Temperance in Canterbury.

White Ribbon, Volume 10, Issue 120, 15 May 1905, Page 9

Temperance in Canterbury.

NO LICENSE WORKERS CONVENTION.

Helpful and hopeful was the Convention of Canterbury No License workers held on Good Friday. Reports from the one bar-less el ct -r.tl district— Ashburton—were gooc. to hear. Increased happiness in family circles, increased prosperity in business circles, is the general verdict. As an incentive to continued Temperance activity, however, it was stated that the “Tiade” intend sparing no expense to bring NoLicense into disfavour.

At the evening meeting, Miss Roberts read a brief paper on “ Scientific Temperance Instruction in Schools, ’ and the following motions were afterwards carried : 1. “ Believing that instruction in the nature and physical effects of alcohol, and other narcotics, is the right of every child in our public schools, this Convention of Canterbury No-License workers strongly urges the Alliance at its annual meeting to frame test questions on this subject, to be submitted by Temperance organisations throughout New Zealand to Parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming election.”

2. “ Believing that this matter of Scientific Temperance Instruction is of the utmost importance, this Convention suggests that this department of Temperan e work should be placed by the Alliance in the charge of someone who, in conjunction with and under the direction of the Alliance, would take the necessary steps to forward the work

and push it into politics. It would also suggest in this connection the name of the Rev Alex. Doull, M.A.”

3. “ That the New Zealand Alliance be requested to consider immediately the subject of the introduction of Scientific Temperance Instruction as a compulsory subject in the schools of the colony.’’

In the discussion that ensued great satisfaction vvis expressed at the pionouncements by such men as Sir Victor Horsley and Dr Sims Woodhead as to the dire effects on body and mind of even small quantities of a'cohol. It was pointed out that these men are at the very head of the medical profession —the former as surgeon and the latter as professor of pathology. BAND OF HOPE DEMONSTRATION. On Easter Monday the usual Band of Hope demonstration took place and was specially successful. The displays made by the vatious Bands of Hope were very attractive; that of Knox Church, entirely carried out in pale blue and white, being extremely tasteful. The mottoes surrounding many of the juvenile-filled waggons or carried aloft on banners, were a Temperance lesson in themselves. Crowds lined the streets through which the long procession p issed and altogether the whole proceedings did not augur well for the stability of the “ Trade.”