consumption of alcoholic liquor. On the other hand, the uncertainty of supplies led to “rush” drinking. When it was only available at uncertain intervals there was clearly an increased impulse to take advantage of the opportunity when it was to be had. There was a clear dividing line between the restrictive and constructive measures of the Board and restrictions of output. The latter should be modified or removed directly the special conditions which necessitated them had ceased to operate, while he did not see any class in the community who would not gain from a maintenance of regulations framed to maintain the present results. Least of all did it appear reasonable that the trade should desire a return to conditions which were not only insecure, but financially less favourable than those that now existed. Restriction and regulation were not only requisite on national grounds, but beneficial to trade interests. That was demonstrated by almost every published return of companies concerned in the trade. His lordship referred to a chart showing the number of proceedings against women for drunkenness during the fifty years 1867-1917. The number started at 25,497 and rose to 49,625 in 1878, dropping to 37,971 in 1886, and again rising to 53.303 in 1903, from which date there was a fall to 33,497 in 1910. By 1914: they had risen again to 44,304, and from that date there has been a rapid decline to 38,828 in 1915, and 24,913 in 1916, while this year, down to Oct 7, the figures were down to 1,481. During the fall from 1903 the female population had increased nearly two millions. Occupation, steady wages, and an independent self-supporting career had developed the best qualities in woman, had increased her self-respect and self-control, and had been in all respects – particularly from the health aspect – profoundly beneficial to the community. The advance under the present system of regulation had been rapid, and could easily be made solid. With such results it would be an insult to the intelligence of the community to imagine that any responsible body of opinion would desire to sacrifice the ground gained and relapse into pre-war conditions. Lady FRANCES BALFOUR said that for the first time in the industrial history of women they were being paid a fair or a living wage. They were not being paid an equal wage for equal work with that which was paid to men. That was too much for the community to swallow, but it was coming. She thought women were feeding themselves better. “I cannot regret,” she continued, “that so-called extravagance of wage-earning women in the way of silk stockings and fur coats, and certain other conditions which raised her above the mere animal. Perhaps clothing is not a high ideal, but it is higher than heavy drinking.” (Hear, hear.)