OPPOSITION TO DRINKING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27920, 17 March 1956, Page 2

OPPOSITION TO DRINKING

APATHY DEPLORED ADDRESS TO CONVENTION OF W.C.T.U. (New Zealand Press Association) TAURANGA, March 16. There was an evil in the midst of workers for the cause of temperance —“Christian tolerance,” which was simply Christian apathy, said Mrs H. N. Toomer, president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, in her address to the union’s annual convention. now being held in Tauranga. Many persons, she said, used this as a cloak to avoid taking issue on one of the greatest evils of the Church, but apathy showed a lack of love for one’s neighbour. The craving for liquor had slain thousands in every age; now New Zealand had a liquor bill that should awaken people to the peril facing them—£26.ooo.ooo spent each year by a population of fewer than 2.500.000. The lack of morality was seen in today’s children, and drink had brought New Zealand morally to a very low level, said Mrs Toomer. There was a need today for a surge back to the Christian concept of life. Delinquency and immorality among the nation’s youth was at present a matter concerning a minority, but, if not checked, could engulf a majority. Such groups as the “Demo Gang,” teddy boys, and the like would riot have sprung up except for lack of moral teaching and control in the homes, Mrs Toomer said. W.C.T.U. members believed that the “home that prays together stays together.” Marriage Act

Referring to the Government’s proposal to lower the legal age for marriage, Mrs Toomer said it had been pleasing to see that women’s organisations and the churches expressed concern and took action. It was said that New Zealand had seven alcoholics for every public house in New Zealand, and 20,000 alcoholics registered in the country, she said. What would the figures be if those not registered were added? Mrs Toomer said the “cocktail habit” was a menace to the young and - unwary. It seemed to her discourteous that some overseas visitors who described the New Zealand drinking laws as antiquated, should pass opinions at all. New Zealanders should not be told by visitors to consume more liquor. Critics failed to give the full facts about Continental drinking hours. “We do not want vistors to these shores blandly to tell us how to commit national suicide,” said Mrs Toomer.

Mrs Toomer said gambling had a strong hold in New Zealand, and cost the country about £95,000,000 a year. The totalisator took about £25.000,000. off-course betting £20.000,000, and raffles (legal and illegal) and bookmaking £50.000.000. Gambling fostered crime, particularly embezzlement.

Mrs Toomer expressed thanks to the Transport Department for its efforts to make the roads safe for the travelling public. She urged more restrictive controls on the sale of contraceptives.

QUEEN PLANTS ROWAN TREE IN PARIS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, March 15. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother this morning planted two trees at the bottom of the garden of the British Embassy residence in Paris. Accompanied by the British Ambassador (Sir Gladwyn Jebb) and other members of the Embassy staff, she walked to the end of a long lawn and planted a rowan tree especially brought over from Scotland. The rowan tree is traditionally Scottish and Scots say that it only grows properly there. Later the Queen Mother left to lunch with Lord Ismay, SecretaryGeneral of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

ENGAGEMENTS Barrett—Williams: Mr and Mrs E. L* Williams, Robinson’s Bay, Banks Peninsula. have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their younger daughter, Barbara, to David Charles, only son of Mr and Mrs W. C. Barrett. Takamatua. Blake—Luxton: The engagement is announced of Keith Alfred, youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. J. Blake,'South Brighton, and Thelma Nance, daughter of Mr and Mrs H. B. Luxton, Avonside. Foster—Boult: Mr and Mrs J. E. Boult. Mount Pleasant, Sumner, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their younger daughter, Jacqueline, to Bill, second son of Mr and Mrs E. A. Foster, "Glemore,” Omihi. Joyce—Jarvis: The engagement is announced of Marie Isabel, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs Noel Jarvis. New Brighton, to Gerard John (Gary), only son of Mr and Mrs J. H. Joyce, Weston road, St. Albans. Lean—Clough: Mrs M. G. Clough, Fendalton, announces the engagement of her younger daughter, Margaret Ellen, to Richard Herbert, youngest son of Mrs C. M. Lean, Mount Albert, Auckland. Leefe—Davison: The engagement is announced of Margaret Winifred, only daughter of Mr and Mrs L. G. Davison, Bryndwr road, Fendalton, to Michael Anthony, youngest son of Mr and Mrs H. N. Leefe, Torbay, Auckland. McNeill—Wright: Mr and Mrs A. Wright, .16 Esplanade, Sumner, announce tjie engagement of their only daughter, Norma Margaret, to Alexander Joseph, only son of Mr and Mrs J. McNeill, .54A Opawa road. Rathgen—Howat: The engagement is announced of Joyce Clare, eldest daughter of Mrs and the late Mr E. W. Howat, formerly of Leeston, to Ivan Arthur, second son of Mrs and the late Mr A. E. Rathgen, Killinchy,' Leeston. Schneider—Munro: Mr and Mrs D M. Munro, 37 Sylvan street, Hillmorten, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth Maud, to Paul Peter Louis, only son of Mr and Mrs Paul P. Schneider, Albany, New York, U.S.A. Tindall—Nicholas: The engagement is announced of Leslie Stewart, second son of Mr and Mrs J. W. Tindall, Westerfield, to Annette Olive, second daughter of Mr and Mrs H. G. Nicholas, Ashburton. Uren—Cone: The engagement is announced of Valerie Jean, youngest daughter of Mrs E. Cone, 19 Boon street, and of Mr C. F. Cone, Waiau, to Mervyn Francis, youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. S. Uren, Grenmark Drive, Waipara. Vincent—Flanagan: Mr and Mrs C J. Flanagan, 66 Elizabeth street, Timaru, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their elder daughter, Patricia Jean, to Graham David, youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. E. Vincent, 70 Wilson street, Timaru.