W.C.T.U.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 June 1925, Page 6

W.C.T.U.

LECTURE BY AIRS, DON. The New Zealand president of the W.O.T.U. (Mrs. Don) is visiting, Hawena and district, and last night addressed a meeting in the Grand theatre when ishe spoke of her impressions of America. There was a good attendance af the public. I‘lie Mayor, (Mr. E. A. Pacey) presided. After the singing of several hymns by the audience and song by a number of children in procession and carrying flags, the Mayor briefly welcomed Mrs. Don to Hiawera. Me said he believed Aire. Don would tell the people something about America that would confound the opponents of the movement for prohibition. He sard he believed thoroughly with the W.0.T.U., and therefore was pleased to, welcome its Dominion president to the town.

Brief welcome addresses were also given by the Rev. W. J. Ox'brow, Capt. Smith, and Mrs. Reid (preisidnet of the local union), all of whom expressed their great pleasure in , having the privilege of hearing Mrs. Don address the gathering. Before Mrs. Don began to; speak a bouquet was presented to her by one of the girls, and this kindly 'action she acknowledged as a tribute from the young people, the country’s best asset, for which she said she was profoundly grateful. Alms. Don prefaced her remarks by saying she had so, much to- tell the people of New Zealand that if she dealt with all that she had seen and heard on her world tour, the time at her disposal would be far too short, and therefore she would confine her remarks to America.

She said that 1924 was a, record year for the States, and it was also the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the W.O.T.U. In that year also America had gone dry. When she reached America she had had the pleasure and privilege of meeting President Coolidge at White House, and during the time of her interview he talked of the Union and the work it had done. She said the Union had spread in New Zealand until it was the largest organised body of women in the Dominion, 'and this was largely due to the need for advocating and working for prohibition. When she reached America she found that the experience o£ all who went on the business of the Union was that every door was thrown open to them. She was able to interview court judges, and to see everything that would be useful to her work. And first she saw the gaols in ’Frisco and found that the oorridons in which, under the saloon there were always full numbers of men convicted for drunkenness, -were, under prohibition, practically empty. And she was interested to see “drug addicts”, and to learn that, they were • not due to the prohibition of liquor, but had been addicted for years. With two other women she was able to* go, without escort, through the foreign quarter at the aitv, through which previous to prohibition they would not have dared to go. They saw no sign at all of drunkenness. The hotels and saloons were now cafes and ishops, and there pork and beans would be served in place of drink. Airs Don referred to the cables published about America and prohibition, and said that many messages were broadcasted by people interested in the liquor business. Though enforcement of the law might be questioned, she said that America was loyal at heart, and it must be remembered that 75 per cent, of the population was foreign. Many of tli© States had been dry for years, and for a very long time temperance had been taught, while lately the rum row had been pushed back to the 12-mil© limit. While she was in America, said Airs Don, there were numbers of conferences, one of them being a conference of 750 employers in Chicago. Among those present were Mr Henry Ford, Mr Rockefeller and Air Stone, and all had declared that industry could not tolerate* liquor because it made men inefficient. At the same time in Los Angeles there was a conference of three thousand club women delegates, among whom was the late Gene Stratton Porter, who favoured law enforcement. Bankers who met them affirmed that there had never been such savings made, no less than 18,000 millions being accumulated in the savings banks, and the majority of this, it was stated, came from those, who formerly spent large sums on liquor. Mrs -Don referred to- her meeting With Commander Evangeline Booth, “'the most loved woman in America.” The Salvation Army records showed that while previously their homes and rest houses were always filled, they were now practically not used at all. The campaign for introduction of light wines and beer had been an outstanding failure.

Mrs Don referred with enthusiasm to the great work of the W.C.T.U. in furthering the work of prohibition, and the improvement of conditions generally in quarters where previously the saloon held sway. “Certainly,” said Airs Don in conclusion, “prohibition was worth while,” and she enumerated various- ways in which improvement had been effected. She added that there were endless opportunities in New Zealand, and she hoped that it would lie decided to get rid of liquor at the next election, in a few months’ time. She remarked on court statistics, which showed that eight thousand men were arrested during the year for drunkenness, and that of the five thousand children in orphanages over .75 per cent, were not orphans, and this she stated was due to the fact that one or both of the parents suffered from alcoholic habits, and were unable to rear or-train their children. She referred also to statements by judges and magistrates that a large majority of the cases of crime- were due to the direct influence of -liquor. She affirmed also that there was an increasing amount of drinking among young women, and quoted cases that had come under her notice. She s-aid that there were no sadder tragedies in the States than some which had happened in New Zealand, and these were attributed to drink.

In concluding, she hoped that the women would see to the registration of those who did not vote at last election, remembering that this would he sufficient to turn the poll in favour of prohibition. On the motion of Air E. Dixon, a heartv vote of thanks was passed to Airs Don for her able and instructive address, coupled with the hope that the success attending prohibiton in America would be repeated in New Zealand. This was carried by acclamation, and a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding was, on the motion of the lecturer, carried. The meeting cVised with the Benediction, pronounced by Captain Smith, of the Salvation Army. This evening Mrs; Don will speak at Afamaia, not Bate a, a® Was erroneously advertised in ilaislta evening’s Star.