HOW NEW ZEALAND DEALS WITH DRINK.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13636, 15 April 1908, Page 6

HOW NEW ZEALAND DEALS WITH DRINK.

ARTICLE BY SIR UOBEHT STOUT.

The London correspondent iVf iho Wellington Post writes: The ' Chief Justice of New Zrahmd, Sir liobort Stout, contribute* to the Chronicle i\n article entitle.! "I'ow *\v\v Zealand Deals with Drink.'' Speaking of I'ic working of no-liconsc Sir Robert : , "It is too soon, hoy fiver, to gsiugo the results on the people ni large. In only ono district ((Jluthn) h.it, there been no-licoHso for :my period of tinio. It is a fanning district, and it may bo that no-Jiocr.se, while succeeding in a farming distiici, will not bo successful in «i lar^e town. In Asliburt. at and Mnt;uira, also tanning distrkK, no-license has boon in iorco for oniv about three years. Tin:} m;\v he s.ud . j That tho perpetual discussion of thei alcholic question i.s an education in itself, and it makes for temperance. Our refreshment cars on our rnilwsi;* •. supply no alcholic liquors. Drunkenness such as colonial visitors .say cxi,-!.-> in tho largo cities of -England, Scoiland, and Ireland, is unknown. Women do not visit bars for the purpose of drinking, and intemperance among thorn is very uncommon. ."Perhaps the most notable feature in the temperance, agitation," he goes on to say, "is 'tho part taken by the churches in tho demand for no-license. Forty years ago they took no part, and few clergymen were then seen on temperance platforms or «t tempera nee meetings. The Presbyterian, Methodist (both Wesley an and Primitive), Baptist and Congregational Churches. aro now all strong temperance organisations. In .some of tho dioceses of the Anglican Church there is also a strong temperanco feeling in the churches, notably in tho dioceses of Waiajiu and Canterbury. The Roman Catholic Church has taken no part in the reform though a few priests have aided the no-licenso party."