PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 370, 18 April 1926, Page 2

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

We iiuve passed another milestone on our long march to Prohibition, and though we have not written victory U|*on, it, we can say. Ebenezer, for we fought a good fight, and as one of our workers recently said, “If beaten, we are not disgraced; if unsuccessful, we are still unconquered; and we face the future with hearts • mU>ld*n<*d in the assurance that our cause us right.” As usual, we fought against heavy handicaps, ti.e first of these being the unjust condition of the present law, which provides that Prohibition csui only be carried by polling a majority of votes over the other two issues com blued. The splendid majority vote for ITohibition (22,430 more than Continuance) proves once more that in a straight-out contest between these two issues, Prohibition would certainly win. The thousands of immigrants, who are many of them opiiosed to our reform. w;is another factor in our defeat, us w'eio the Liquor Traffic’s lies about the results of Inhibition in the United States, and the effort made on behalf of State Control by a few' of the lesser dignitaries of the Anglican Church, oil of which resulted in n considerable increase in the votes in favour of the middle issue. Nor could the alarming increase in drinking by women and young people have failed to affect the vote. Fnder these circumstances, the result of the poll, with its dear Prohibition majority, gives us every encouragement to fight on until victory oomes. The voting was as follows: —Fcr ITohibition, 319,450; for Continuance, 299,584; for State Control. 56,043. Yet w*» arc as we were, in spite of this excellent vote, except for the loss of Ohinemuri. which, by the vote on the National question, indicated its desire to remain “dry” if the whole Dominion were the same. Ohinemuri is the only one of our dry electorates to move backward, as it was the only one w hich became dry boon use of a quarrel between the purchasers and sellers of alcoholic liquor as to the prioe of beer. A writer on “The Need for Education” in the January number of the “Vanguard.” reviewing the poll results, ttys: “The fact that the ITohibilioa vote increased by nearly 19.000 at the last poll is satisfactory as far as it goes, but remembering the large nunits\r of first time voters, the increase

should have been still larger. The m evitable conclusion, from consideration of the figures, is that there is stni vtp, much to be done in the way of cdu<u. tion in regard to the evils of uJeoboi and the injurious effects of the Liquoi Traffic on national life.” When our Union wus first orgu'iiNd in New Zealand over forty years n* its slogan was, “Educate, Agitate, Ur ganise, and Legislate,” and the need fot the progressive policy thus enjoined wu never greater than it is to-day. Emm new onward we must concent rat. on educative work, not only anions our young but wherever we can get a group of listeners together must try to teach the true facts nlwut Alcohol, that ihe depredations wrought by it may lx* bi-ought home to the* gr»«u body of puMic opinion. in pursuit of this |K>iicy, we must rcmcmlH i that education mn only bo undertaken successfully by those who are thenisclvt informed as to the sut>J«*ct of winch they treat. It behoves us all 1o keep abreast of the times, and not uttempt to convince those whom we w ish to coin* i to our own views by the use of .stal literature and worn-out arguments. Anna A. (Jordon, our World’* W.C T.l\ President, in her message to :Ji* (•(invention of that Union, held in Sot land last June said: “In our programme for the coming three years, th« mobilisation of youth, on.l training of o our boys and girls should lie a first oh jiHftive. Plans for the special train in*: in scientific temperance and organise tion work of our gifted young women should be one of the outstanding Batin es of this (Y>nvention’*> plan of w uk vVe must formulate for the leaders of

to-morrow a programme (hat will equip youth with a knowledge of the moral, economic, and patriotic reasons Par Total Abstinence and ITohibition."

Dr. Anna Howard Shaw said sir never wanted any time trying to on vince a person who fiad reached the ag( of 10 years. Her time and effort wen* directed to those just coming on the scene of action. Man workers com plain that such effort is wlisted that young iieople are trained for a shot' time in our oranchen and then go away, and the effort is lost. But such is not the case. Home impression is made uj>cn their lives, by their connection with a branch for however abort a tmi* It is like the migration of the bn is They are with us but for a little nea-son-

but we never way. “Oh why do they pome with their songs and cheer to be with us for only a few week*'" We enjoy them, they enrich our live*, and bring gladness to our heart*. The training of a young life .strengthens and brings conviction to everyone who ( i»ineK under Ms inflix*nce." The underlying thought plainly visible in all the report* of various other Temperance organisations similar in their aims to our own Wi'.T.U., and in all the addresses given at <Y>nv, ntions in America and other countries, i* the extreme importance of educating young people. 'Hie neglect of this work In past years ha* l»een largely responsible for the deplorable Increase in the drinking habit among joting people of lK>th sexe* to-day, and the proportion of new votes cast in favour of Prohilntion at the recent poll/ was much less than has been the case in previous elections because of it. While trying to repair this neglect by increased (fiergy in our young j»eoplo’s work, we must go further back still, and se cure more teaching for the children on this most Important subject. In the schools of New Zealand since 1 21 the teaching of scientific fact* with regard to the influence of alcohol on the human body and mind, has been a compulsory subject on the school syllabus. Whilst wc believe thart condi-

