THE LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 4

THE LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —For deliberate misrepresentation the resolution published in your columns of June 17, framed by the Licensing Reform Association ut a meeting held in Wellington recently, is trade propaganda true to type. The president of the New Zealand Alliance,' Mr Blanchard, never said one -word at its annual meeting about using the schools for “prohibition propaganda.” Neither have the New Zealand Alliance or Prohibition Party ever attempted to use the schools for prohibition propaganda. They cannot “ renew ” an attempt that ,was never made. The teaching of scientific temperance has been compulsory in The primary schools since 1920; The British Royal Licensing Commission \ reported that “every child ought to receive scientific and systematic instruction as to the properties of alcohol,” the British Education ’Department is now making that instruction compulsory in the schools, as it is here. The New Zealand Alliance at its own expense has prepared a sot of 11 charts which are of value to teachers as illustrations to temperance lessons, published in the New Zealand Education Gazette. The charts have been approved by the Education Department and by every education board in New Zealand. The liquor associations are challenged to find the word “ prohibition ” on those charts, or to refute a single one of the scientific facts thereon. Does the Licensing .Reform Association by its, statement mean that it is going to oppose the teaching of these Scientific temperance facts to the young people of this Dominion?—in the interests of the consumption of alcohol, one would presume. Will the Licensing Reform Association point to any one thing it has ever done to promote the interests of temperance or reduce the consumption of intoxicating drink?? Every time it comes to life it appears to be out to counteract temperance and extend the privileges of the liquor traffic. Finally, it is well to point out that true temperance ” is a glib phrase used commonly by those who wish to apologise for their habits, or as a label by camouflaged liquor organisations. “ True temperance ” is,moderation in the use of all good things, and total abstinence from bad things, and especially has it come to be recognised as total abstinence from intoxicating liquor. If you speak of a man as a “temperance” man, not one person in 1,000,000 would think you were speaking of a moderate drinker. The Licensing Reform Association having broadcast this slander upon the work and aims of the New Zealand Alliance, it is up to the Christian and decent people of the community to concentrate more than ever upon the temperance education of the young people of the Dominion. Judged by the numerous cases reported in the press, and by what is observable outside the hotels, the present evils of alcoholism are a disgrace to this Dominion, more especially during these days of stress and poverty. Drunkenness is everywhere increasing the unemployment and poverty problem. —1 ain, etc., New Zealander.