DRINK CONDEMNED

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 59, 7 September 1945, Page 5

DRINK CONDEMNED

SALVATION ARMY'S VIEWS

A formal statement of the Salvation Army's attitude towards liquor, as set forth in a resolution passed at the last annual congress of the Army, was presented to the Royal Commission on Licensing yesterday. The resolution .reads: "We reaffirm that the liquor traffic is harmful to many people who. but for its baneful effects, would be useful citizens. To the knowledge of those in council, all restrictions so far provided by legislation fail to prevent the breaking-up of homes and the ruin of family life. "Aware as we are from observation and personal experience of the widespread prevalence of the dire evils of intoxication by liquor on children, youth, manhood, and womanhood in New Zealand, we can do no other than reaffirm our belief in total prohibition, and resolve to continue the fight for that objective. "We also contend that the present ill effects of the traffic urgently necessitate stricter control, that wider powers be given to the police to deal with offenders, and in no circumstance should intoxicating liquor be sold after 6 p.m. We view with alarm and deplore the sale of intoxicating liquor in public restaurants, especially having in mind that these places are frequented by women and children whose association with such conditions is fraught with grave mental and personal danger." Colonel Charles Walls, general secretary of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, after reading the resolution, said in further evidence that a number of the unmarried mothers cared for in the Army's maternity homes had volunteered the information that the cause of their motherhood was drink, mainly drink at dances. Witness said that generally speaking at least one-third of the inmates at Rotoroa Island inebriates' home were tradesmen or professional men. METHYLATED SPIRITS DRUNK. Some men whose failing was liquor had made the Army's men's homes their temporary or practically permanent home, and although the home managers had power to confiscate liquor, men sometimes secured liquor and drank it along the road. "We find that most of these men commence as liquor drinkers, but subsequently go off on to methylated spirits," said witness. "They refuse to look at beer or spirituous liquors after once having become addicted to methylated spirits. Most of the inmates drink methylated spirits and have no difficulty in getting it from the shops. One is seldom able to reform a person who has taken to the drinking of this stuff."

Reports confirm that sly-grogging was prevalent in the Te Aro Flat area. The manager of one of their homes had been requested at least four times this year to supply liquor. This particular officer was not wearing his uniform at the time and lived in a house alongside the home. It was suspected that the sly grogging establishment was also close to the home. "It is within our knowledge that drinking by women, especially young girls is very prevalent and seems to be increasing," said the witness. It is well known to the army that persistent drinking goes on at dances, but that aspect does not come specifically under our notice except the aftermath, the betrayed girls in our maternity hospitals."