TEMPERANCE COLUMN

Evening Star, Issue 21318, 24 January 1933, Page 11

TEMPERANCE COLUMN

[Published by arrangement with the United Temperance Reform Council.] OPPERMAN—THE WONDER. Hubert Oppcrman, the world’s cycling wonder, who recently broke the world’s twenty-four hours’ cycling record, and also created a world’s record for cycling 1,000 miles in less than twenty-nine hours, is a total abstainer. When he won a four-day scratch race in France in 1931, he sent regards to the Victorian Prohibition League, and said; “ I am still on the water wagon.” His recent performance thrilled all Australia. He has also said: “ The use of alcohol is fatal to an athlete’s success.”

MEAL BETTER WITHOUT DRINK. The traditional assumption that alcohol stimulates digestion was challenged by some gastric measurements reported to the American Psychological Association recently. Sudden stimulation of digestion followed quickly by prolonged interference was found by Dr A. L. Winsor, of Cornell University, when he measured the How of saliva after drinking. The report which follows is his final statement of a preliminary finding given to the American Association for the Advancement of Science a few months ago: “ It would appear from our results,” he said, “ that the traditional assumption that alcohol stimulates digestion should he re-examined. Apparently the stimulating effect would characterise the influence of alcohol in the stomach, hut, once it is absorbed into the blood, its action would retard digestion, “ In general, our results support the findings of other psychologists, who have shown that alcohol retards and inhibits, rather than stimulates, behaviour. It should no longer bo listed as a stimulant, but preferably as a narcotic or depressant.” ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’ TEACHING FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL.

The declaration of Sir A. Pearce Gould, K.C.V.0., F.R.C.S., made in the ‘ Tenth Lees and Paper Memorial Lecture,’ delivered on October 31, 1912, is worth pondering: “ The splendid work of the Bands of Hope and of such educational temperance organisations as the National Temperance League has been above all praise. But it has been pioneer workonly possible to enthusiasts in the cause, and, like all pioneer work, jt finds its consummation only when it becomes absorbed into the general progress of the community. .So long as temperance teaching has been something outside of, and added to, the common teaching of the people, given only by a .special class of teachers, who are proselytising teetotallers, _it gains from the enthusiasm of the missionary, but it loses from the suspicion that attaches to what seems to belong to a party only.

“ A hoy hears the simple rules of arithmetic from a teacher who is not specially selected to teach that one subject. They arc taught without any ulterior object, and when once he has mastered the multiplication table, no power on earth will "ever persuade him that twice two is ever other than four. He uses this knowledge in his everyday life, and he finds it reliable and helpful. The boy must learn the facts about alcohol in just the same way from the lips of his ordinary teacher as a part of the knowledge of the facts of life that will stand him in good stead all his days. Neither teacher nor pupil must bo in any way marked out from his follows, and every opportunity should be afforded to those who desire it to test the soundness of tho facts taught. “ Wo must give the authorities no rest until we have hygiene and 'emporance teaching made compulsory, universal, and thorough for all the children in tho land.

“ We demand that the simple truth about alcohol shall be taught to every child and youth in the land as a part of the common stock of human knowledge. And our demand is backed by what a great French physician has called the universal cry of despair that rises from the whole universe at the sight of the disasters caused by alcoholism.” ’THE DISTILLERS AGAIN. Teh decision of the distillers not to resume operations in some seventy distilleries has given some people another opportunity of gulling tho public. Even the mildest reports say that this decision will throw thousands of workmen on to tho dole, and the impression of a gigantic increase in unemployment is thus conveyed. As a matter of strict fact, if every distillery in tho United Kingdom were to close its doors for ever, tne increase in unemployment would bo comparatively negligible. Tho total number employed in distilling and compounding, including clerks, typists, etc., is approximately 5,500, which represents one additional person for every 510 already unemployed in other industries. Tho actual increase in unemployment caused by this decision is to he counted in dozens—not in thousands. .Many of the seventy-odd distilleries are already closed, and are simply not renewing operations. In these poison factories, therefore, the increases in present unemployment will bo practically nil.. Furthermore, one is bound to ask who is to blame for the present state of the distilling business? Tho distillers have continued to manufacture whisky far beyond tho demand for it. They have accumulated over twelve years’ supply. Any industry pursuing such a suicidal policy would be doomed to a long period of depression. In tho present stalemate the distiller have no one to blame hut themselves. No Government dare do anything to increase the demand for spirits. No Government with any -consideration for human life would do anything to increase the number of whisky-inflamed motorists on our streets. ® Cannot the distillers recognise a simple truth? The liquor trade is fighting to retain the traffic in beer and

mild wines ; the battle for ardent spirits is over and lost for them. On every possible ground of health, economics, social welfare, and public safety, the beverage use of spirits is condemned. There is no future for distilling. Distillers should turn their attention to the production of palatable non-intoxicants for which there is an increasing demand. —‘ Scottish Temperance Reformer.’ A TEETOTAL BREWER. The English papers record the death of Dr Herbert Watney, a member rf the well-known family of brewers, who died leaving over £280,000, but was a teetotaller. His family has provided many thousands with beer, but he provided his neighbours with water. Near his home he instituted a water supply to serve several villages in the neighbourhood. He made beer; but he drank water. IT DIES SLOWLY, BUT IT DIES. Tea and limejuice have largely displaced rum in the affections of the Navy. For a number of years Jack has had the option of drawing 3d per day instead of his rum ration. Of 1,106 men on H.M.S. Nelson eligible for the rum issue, 731, or 66 per cent., have theirs in cash. , “Soft” drinks are popular, and £2B weekly is drawn from this source at Id a glass. The recent Army manoeuvres told the same tale. The pubs did little business, while the teashops were overwhelmed with .patron age.