THE CHURCH AND LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2939, 27 November 1916, Page 6

THE CHURCH AND LIQUOR

"A LOST PUNCH"

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSSES THE SITUATION

r 0 I "sbyl-erian General Assembly in discussing the report of the Temperance Committee on Saturday disclosed in no uncertain manner the Church's dereliction trom the aggressive policy of former years in its attitude towards tho liquor question. New Zealand's shortcomings m this Tegard were set out in tho committee's interesting report, which read as follows.— "The war, has awakened the world to me evil Ot alcoholic liquor as not even the most ardent temperance enthusiast oreamed possible tiro years ago. The hearts oi' temperance reformers may well beat high these days. There is still much patient toiling to bo gone through but the liquor traffic stands pilloried before humanity to-day as the foo of na-' tional efficiency and well-being. When our King admitted by his action that the best way he could help his Empire in this time of dire need was by settin" an example of total abstinence, lie struck a great blow at the most insidious and persistent foe of his people. A brief resume of the most outstanding facts in the temperance crusade may well encourage us. Russia continues to prohibit vodka. A temporary regulation to assist 'mobilisation proved so far-reaching in its good effects that it has become fixed law. In the 'jmiddle of October, 1914, the Tsar prohibited the State monopoly of yodka 'for ever.' 'Local authorities were (except in camp area) to have the right to allow beer to be sold, or to stop drink sales altogether if public opinion were strong in that direction. All tho great towns instantly exercised their powers by turning the key on the sale of alcoholic beverages in their districts.' On the evidence of every witness the result is already a new Russia. Russia has answered every question about the success of Prohibition _ with a splendid affirmative. It has dissipated the bogeys as to the revenue and employment, and proved that the claims of temperance enthusiasts as to the good effects, social and economic, following the destruction of tho liquor traffic, are' more than justified. Rumania, on entering the war, has followed Russia's exaimpie and enacted Prohibition. y > France has been facing the same issue though in a more tentative fashion, ■ and the changed attitude to alcohol in that country may be judged from the fact that the President of the Republic, M. Raymond Poincare, has accepted the presidency of the 'French Society for Action Against Alcohol.' In Great Britain enormous restrictions have been placed upon the traffic, resulting for last year in a decreased consumption of 'pure alcohol,' amounting to 6,250,000 gallons. Still, owing to increased price, the expenditure on liquor rose last year In spite of the King's example, in spite of Lord Kitchener, the pleadings of the Admirals of tho Grand Fleet, in spite of Lloyd George's heroic efforts, the Government has not dared to xeally come to grips With tho entrenched 'Trade.' But the resulting loss of man-power, efficiency, and economic resources lias become so glaring that a passionate and formidable tide of prohibition feeling is sweeping through Britain, particularly through Scotland. "In Canada great temperance victories hove been won this past year. Prohibition now prevails in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, twotbirds of New Brunswick, two-thirds of Quebec, over all Manitobia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. It is confidently expected that next year all Canada, except part of tho province of Quebec, will be under prohibition. 11l- Australia a great wave of temperance sentiment has led to the adoption of early closing permanently in South Australia, as a Var measure in Tasmania, New' South Wales, and Victoria, and. Queensland is following on tho same lines. In the U.S.A. prohibition sweeps on. Last year Alabama, Arkansas. lowa, Idaho, and South Carolina went dry, making a total now of 19 dry States. In 10 other States 50 per cent, of the people live under NoLicense, and in eight other States 25 to 50' per cent, are under No-License. More than 80 per cent, .of the area of the United States is thus under pp<».bition law, and more than 60,000,000, or 60 per cent, of the population have voted out the liquor bars. In New Zealand the wisdom of our legislators lias found expression in an anti-shouting law! In spite of a hnge petition, for early closing with'loo,ooo signatures, in spite of deputations, resolutions by churches, temperance organisations, and other bodies, and many and various public meetings, in spite of the support of the Press, particularly a number of leading newspapers never before friendly to temperance reform, the Government would not face the issue, and New Zealand once in the van is now dragging wearily in the rear. Your committee help on in every way possible the early closing movement. The resolutions of last Assembly -.veie laid before the llinistei" of Defence deputation. and your committee seconded all tho efforts of the Alliance and W.C.T.U. Public opinion is most obviously in favour of more effective/ dealing with the wastage from tho liiuor traffic, but <=o far public opinion is being ignored. We are thankful, however, that the dry canteen is still in the camps, and that under the. War Regulations Bill certain of the worst type of ■ public-houses are to be dealt with. "The drink bill for tbo year 1915 was being an increase of J3161.528. The estimated expenditure p9r head is thus £3 IBs. BW., being an increase ever last year of 2s. Sid. The number uf prrsons charsed with drunkenness during 1915 was:—Males.. 12.352; females, 916. These facts, combined with the 6upineness of our legislators, constitute a clarion call to the Church to face this terrible enemy within our gates. Owing to. tho postponement of the elections, it is unlikely that a referendum will be taken next year, but wo should keen steadily on at educational and organising work. We would especially urge upon the Church the value of the training of our young people in temperance principles through tho Band of Hope. The Church to Blame. In moving tho adoption of the report the Rev. Mr. l'aterson referred to the sweeping victories for No-License obtained in Canada and the United States, recently, and said that little had been done in New Zealand. There was tho 1 anti-shouting law, regarded almost as impossible to enforce, and in some areas it had been noticed that there was no intention of enforcing it. He did not blame the Government; he blamed the Church. They could not expect legislators to legislate above public opinion, and w'hen they had' the opportunity at the beginning of the war to do something that would bo real reform, it was practically impossible to get tho churches to act. They had very largely lost thenpunch in that matter and must try and get it back. Years ago they had swept on from victory to victory—now it was almost- impossible to bring men up to tho mark to fight this menace, and the meeting that had been called in connection with it had been miserably attended. It was not as though a referendum on early closing was easily carried. It was the weight of public opinion that guided tho men who professed to lead public opinion. He felt, as. the member of a temperance community, that they had not let the Government see that the country was determined to havo something done with tho liquor business. (Applause.) Next year, beforo Parliament met, they should face tho music, and let the Government know, in no uncertain voice, what they wanted, and will have. What was the uso of looking to tho Government when they (the Church) would not lift a little finger to express their oninion of the Church of to-day. They had douo so in. the past with pronounced success and should do so in the future. They should strivo to reduce the intolerable burden of tho three-fifths majority! Why, there were many members of the House pledged to voto for its reduction and had never been asked to do so since. "We will havo to mako up," said Mr. Paterson, "agitato early and late, and see that those members of Parliament fulfil their promises, force them to givo expression to their yiews in an adequate fashion!" Mr. Paterson waa pleased to say that

