Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 510

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You said that a great deal of this so-called bad liquor was found on analysis not to be deleterious. You may know something about the sale of liquor in South Africa. and West Africa. A great deal of agitation has been going on for years?—Yes.

It is supposed to be the same spirit-this German potato spirit ?—I have heard that the West African spirit was potato spirit.

There are a large number of authorities who pronounce it as being specially dele- terious, and in the face of that do you still think that the analysis alone is sufficient to go upon?

Mr. MCCALLUM.--From the retail shops or from the wholesale?

Dr. HARTIGAN.—From either. What I mean is that there is a great deal of evidence with regard to the trade in this class of whiskey.—I do not know enough about the subject. I know that in 1890 it was proposed here to place a legal limit of strength ou retail liquor.

Was that favourably considered ?--That is to say that liquor retailed should not be above a certain degree of proof.

That, of course, would cover what you said about strong liquors ?-It seems to me odd that liquor should be sold so very strong, because it would pay any publican to dilute it. If he had a bottle of very strong liquor it would pay him to make two bottles of it.

Mr. MCCALLUM.-I was going to ask you if there should be a minimum.—There is a minimum. If you dilute the liquor below a certain standard it is adulterated.

Dr. HARTIGAN.-I understand you to say that excessive drinking is due to the extreme cheapness of the liquor. You do not mean in the public-houses?—Yes.

But it is ten cents a glass in a public-house. That is not so very cheap. A soldier has not so many dollars in the world, you know.—Well, I have not been into the public-houses to buy liquor and I do not know what the price is, but I think there must be some cheaper stuff than that.

So far as the Police know, can we get any information on the subject about the price?--Yes. I imagined it was much cheaper than that because you can get a bottle of whiskey for twenty-five cents.

In the public-houses or in the grocers'; because you see what your detective got cost us $1 ?—As I said before, the publicans are not responsible for all the drunkenness that takes place. There is the grocer.

There were many complaints by the last Regiment ?-There were complaints by the last Regiment of men bringing liquor into barracks.

Was that supposed to be samshu ?—No, bottles of liquor. I was asked to put a stop to it, and I explained that there was nothing to prevent the shopmen from selling it.

Therefore, as far as your opinion goes, you think that what we should try to get at is the sale of samshu in regard to the checking of drunkenness ?-No, I do not say

that.

It would be inferred from what you said.--I say that the sale by grocers probably accounts for as much drunkenness as the sale by publicans.

Can a grocer sell samshu under his licence ?-No, he cannot sell Chinese spirits.

Unless he puts it in another bottle ?-He is not allowed to sell Chinese spirits.

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