TEMPERANCE WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 30

TEMPERANCE WORK

EFFECTS IN JAPAN

The fight against strong drink in Japan was a Christian movement, stated Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa on Thursday, when under the auspices of the New Zealand Alliance aoout 200 people entertained him aKtea. The chairman was the Key. J. R. Blanchard.

A tribute was paid by Mr. Blanchard to the work of the general secretary, Mr. J. Malton Murray, and he reviewed the work the alliance had accomplished in the past fifty years. It had been ascertained, said Dr. Kagawa, that 40 per cent, of those admitted to insane asylums in Japan were there because of drinking habits or because of an alcoholic family history. In Japan communities had to find money to build their own schools without Government aid. One village of 350 inhabitants resolved that for three years they would cease to use alcoholic liquor and save the money for school building. In three years they saved over £5000, built their school, and were so satisfied with the results that the village had continued to be "dry." There were, as a result, now 17 "dry" villages in Japan. In the mining districts it had been decided by the miners that drinking was a cause of accident and death, and as a measure for saving life they had adopted total abstinence. The recorded results were that production improved 20 per cent., wages increased 26 per cent., accidents decreased 40 per cent, and sickness decreased 35 per cent. Dr. Kagawa earnestly urged Christians in New Zealand to continue their struggle against what was a curse, not only in Japan but in all countries where it was found.

A hearty vote of thanks, moved by Mr., Charles Todd, was accorded the speaker. , . .

Dr. Kagawa left for the south on Thursday evening. He will be returning to Wellington on June 18 and will fulfil a further esries of jublic engagements. ■ '■■■.