nono • but dry canteens hail been permitted in camp, and further advocated a revival of Bands of Hope, that would not only teach abhorrence of liquor, but b.v teaching; tho natural laws of physical health, guido the .voting' peoplo into making tho best uso of their bodies. "I believe," said the speaker, "that bad health is one of tho fundamental causes of intemperance!" In recording tho adoption of the dethe Eev. T. Miller said that wlulst they had ©very reason to bo satisfied at tho advance of temperance in paTts of tlio world, tliey were dissatisfied and ashamed of tlio state of things in New Zealand . ir ße £ Cun 'io said that tho Eev. Mr. Paterson did not blame tho Government. He (the speaker) blamed the Government very jmuch. They had the example of the rest of the world and ehouid have given the lead to the peoplo in this matter. In referring to a/i alleged pact made between Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. L. Isitt, tlio speaker 6aid thai he did not believe any such pact was ever made, anil in regard to the neglect of tho liquor reforms. urged, he blamed Mr. Massey just as m-ach iis Sir Joseph Ward.. He had always voted for the Massey Party, but as head of .the Government Mr. Massey had not given the lead ho should have done. He said ho had attempted to revive tho Band of Hope, but had found it absolutely hopeless. (Laughter). Parents did not like their children to bo out at night. The Eev. S. F. Hunter suggested that tho Sunday schools should bo utilised to attend to Band of Hopo work. This idea had been given expression in Australia, where the experience was altogether a gratifying one. Defence Department's Booklet. Tha Eev. Mr. Doull drew attention to a very admirable littlo booklet issued by tho Defenco Department dealing -with liquor and the veiled scourge. His only rogret was that these booklets were placed in the hands of the soldiers too late, being given to them Traen they go on the transports instead of on going into camp. He wa9 sorry, too, that tho Defence Department was speaking in two voices on this question. Everything in the booklet issued by the Defence Department was clear, definite, and' to -tho point. It said that alcohol was one of the enemies of physical and military efficiency, yet the Camp Commandants gave advice to'the men on their going into camp -which he ventured to say was "piffle." Mr. Doull said that the Commandants told tho men that they could keep On drinking if they drank in moderation. That, in face of what is stated in tho booklet which quoted tlio example of the King and the Into Lord Kitchener. The lives of their boys ivero largely inMhe hands of the Commandants, and they should be very, very careful in giving advice to the men 011 going into and when living in camp. The Rum Ration. The Eev. W. J. Comrio impressed on the Assembly the fact that the rum ration was served out much too frequently in camp, and that it was in direct contradiction to the Defence Department's official publication. Tho Rev. Mr.. Porter (Auckland) delivered an impassioned oration on the lack of moral passion behind the movement, compared with what was the case a tew years ago, and imptlgned the National Ministry for their utter lack of any sympathy with tho movement. If the members wished to know why they had only to glance down the names cf the Ministry and they would realise why it was so. j Recommendations. The committee's report was adopted, after which the following recommendations were , proposed and passed:— "Express gratification at the continuance of the dry'canteens-in the military camps. "Express approval of Hie anti-shouting law, but extreme regret that Parliament has ignored the demand for oarly closing at least during tho war." - "Urge onr people to continue .agitation for early closing and the reduction of the three-fifths majority on the referendum. "Commend the work of the Band of Hope and Sunday School temperance societies lo all ministers ami Sjmday School superintendents.: "Eeeommend ministers and sessions to promote pledge-signing among young and old, and appoint the fourth.Sunday in September as a day when special efforts in this direction should'be made. "Appoint the second Sunday in November as Temperance Sunday." No Rum Ration. The Eev. It. E. Davies gave notice' that he would move:— "That this Assembly protests to tho Defence Department against the issue of the rum ration, to our soldiers, and calls their attention to their own official pronouncement 011 the effects of alcoholic liquor in their booklet, "The Dangers of A r enereal Diseases."