IN AMERICA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14986, 13 August 1919, Page 8

IN AMERICA.

REV. JOHN DAWSON'S IMPRES-

SIONS

TOWN-PLANNING, EDUCATION AND PROHIBITION.

After a visit paid to the United ! States And Canada, the Rev. John secretary of the New Zealand j Alliance, has just returned to the Domjinion. The visit was paid at the invir tation of the American Anti-Saloon League and the Dominion Alliance of Canada to attend a cordWance for .the formation of a world league against alcohol. • This league was formed at "Washington m the. early' part .'of June, i Another object of Mr Dawson's tour was investijß-alion and inquiry throughout the United States and Canada as to thfe effects of the Prohibition they had secured. The other New Zealand re r presentative at the convention was. Mr G. H> Wilson) of Auckland. The R^v. Mr Hammond and Mr James Max*ion represented Australia. Dr. Salesby and Archdeacon Howson were among the delegates from Britain, Dr Hercod from Switzerland, and M. Jean Le Tort from France.

j WONDERFUL CITY PLANNING. In an interview with a Post reporter, Mr Dawson stated some of the impressions during his tour. •'The hist Hiring that impr-essod mo, both ,ih Canada and m the States," lie said, "was '-then* magnificent system of town planning, m their newer suburhs particularly. I : was very much impressed with the ab sence of fences, the sections, and even the fruit, flower and vegetable gardens being open to the streets, so that people could walk straight into them if I they choose to do so, but I am given to understand that they have no more 'trouble than when they had, fences. I The effect is most striking, particularly jin Honolulu, m Denver, Colorado, m • Los Angeles, California, m Ottawa, and m the newer portion of Toronto-- Their boulevards, and m this 'connection I would mention Seattle particularly, are beautiful and fascinating m the extreme. The way they are using the banks of the rivers and the 'sloping hillsides, making drives, and planting trees, is quite an example to us. Go almost where you will the use they are making of trees is very fascinate ing." - •-.. On tho question of education, Mr -Daw-, son said he was delighted to find the facilities the country possessed. „- '.'/Their buildings for every phase, of education: and every grade, and the. partie.ular subjects • they are dealing , "with, J are ?fea* tures that arouse attention. JFhe^pJace that health and morals has jn; .tjieir. 'curriculum, and m ."their examinations, is one of the things >yhich: is v. tending to uplift Canadian and American' life." I CHILD WELFARE.- .'-.-;■ , | "The interest that \is .being taken . m the child life of the nation both by the Church and the .State .ia another matter which impressed me strongly.^ The Protestant Churcnes are making; a distinct feature of the. social andjinoral branches ;of their work. - Temperance, of course, is a Very prominent ,sul>iectf with them, and .• the keen interest they are taking ih child life.-; is very, cheering indeed, and the desire.,; thege^is for information regarding odr maternity; institution s and . our Plunket was, quite inspiring. I have undertaken tp send supplies ,of literature Jbearing ' pn this subject to several centres jfcho are keen to have it. « ?.

PROHIBITION.- ;. ;,' "On the question of Prohibition,';' Mr Dawson continued, '■".■..» ''l Vam more satisfied with the . experiment ".pif Prohibition now than t have, \ eyer , been in' my life, and more : . convinced .that Pro-hujitio-a is the master. "ir- not tfie only effective measure for . with the ■liquor husiness. , Th^^ thing i'thftt Jm^ pressed me was . that tHe • naiion is -heart .and soul m. the v .movement ■ ;-for • -vie: abolition of th' 6 liquor .ti^ffic. .QYVcourse there are sectipns .of people ,Avho -are'doing their utmost to discredit what has been done atid to . try to ~"upset the steps that have been taken j hut the church, the legislature, ■ .and the rank and file of the people that 1. came , ii\ touch with support the . legislation tiat has been adopted. l£ is true t^bat at a recent conference of workers' at ''Ji% , a lanta a motion wa*i coi'fied by.axlai'ge j majority, but I want you" to un<Jji£'stahd' what the resolution a's^ed for.' '• is.b • did 'wot ask for aholition of VPjrohlßHibn. It asked simply that 2 per e'ent^ beer ! might be allowed, and the .liduor'Jtrade must be considered' practically piayed j out when it can l-ejoiceir^ a, , vote asking simply for that remnant of 'booze' business. It, is cn'eering^t'd ,me that m, the minority vote wei*e ;r.epre-v seritatives of . unions, . m. .the ' states at 4 ready gone dry, who gave ! good reasons, for opposing the rvptej anjd "also . tjj'e representatives of Chicago unidhs'^hose city is probably one Of the wettest m the whole of the States. It v was de-. clared that a demonstration 4f"'Lpp,oQo' workers would be held; m Wasli'ihgton. Then the announcement was reduced' to 50,000 and finally tor 25;OoO.;'. 'It J s stated that not more. than^lO.OQO at-^ tended. The legislature.had not dealt ; iWith the appeal of tlj'e' Li^dr ';l!fl, r ty - to, abolish the war-time prohibition' when I left Vancouver," but' in'^ an^^ official bulletin received by wireless, and' posi : cd on the ship, " over' the., captain's signature, it was reported \, that tlie liquor business m the ' Senate ' /was ii( the position of a ; " coiivicted' qrinqirjal apy pealing for reprieve/ and, this no ddub,t represents the position - in* Am,erica'today. Whether the war-time prohibition will be cancelled between now and 16th January, after all the American soldiers come home, remains to be seen, but one thing settled is that constitutional prohibition from 16th January next throughout, the whole of America is a definite thing. America .cannot -go back on that unless a, 'majority vole can be secured m thirty -six of the State Parliaments, and they have not the slightest prospect of getting that m this generation. I have come back' convinced that if New Zealand can. secure prohibition this year it will be lone, of the greatest blessings that have ever come to this country. One thing Avas made abundantly clear— that America and Canada .are .determined to become -so efficient industrially, 'physically, and morally, that they are settled to cut out all liquo^ business, as the thing that has hindered their 'In the past. If Britain continues to ; 'bolster n|> strong drink as she has done.hitherto it seems to me that it will be physically impossible for. her to -maiiitkin hj&r present place m the march of nations!" In closing, Mr. Dawson said tfiat the effect of the dry regime upon the sailors' life of the Pacific Was^ very marked. Leaving tho dry -poytp of Vancouver, 8.C., and Hondluly, they' ha^ not a moment's delay" on . account '-pfdrink, but such was not .the case 'when they came to Suva, which was British and wet.— ."Wellington Post. '