tion* to-day are, a* far as we can gather, better Chan formerly, there is much room for improvement in this matter in the State school* as a whole The special teaching of the scientific fact* about alcohol come* under the heading of “Health and Hygiene,” and though scheduled a* a compulsory subject. we believe we are right in sa: ir.g that no specific time is allotted to it. The subject generaJly, and particularly the truth about the effect of alcohol on individuals, i* of such vital importance to national health that despite objrc tion* os to the crowded syllabus, our opinion is that a definite amount of time should be set apart in each week for the teaching of these fact*. Such teaching ought to be supplement»d by our Unions in Band of Hope and l-T.li. work, for the children of to-day are the voters of to-morrow,’ and what 1* learned in childhood odours one’s thought* all through life. TOTARNO PACT October Ifith. 192 R. -will now be n notable dny 1n our Peare Department, for what may prove to be n period of Peace ha* been ushered in by the slgn-

mg of the Looarno Pact, which is said v to be the most important step along the universal peace highway since the Armistice terminated the Great World War. If the nations who are parties to thus great covenant keep faith, tin sword will be put aside for the modern equivalent for the reaping nook. We trust that this historic pact may is* of great assistance in furthering the ob jeets of tile League of Nations, the prelude to general disarmament, and the ulx>lllk>n of war as a method of settling international disputes. Mr J. L. Gar ven writes in the "OiMervcr’:—“We may say that nearly seven years after the Armistice were spent in disagreements ab>ut architects’ plans, at ls>carno the foundation stone of Kuro--1h;«i Peace was solidly lakl.” While rejoicing in this happy issue, let us remember that we can assist with the building and help the group of nations to preserve law and order by' education. Much may !*• done by definite teaching a* to the need for and blcssedm*** of Peace. There is still too much glorification of war in our achcols, cinemas, literature, and life. Could not (hi:! be reversed, and teaching in

the int<*rests of Peace replace it in our schools and seats of learning? Thus the spirit of unity and amity among all the peoples of the earth would be spread, until Peace ha* been universally and permanently established. AMERICAN I*OLITICB. Will America go back?” is the oft reiterated question a* the I »ess con tinue to publish so-called facts al*>ut the ineflficacy of Prohibition. The now* which come* by every mail from reliable sources enables us to say with increasing confidence, “never," and .Miss Evangeline Booth’s song, sung so lustily by thousands of our American White Ribboners, comes to memory—- “ You enn hear the chorus swelling At Liquor’s overthrow. From Atlantic’', sun lit bosom To the Western after-glow. From the summer land of Dixie To the borderland of snow, From the throbbing heart vibration* Of the nation’s radio— Shall America go back? We answer. No. No No!" From a book entitled "Prohibition Hi* Justified Itself.’’ published nt the cWvse r 1925, we find statements mneb by many of the foremost men of affairs —educators, physicians, leading manu-

facturei'B, railroad presidents, Utilizers, and others statements which cannot Ik* disputed, and which, according to our World’s President, “arc facts supported by a dry ixickbone, not fancies wobbling on a wet wishbone." It is impossible to give the briefest synopsis of the contents but I cull the following .us likely to be of the most interest to ourselves. 1. Ilcaltli, One of the diagnostician* of the Pnit<*d States Health Department, Dr. Haven Emerson, of Col uni bia University, New York, believes that nothing has so directly contributed to the mluction of prevmtaMr deaths, and the improved health of the comniunity, particularly that of women and children, as the closing of the saloons. In the three years following Prohibition enactment mortality rates have ix*en lowered one million. 2. Education. School atteindaiK-e has made a record increase because thousand* of young people and children are now attending school who, under License, were forxod to support drunken jxirents. Said Frank B. Trotter, President of the West Virginia University: “The fad that a boy now and then gets drunk amount* to nothing as compan d with the fad that we are not makin drunkard* daily.” 3. Business Prosperity. With no revenue from the Liquor Traffic, America has made rood financially. Savings Bank deposit* have greatly increased, investment* by small wage-earners have risen by leap* and bounds. Other fac - tors enter into the increased wealth of America to some extent, but Prohibition should have the major credit. 4. Happy Homes and d*rrdected I liild ren. In th 1 area* of the dti<* formet ly occupied by saloons one see* to-day. well-fed. well-dothed, happy, laughing children, who have every chance to beoonie loyal citizen* in the future. At the annual meeting of the Toadies' Union Aid Society, in Decorah, Towa, it was stated that during the time of open * loons this Society* expenditure for childrens dothing was 3W> dollars a year, while last year it spent only 30 dollars. This 1* considered to he the best “dry” fad of all. and thwe facts speak for themselves. OBITUARY

