THE DRINK PERIL.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3336, 4 September 1917, Page 4

THE DRINK PERIL.

[Published by arrangement.]

V NOT CUT IT OUT

JljY/U THE BARS

Oonny, in the British Weekly, ; . "While, everybody seeß how the , quor trade is imperilling the. nation ] ir all its material interests, working ' for shortage of ships and shells, of ; food and cash, these important points are all upon tho surf ace,, and the question which is being put to the nation, by the providence of God, is not a superficial but a spiritual one; jiivl," he adds, "that if we have not 'ie« moral sense or nerve to do what the will of God and the interests of humanity bo urgently demand, our doom would be written in heaven." Dr. Denny urges "that every one r-hould insistently press for Prohibii lion, as nothing else in present conditions is of the slightest value." This is strong language (says Agnes Weston,, in Ashore and Afloat) but it is. I firmly believe, absolutely true. The drink torpedo has, struck this dear old country in a vital spot, and, unless immediate and drastic steps aro taken, she will founder. Working, as I do, in concert with my friends of the Navy and Army, I hear tragical stories. FATHER FIGHTING—MOTHER DRINKING. A brave fellow came back from franco on leave. He had toold his wife the good news and ho pictured herself and the little ones looking out for daddy with eager interest. He got home at last, but tho door was locked and the little one 3 were crying oh the doorstop.. "Where was mo- ' ther, was she ill P"- "No, she had , gone to the Red Lion an hour before, and she had riot come back." Here was a. welcome, to the man who had passed a winter m tho trenches 1 , , . . With a heavy heart •he made his wav to the Red Lion. There was his* wife the mother of his children, " maudlin' drunk I With tears and .sobs she told him afterwards that she'took to it some.time after he left. She was so low-spirited, and its power had grown so strong that she could not give it up. Prohibition would have kept the road clear for her. Before that soldier's leave was over he was found with a bullet through his head, his wife drunk by his side. ANOTHER, STRIKING PLEA FOR PROHIBITION.;... <<I WISH I COULDN'T GET IT I" These 1 words were spoken by a soU dier's wife. Her lips trembled, there was a catch in her breath, and the, tears rolled unheeded down her cheeks. . "Toll me," said the Sister who was trying to helr> her, "when you started to drink?" "Only since he's been gone," was the answer. "Jim doesn't drink, and '~e never had it in our home, but after he went (he's in Egypt, you know), I was so lonely, oh. so lonely I" ' , The catch in the voice came again. 'H\Wd moved to, London, so that he omild come home when he had leave. Then he was ordered off. and I hadn't got any friends —they were all in the country. There was no one coming in and out. and the baby was cross. One day I was with the wormian next door, and she gave me some, and then I went into the pub with her. And after that—well, I went again and again. Oh, I wish I -ouldn't get it, I wish I couldn't <■ it." Yet. in spite qf this, England gives it to them. TAKE THE LESSON FOR NEW ZEALAND—€LOSE THE BARS VT 6 O'CLOCK.