TEMPERANCE RALLY.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19661, 22 August 1935, Page 8

TEMPERANCE RALLY.

ADDRESS BY MRS. MOFFATT CLOW. A temperance rally organised by the local branches of the New Zealand Alliance and Women's Christian Temperance Union and presided over by the Hon. J. B. Gow, of Opotiki, was held last evening, when an address was given by Airs Aloffatt Clow, a social worker from Belfast, who has placed herself at the service of the W.C.T.U. for a two months’ cariipaign in the Dominion. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, emphasised the need for perseverance and determination in the fight upon which they were entering. There was no need to be downhearted because they had experienced a setback. Airs Aloffatt Clow dealt comprehensively with the world fight against ; alcohol, which had been discredited 1 and found useless either as a food or a medicine and which at the same time, with modern inventions and increased speed possibilities, was a greater menace to life and limb than ever bej lore. Britain lagged behind in the ] fight against the evil. ; Speaking as a delegate who had at- ■ tended the International Congress against Alcoholism, which comprised . representatives from many countries, who included in their ranks prominent authorities in medicine and other pro- , Cessions, she affirmed that the spread ■of total abstinence was phenomenal. I In Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark the Governments were most sym--1 pathetic and instruction in temperance : was on tlie curriculum in the schools. The advantages of abstinence was J recognised in Japan. It. was realised' j that alcohol was the enemy of efficiency I and its sale, was being banned over ■ large areas by the will of the people exercised voluntarily. The same could he said ol' India and the speaker j affirmed her belief that when that coun- ] try was granted a full measure of selfI government it would go “dry." In Germany under the Hitler Youth j .Movement abstinence was enjoined ; upon the individual, and in Russia, , despite the fact that the national drink, vodka, was a Stale monopoly, warnings I were placarded in the shops where it I was sold warning customers against j its dangers. Referring to America, ; Mrs Clow admit led it was a setback, ‘ but prophesied that, in die not distant : future prohibition would ho restored, ins lhc people realised that they had | been ill-advised, as the glowing proI m isos that the return of liquor would i mean the return of prosperity had not. I been realised. Further, she asserted j that restoration had been carried on a . minority vote, as thousands had failed | to go to the polls. j .Mrs Clow concluded with a plea for i earnest effort, in the forthcoming campaign. The Rev. 11. (i. Gilbert, in a brief address, staled that they would not welcome a catch triumph. To he a success prohibition must, possess the goodwill of the people and Ibis could only Re secured through personal effort. A vole nl thanks to Mrs Clow proposed by Mrs Stephenson Craig and seconded by Air F. A. de la Mare, and the singing ol' the National Anthem concluded the proceedings..