PROHIBITION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 233, 14 September 1922, Page 6

PROHIBITION.

DISCUSSED BY SYNOD. t s RESOLUTION IN FAVOUR I CARRIED. i At last night’s session of the Anglican Session, Mrs Munro moved, “That this Synod is of opinion that the only immediate available remedy for the evils resulting from the liquor traffic is to vote for its prohibition at the coming poll, since there is general 1 dissatisfaction with the present sys--9 tern, and no possibility of carrying any other vital reform for many years r to come.” She said she was glad P General Synod “had at last come to R its senses.” The Maoris had not voted on the liquor question, whilst half-caste i Maoris if they chose to vote as pakchas . on th« liquor question forfeited their vote as Maoris for Maori representa- > tives. She appealed to the Europeans 1 and especially to membeis of Synod r to vote prohibition in the interests of the Maori. The motion was seconded by the Rev. P. Temuera, who deplored the havoc wrought by intoxicants among the Maoris, especially at tangis. Mr. A. W. Ham’lton as the son of a Native schoolmaster and brought up among the Maoris, supported the motion. The Rev. F. W. Bennett and Mr. G. C. Williams strongly supported the mover. The latter spoke of the practice of adultering liquor intended for Maoris’ consumption. The Rev H. Munro said the Maoris had a right to appeal to the church as their spiritual mother and protector rather than to Parliament. Politics were constantly changing, but the principles of Christianity did not change. The Rev. H. Morse said that as one who had opportunities of knowing the facts he declared the stories circulated regarding the increase in the use of drugs as the result of prohibition in America were absolute lies. The Rev. F. W. Chatterton, in a long speech, supported the motion. He deprecated the retaining of the State Control issue on the ballot paper which would make the carrying of prohibition this year doubtful. He forecasted that if prohibition .were not carried this year the new Parliament would introduce legislation to prevent another vote on prohibition being taken for a considerable time. If State Control were carried the country’ would have to find thirteen to twenty millions to buy up and control the traffic. If prohibition were carried its results in five years would surpass all expectations. We must discount all cables from America. Moderates would vote prohibition if they knew' the havoc being wrought by drink. We could not make men moral by Act of Parliament, but we could remove temptation. Archdeacon Chatterton quoted the opinion of Admiral Sim and President Harding that prohibition had saved the rising generation from drink. He spoke of the increase in drinking amongst women. This was largely due to a kind of chivalry and a desire on their part to show returned soldiers that they did not unbraid them because they drank. The Maori speakers had not exaggerated, rather they had minimised the havoc beijig wrought amongst the Maoris by drink. The Rev. Canon ,E. D. Rice said no man had a right to be indifferent; we must take sides and definitely work for prohibition and teach it. The Rev. Canon Clarke urged Anglicans to do their share not only by voting but by working. Eighty per cent of the inmates of the old people’s home were there through drink. One extra vote at each polling booth would give prohibition a majority. The Ven. Archdeacon Williams felt that he could not let the motion pass without speaking. He could not yield place to anyone in detestation of the evils arising from the excessive use of alcohol. He felt as much concern as anyone for both Maoris and Europeans who were slaves to drink. One aspect of the question had not so far been mentioned. He maintained we had already an “immediate available remedy for these evils”—namely, the Grace of God. He would not be such a lunatic as to pretend that there would not be material advantages in prohibition. People seemed to think that the only immediate remedy was a political one. He had not heard the name of God mentioned in the discussion. The arm of the Lord was not shortened nor the power of the Holy Spirit weakened. It was untrue that the Maori was so helpless that he had no capacity to resist. He had known many Maoris who had been reformed by the Grace of God. The Christian method might take longer, but its results would he lasting. God’s ways, though slow, are better than our short cuts. The Rev. Canon Maclean could not persuade himself that prohibition was the best solution of the problem. He had his own ideas of national reform. Still he would vote prohibition a« the only remedy available at present in the hope that it might bring opportunities for a more rational reform in the future. M'r. A. G. Pallott spoke of the blighting influence of the liquor trade on the spiritual outlook. We should use the ■ ballot box as an instrument to make the community better. The Bishop said he would not make a speech, hut would merely inform the Svnod that the unanimous opinion of 1 the fiftv American Bishops at the I nmbetli Conference was that prohibition had transformed the whole life of America. Mrs Munro briefly replied. Maori Bible class boys were led to drink by , temptations at football matches. She concluded by singing a Maori hymn she i had heard on a trip up the Wanganui * The motion was earned, a few votes ! being given in opposition. ;