Deputation to the Minister for Education.

White Ribbon, Volume 13, Issue 166, 21 April 1909, Page 2

Deputation to the Minister for Education.

The Hon. G. Fowlds smiled most benignly on the 60 or 70 ladies who crow r ded his room and stood on his chairs and occupied every inch of available space. It would have been interesting no doubt to have heard the remarks made by the secretaries and reporters who were present. “ We represent all classes and grades in the community,” said Mrs Cole (president), who introduced the deputation. “ We represent many philanthropic bodies and Christian workers. We have a large vote behind us, and we ask you to cause scientific temperance instruction to be given in our schools. We have been here before, but never with so much weight behind us.” Mrs Cole went on to explain that the W.C.T.U. w’ould like some definite promise that legislation would be introduced next session. When the open bars were closed, the dreadful suffering which caused by drink would begin to disappear, and with it some of the impetus which goaded people on to work against the drink traffic. Therefore the deputation wished to secure that the children who grew* up would have a knowledge of the effects of alcohol upon the human body. The subject was so important that it might well supersede some tilings appearing on the syllabus. The deputation felt that the Government w'as strong enough to grant the reform promptlv. M iss Maunder (Hawera), superintendent of Scientific Temperance Instruction in connection wfith the Union, pointed out that it was compulsory in every American State to impart scientific temperance instruction in the day schools. Mrs Lowe, M.A. (Wellington), spoke from the teacher’s standpoint. She knew the difficulty of interfer-

ing with the syllabus, hut there was a method of introducing scientific temperance instruction without upsetting any arrangement. Once a month the science lesson should take the form of a demonstration of alcohol s evil effects. Miss Powell (Auckland),expressed hearty appreciation of the Minister’s efforts to helpon temperance reform. Unfortuately it was too well-known that drinking among young men ha 1 increased. Mrs Don (Dunedin), remarked that the Government was ’•ecommending parents to care for their children’s teeth and eyes, hut had forgotten to give attention to the most important element, the brain. Alcohol destroyed the nerve tissues of the brain. “We represent organised mother’s love,” finally declared Mrs Don, “and for the sake of our children we feel that the day is gone when we ask we demand from a democratic Government that this measure shall be introduced as soon as possible.”