The obituary' H«t of the year contains many notable name* Among them that of the Rev. John Dawson. He was always a staunch frhud of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and hi* paAoing i* an irreparable lose

to us all. In my early days of campaigning hi* was a towt*r of srtrvngth to me. and I owe much to his kindly help and advice. A few days before hie death I saw him for the final farewell, when he said, "The old anchor still holds.” And we can rejoice that he is now anchored in the Haven of Rest. He builded well, this great aouled comrade, and the memory of his work will live in our hearts always, and be an inspiration to more devoted service. A great gap has been created in the public life of New Zealand through the death of the late W. F. Massey, Prime Minister for nearly thirteen successive years, to whom remarkable tributes of esteem were paid from all parts of the Umpire, and from the Allies of (Treat Britain.

The Royal Family was bereaved late in the year by the death of Queen Alexandra, who is mourned throughout the British Empire, and whose passing evoked recognition of the rare oom bination of qualities in this most gra clous personality. Beside these notable persons there were some from our own Union, whose loss we mourn to-day. In the closing days of 1926, Mrs Whlnoop, ex-Presl dent of the Oreytown Union, went home to God For fourteen years sho was linked up with the Union, linrt in Ma/v terton. and then In Oreytown Her last «*ffort against the liquor traffic was to record her vote at the November election. A few weeks later she 'laid hold on Eternal life” whercunto she wan called. On the last aay in the last week of 1926, we lost another valued worker from the Ashburton Union Mrs George Bowman was one of the most tactful and faithful workers in the Prohibition movement, and was never happier than in being of service to others. Already in the press and In our own paper tender tributes have been paid to our comrades, but we now express our sympathy with their bereaved. May the Prince of Peace speak com fortably to every heart. Turning now from consideration of the past to look forward to the future, a wonderful programme of development and service opens before us. Beginning with Organisation, let us have a campaign for Increased membership, each Union a recruiting station, each member * '-numartoned officer to

wtn the new r- alts. Hold meetings wherever you can—in schools, halls, or private houses.

More must be done to influence legislators. Each Union should get into pen»nai touch with its own representative. I>et him know what you are doing, and know from .dm a hat the House is doing. I vet him realise that you are looking to him to work for the elimination of the third issue and the provision of a two-issue ballot paper at next election.

Individual members of every local Union .mist realise that the needful education work is not to be undertaken by the leaders alone. All must take tains to know the facts about Total Ah stinence, and the evils of alcohol, and then tell them to friends and neigh hours. Upon us rests the responsibility and the obligation to build up so strong a sentiment for Prohibition that the Liquor Traffic will no longer be tolerated. And let us try to keep the women constantly Interested, having more parades, picnics, lYohtbitlon parties, and anything possible to keep the subject constantly before us. T/et us reeolve to consecrate ourselves, our money, our talents, to the work of God, and in His love, with joy and unity of piwpose, go forward in the spirit of prayer.

Someone has said, "Prayer is an applied science—a method of moving the arm of (Tod, according to His own direc tion and In harmony with His own will.” When concentrated on any one petition, “focussed prayer” is the most powerful dynamic force, and It is strange that we allow such a power to be so feebly used and so frequently neglect ed. The greatest miracles ever wrought were those wrought In answer to prayer. Prayer divtdod seas, rolled up flowing rivers made of a flinty rock a gushing fountain, marshalled the stars against the wicked, stopped the course of the moon, arrested the sun in its great race, brought one man from the bottom of the sea, carried another In a chariot of Are, topped rain from falling for three years, muzzled lions, commanded legions of angels from conquered devils, healed diseases, and claimed victories. He who gave the tower to do these wonders is the same unchanging God. The Lord of Hosts is His name, who is with us to day. Lot us remember and dwell upon these great acts of omnipotent power, that our faith may be strengthened our en thustasm re-kindled, and that we may consecrate our lives afresh, moving for

ward in His strength to help to bring His Kingdom into all hearts, all homes, and all Governments.