LIQUOR AND NEW SOUTH WALES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 52, 10 December 1909, Page 6

LIQUOR AND NEW SOUTH WALES.

1 ACTION OF THE CHUIICIiES,

Notwithstanding tiio efforts ol tem•erance societies and the advocacy ot ao principles ol personal abstinence, it s an outstanding I'aefc that the conumption ol intoxicating drinks in New .outii Wales last year reached the enoruous total (in. money value) ot (says a manifesto published .i tiie Sydney 'Daily Telegrapn'). That ach a sum should bo spent in strong ii'ink by a community numbering only ; million and a-half persons of all ages rem the newly-born ml a lit upwards is uliiciently startling to arouse those to ,'liom the welfare of the people is a iiatter of some concern. New South ( ales has spent in strong drink during ao past ten years more money than it as expended in the construction of all 'S railways and tramways during the alf-eentury since the first soil was urned at Redfern, and that sum i £46,741,838"n0t only represents an uonnous waste but has entailed un>ld misery, crime arid death. In this State, notwithstanding the u:t that our legislation is in advance 1 tli 111 ol tlie Mother Country, wo are ireatened with an organisation which a menace to the best interests of the eoplo. Wo bebeve that in order to success;lly grapple with the evils of the >]iior trailie in this State it is absonite- .' necessary tluit the churches should mie together and utter their united ;ico and determine upon united aeon in this matter.

(Signed) By the Heads ol all the Protestant Churches and 107 other Clergymen and nearly 100 Lay Church" Officials.

I lieso declaratory resolutions will bo iiumitted (one each evening) to a con-

(I.) This Congress of the Churches'on ie temperance question, recognising ie ha 11 el ill effects of the liquor traffic n the physical, social, moral and mutual well-being of the community, irges Christian people everywhere to aserve the Christian principle of selfdenial by jjorsonal abstinence and to nnove the "stumbling block or the ocasion to fall from their brother's way I '' ■v voting "no-license."

(2) liiat ns the closing of the liquor ■ars is at present tho most effective letJiocl of dealing with the liquor traf'c tho members of this congress, renre.'ill the Protestant churches in 'lns State, hereby pledge themselves 'liitedly and 111 connection with their j'speetiye churches to secure if possible Hie active co-operation of every ChrisMil man and woman in the coininti campaign. *