ROYAL LICENSING COMMISSION

White Ribbon, Volume 17, Issue 5, 18 June 1945, Page 3

ROYAL LICENSING COMMISSION

(N. Pcryinan) Yes! There is actually a Licensing Commission sitting in New Zealand. Licenses arc granted for the sale of many things, hut this Commission deals only with licenses to sell alcoholic liquor. And, stranger still, it has no power to deal with the question of "Nalc, or No Sale.” It has no power to decide whether the sale of these liquors is Ix-uehcial or hurtful to the people of this iJontmion. No! Alcoholic liquors are to Ixr sold; hut the Commission is to gather evidence as to the observance of the regulations under which licenses are granted for their sale. Are these regulations strictly obeyed? But let us consider the wider question. W hat are they licensing people to sell ? And what effect will the sale have upon the physical, mental and moral nature of the people ? Also, what effect will it have u|>on the rising generation ? Alcohol is a narcotic poison. So the British Pharmaropia lists it; and as a poison its proper place is on the chemist's shelf to lx: sold only under a doctor's prescription. There are two powerful arguments m favoar of this sale: Appetite—"l love it"; and Greed—"l make money by it." But there are other i>coplc who love the poison opium; and could make much money by it. Yet the Government does not cater for this class. A Chinese student speaking to an American audience said: "Opium is the curse of China, as let me say it, whiskey is the curse of America. The American goes out for his whiskey, and comes home and kicks his wife. The Chinese smokes his pipe of opium, goes home, and his wife kicks him. Perhaps that is why you Americans prefer the whiskey.” We are at war. Do these licenses help or hinder our war effort? Hear what the politician, Lloyd George, said in World War 1: “We are at war with Germany, Turkey, and Strong Drink; and the latter is our worst enemy." Kitchener said: “Give me a teetotal army and I will lead it anywhere." Alcohol is a racial poison. In the words of General Booth we arc told: “Children in the Last End of London are not l»orn into the world; they are damned into it; and the cause is strong drink." The Commission will not help us to cleanse our land of the curse of alcohol and its evil effects on our race. Lor long wc have fought this evil thing. Let us now try special work among our youth. Let us raise a race which, seeing the evils of alcohol, will decline to drink this poison. F.vrry Union, every Church, every School should teach what the poison alcohol d«x*s to the individual and the nation. A young Maori, wearing the White Bow, was asked by his minister its meaning. “It means ‘No Waipiro.'

Sister Jessie pinned it on me; and I not to drink any Waipiro all my life ’ Now, W hite Ribboners, get to work and pin the W hite Bow on every young man or woman within the sphere of your influence. Explain its meaning. Tell of the poisonous effect of alcohol on the Inhlv ; its awful halMt-fonmng certainty; Ixrfore they taste the poison or form the habit of drinking it. And one thing more. In tins fight we have the Eternal (tod as our Helper; and we have the promise of Jesus Christ: “Whatsoever ye shall a*k in Mv name, I will do it." Let us go to meet with (»od, and pray for guidance and help in this great fight, and for victory—a vrtory which will save the life and soul of many of our young people for whom Christ died. Then, coining from the presence chamber of the Eternal, let us work without ceasing to bring our nation to the freedom of (*od’s children; freedom *roni the body-destroying poison which our Government LICENSES the >alc of. “Life is a voyage: the winds of life come strong From every |>oint; yet each wd! speed thy course along If thou, with steady hands, when tempests blow, Canst keep thy course aright, and never once let go.“