SOCIAL REFORM LEAGUE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 38

SOCIAL REFORM LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual meeting of the Social Reform League was held in Thomas’ Hall last night. Mr H. D. Bell, M.H.R., presided, and there was a fair attendance. The Secretary (Mr C. B. Moriyyn) read the constitution drawn up by the committee appointed for that purpose. According to _ this the objects of the League are the strict administration and reform of the liquor laws; to secure healthy dwellings and improve the condition of the workers ; to enforce the administration of the Education Act; to advocate the establishment of evening classes by the State; the nationalisation of all endowments made by the State to the various educational institutions in the Colony; to bring the Education Act into closer harmony with the practical needs of the Colony; the suppression of gambling; the organisation of all charitable institutions, and generally to co-operate with any other institution having for its object the promotion of social interests.

The Chairman said it was necessary to reiterate the statement made at a former meeting that the League was not an antiprohibition association, and that although it desired to lessen the number of licensed houses, that was not its sole object. Naturally, when they formed such a league they were asked if they thought they were going to regenerate the human race, but such remarks as that had very little effect upon him, because he saw that something could be done by every man and woman to improve the general wellbeing of the community, no matter what difficulties there might be before them. That was the object of the League—to do something for the good of society in general ; and every man and woman could do something in that direction. “ Each could reform one, if that one be himself;” and there were many things which an individual could not even attempt to do which could be attempted by such a body as theirs. (Applause.) Miss May Tates said that the desire of union among all workers in various branches of social reform was spreading in all parts of the world. She ventured to predict that if they could only unite the various philanthropic societies in the English-speaking world they would be able to accomplish very great reform and lead the way to the greater and grander union of the Englishspeaking people. One great subject they might take up in this League was thab of sanitation, and if they organised a system of distributing leaflets as to the benefits of fresh air, &c., they would do a very great deal of good. Careful attention to sanitation would result in the production of a hardy race of men and women, capable of fighting the battle of life, and of carrying on the great work which had been confided to the English-speaking people, viz., the reclamation of enormous tracts of country, and the attainment of a higher civilisation. In many New Zealand towns sanitation was not of a very high order, but if these leaflets were distributed and read a very different state of things would soon prevail. (Applause.) She was also glad to see that they were taking up the work of the inspection of slaughterhouses, and she hoped they would see that as little cruelty as possible was exercised, and that diseased animals were not sold as food. The latterpoint was of the most vital importance, and she declared there was a very great deal of meat sold which was not fit for human consumption—more, in fact, than was generally realised. That being so she hoped the society would do its utmost to arouse public attention on tire subject, and take every step to see that the meat was as free from disease as possible. To do that they must have trained and properly paid experts, and although that might somewhat increase the price of meat, anything would be better than running the risk of consuming diseased meat. Whatever they might think about a -vegetarian diet it was of paramount importance that their meat should be free from disease. There was also the question of food reform, which involved the teaching of the scientific value of various foods, and in this respect she pointed out in detail the difference between the ordinary bx-ead and . the whole wheatmeal bx-ead, l-emarlcing that the latter contained all the brain, bone and blood-forming substances, which woro all eradicated and discai-ded in the manufacture of the white bread. The question of food reform ha :l a very close connection with drink reform, and they would find that the use of these natux-al foods was the gi-eatest factor in the promotion of temperance, and gradually of total abstinence. She therefore urged the League to spread a more general knowledge on these great subjects, which woxild tend to the moral and physical advantage of the i-ace. (Applause.) The Rev W. A. Evans moved the adoption of the constitution as read by the secretary, and said ho did so with great pleasure, because he saw in it an organisation that should give unity to the varied energies that are now working independently towards the sumo common object—the realisation of a truly social organism. Ho hoped all the churclies of Wellington would bo represented on the League, and he thought also attention should be di-awn to education in Wellington, more especially in regard to the number of children who did not attend school as they slxoxild do. The Bov C. It. Bradbury seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The following officers wei-e then elected ; President, Mr J. G. W. Aitkon; vicepresidents, Rev T. 11. Sprott and Rev W. A. Evans; committee, Mrs Plimmer, Miss Greenwood, Miss Kirk, Rev J. R. Glasson, Rov 0. 11. Bradbury, Messrs C. M. Luke, N. Hodgson and A. Hoby; lion secretary, Mr C. li. Moi-ison. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to Miss Yates for her address and to the chairman for presiding.