A GREAT MORAL CRUSADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 8445, 12 August 1911, Page 6

A GREAT MORAL CRUSADE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—While endorsing your appeal for a great moral crusade in connection with the craving for alcohol, there appears,to be no need for, any further organisation to bring, about the reform. Qf societies there,.;a<re more ihan enough. But it is to parents; the employers of labour, the heads of our financial, commercial and trading institutions that the crusade should appeal. Their example and influence is potent for good or evil, and where young men of weak will especially are concerned, it is often a case of ."like employer, like employee." Of course, where the parent and employer has "mo vision of sacrifice, and whore no responsibility for the habits and conduct of others is accepted, the appeal will have no effect. But, in view of the suffering and waste which the indulgence in alcohol so often brings in its train, 1 do not envy the individual who, from avarice, appetite or prejudice, is unmoved by your assertion that the drink bill is on .the increase. Again, I repeat that those who assist others to build sturdy characters, and who attempt to bring about conditions helpful to physical well-being, are the true patriots. The nation will become stronger as each unit becomes more efficient, and as time goes by the "defectives" through strong drink will become subjects only of memory. At the ■ Sydney Seamen's Institute recently, Vice-Admiral King-Hall addressed an enthusiastic meeting. The following are some "points" from his speech: "A total abstainer all ray life, and believing in it implicitly, I gladly say a word on the subject to-night. My father became an abstainer when he was captain of a man-of-war, and 1 followed his good and wise example." "Personally, it affects me favourably in three ways—l am better in health, in pocket, and in nerves." " H.M.S. Natal affords an interesting illustration of the effects of alcohol on the nerves. They keep a daily record of the big gun practice, and it has been noticed that there are distinct and regular gradations in the shooting record, which is at its worst the day! after leave, and at its best the day bofore leave. This, the men call the j 'grog curve.' " " A deputation waited on the captain and asked him not only to arrange the battle-firing test for the day before leave, but also to postpone the giving of the daily portion of rum until the evening of that day, the result being that the Natal has won the battlefiring test two years running." "There are over 20,000 _total: abstainers banded together in a total abstinence society in the British Navy, and I am proud to be the president of such a society." ;, "But, apart from all personal advantages, we must think of our influence on others and our obligations to help those who are weak. We can give another no better or bigger help than our own example." "I have seen the evils of intemperance and the blessedness of total abstinence, and cannot but speak of what I know." Sir, I urge for a universal crusade of pledge-taking, with the same enthusiasm as is witnessed when men and women advocate membership for patriotic movements of great but considerably less moment than the physical and moral stamina of our race. GRENADIER. August 10, 1911.