150 CHILDREN ROBBED

Evening Star, Issue 18137, 29 November 1922, Page 12

150 CHILDREN ROBBED

If an act of brutality 'or cruelty were committed upon a group of 150 children, and the facte were published, public indignation would! immediately rise to n very high point. But when acta of this kind are committed on children scattered in various places in the dominion, they get through without much condemnation because the public does not realise the enormity of tho offence. Yet in the long run the result is the same; the homes whore the children suffer may ho separated, but tho 150 innocent lives, are made wretched none tlio less. According to tho State Department’s report covering the care of children, tho liquor traffic each year causes at least 50 children to become chargeable to the State because of drunkenness on tho part of _ the parents. _lf Prohibition la not carried, then during the next three years 150 children will become chargeable to the State, involving an expenditure of £240,000 because of drunkenness on the part of their parents. ’Phis moans that one definite effect of Continuance will be that at least 150 children will be robbed of their rights as regards the care of parents and the enjoyment of a decent home life. Who can estimate the earn total of piteous misery those children will boar before they fall into the hands of tho State. Excellently as the State does its work, nothing can compensate a child which has been robbed of its right to care, affection, and happiness in the home. If you want to do something to help these children vote out tho liquor traffic. STRIKE OUT THE TWO TOP LINES.—N.Z. Alliance Publicity. ( 83 >