PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 29 March 1930, Page 5

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

"Temperance and Prohibition in New Zealand," is the title of a volume compiled and issued under the auspices ot ihe New Zealand Alliance for the abolition of the liqnor traffic. It has been primed in London and contains many portraits of past and present workers in the cause, and also a "Who's Who ihat is of value for reference purposes alone The, editors are the Rev. J. Cocker and Mr J. Malton Murray, whose labours have produced a most interesting volume—interesting to all who are not utterly bigoted whether their sympathies are for or against. The authors frankly concede that the work may contain errors and fail to mention events and personalities that have every right to be included. Notwithstanding, the authors, who have had somo notable assistance in the shape of contributed articles, have given us a valuable publication as the result of much hard work and research. One of the section of special Nelson interest is worth quoting. It reads.— "The pledge book of the Nelson Icetotal Society shows four hundred names extending from the first date in 1842 to the last, date in 1850. The first name on the list is that of Alfred Saunders, who afterwards became the superintendent of the Nelson Province and at a still later period a member of the House of Representatives. He was a gifted man of advanced views on. social and political reform and of great strength of character, never swerving from the pledge of loyalty to the temperance cause that he signed in Nelson in 1842. The ninth name on that Nelson pledge list is Benjamnn Crisp, who is still well worthy of honourable mention. He had been cruelly bitlcti by the drink curse himself before he signed the pledge in .1842 and ho laid himself out to tho end of a long life especially to win children Lo total abstinence. 'Old Ben Crisp' lives in the grateful memory of many Nelsonians because of the genial devices he used to guide young feet into the paths of sobriety. Another name to be remembered is that of Thomas Bond, whose faithful service has extended over many years. "The Nelson record would be sadly incomplete if it made no mention of the Atkinson family. The cultured and charming lady who filled the place of honour in that home watched with the keenest [interest livery aspect of the crusade against the liauor trade, and delighted to entertain such loaders as visited Nelson. Her intelligent daughter. Miss Ruth Atkinson who gave years of useful service, to the cause, and also most notably by her son in Wellington, Mr Arthur R. Atkinson, who has filled the post of president of the New Zealand Alliance and rendered effective help to the movement as a writer of exceptional ability." A thoughtful affd logical article by Mr -A. R. Atkinson is contained in the book under notice which has been published at a reasonable price.