WOMEN IN BARS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27212, 2 December 1953, Page 9

WOMEN IN BARS

Sir,—The article in “The Press” this morning describing women drinking in bars is something to make us hang our heads in shame. Let us all, rich and poor, resolve, with God’s help, to rid our land of the curse of alcohol. Let all those who say they can take a drink and leave more alone, give up that drink for their neighbours’ sake and all bind together to wipe out this work of the devil. Let us squash this evil now. Let there be a crusade for the uplifting of our country. We call this “God’s own country," and a Christian land; and yet we allow the devil, with his most insidious weapon, to hold sway. Why not form a campaign action to sweep away, with God’s elp, this awful curse. We remember, too, alcohol is a poison.—Yours, etc., C. McKAY. December 1, 1953.

Sir, —The report on Wellington hotels in “The Press” this morning makes sorry reading. What respect can men be expected to feel or pretend for women who drink, many to intoxication point, in hotels, shoulder to shoulder with men, some of them swearing “as readily as the men"? How should such women bear healthy, normal children? And in face of such wilful, criminal waste of money, people complain that wages fail to keep pace with living costs! The saddest feature of the report is that a girl of 10 was present in one of these dens of debauchery. How should she become a good citizen? Once New Zealand led the world in licensing reform. Gone are our stalwarts. Icnabod! Oh, that a young band might arise imbued with the crusading zeal and eloquence of the late L. M. and F. W. Isitt and T. E. Taylor!—Yours, etc., R.R.M. December 1, 1953.