WINE AT WEDDINGS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 8 June 1931, Page 5

WINE AT WEDDINGS

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY ’ S CONCERN. AIINISTEES SURPRISED. There was abundant evidence of an increase in the use of'win© at weddings, said the report of the Temperance Committee presented to the Presbyterian General Assembly at Wellington oil Friday evening. Ministers, said the report, had written pf temperance weddings, and had been surprised to find wine where it was not expected. One minister wrote: •‘ln the majority of the marriages of even our church people wine is furnished, though invariably with the option of soft rinks.” Several ministers referred to the discourtesy where no option was offered. The report proceeded: ‘The question of whether ministers should preside at wedding breakfasts where wine is furnished has been raised, but your committee would urge that stronger efforts be made to educate our people against such a custom before so drastic a step is taken, and would urge further, that where church halls are let for wedding receptions, it be on the understanding that no alcoholic beverages be furnished,”

The report dealt with the cuestion of liquor consumed at cabarets and drunkenness among motorists. Objection was also taken to the form of liquor advertising in the Press., and urged that the matter be brought to the notice of the Public Health Department with a view to misleading advertisements being made illegal, and making it compulsory to have bottles .abelied with the contents as discovered b v a New Zealand Government analysis. It- was decided to instruct Presbyteries to renewed action in regard to temperance education among the. congregations, to the question of the use of wine at. weddings, and drink at cabarets along the lines recommended in the report. . . ~ • Assembly agreed to petition tlio Minister of Transport to circularise all car owners and new applicants for licenses setting forth the dangers of small quantities of alcohol in connection witn motoring. , . , , The Health Department is to be approached on the lines suggested in regard to advertisements of liquoi. Piesbvteries and sessions are to be asked to rouse congregations, to organ«sed action for the next election to recovei the ground lost in the prohibition issue and to concentrate on defeating < n > attempt to turn areas which are at present “drv” into “wet” ones.