HIGHLIGHTS FROM VARIOUS ADDRESSES

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 2, 1 March 1949, Page 8

HIGHLIGHTS FROM VARIOUS ADDRESSES

FROM ADDRESS GIVEN AT MANAWATU DISTRICT CONVENTION BY THE REV. FFITCH 1. The wisest of all wise men said, “ Look not upon the wine when it is red.” 2. If the Church were thoroughly evangelised, then . all other things would fall into place. 3. Keep in sight the purpose of the liquor pa-tv, viz., to get more people to drink. Watch our cafes’ rights, and keen beer gardens out. 4. As beer gardens are not licensed premises, then whole families can go in. Parents soon give liquor to little children in these attractive surroundings. 5. Longer drinking hours do not lessen drunkenness. Even from hotels which close at 11 pm., men still carry N>ttles home. 6. Drinking affects man-power greatly. Drinkers take time off to

drink, time off because they drink, are inefficient, suffer from shaky hands and deterioration of character. Drink necessitates more police, makes dance halls unsafe for girls, causes broken homes, and also most of the road accidents. 7. America now says definitely, “It any liquor at all has been taken, then the man is * under the influence.' ’ "It is the vilest fiend of all ” says Bracken. 8. If drink is harmless; then why does America forbid pilots to drink tor 24 hours previous to flying? 9. Moderation does not make a wrong thing right. 10. Our job is to get into the homes and to the children. Fight the presence of liquor in the homes. 11. Use our own films. They are good. FROM ADDRESS GIVEN BY MRS. GREEN, DISTRICT PRESIDENT, AT NORTHLAND DISTRICT CONVENTION, MAUNGAKARAMEA Why are we members of the W.C.T.U. ? From conviction. Were it not for our high ideals, and Christian outlook, the Union would have been washed out long ago. Are we aggressive, or have we just been on the defensive? Suggestions for members 1. Let us take our part in legitimate organisations in our town and district. 2. The “White Ribbon” Pass it on. Few women read enough. Read ffiort extracts in our meetings. 3. Our Badge. Wear it always when we go out. It means a lot. Girls travelling know’ that women who wear the white bow can be trusted. 4. Others give people liquor and then laugh at them. We shouldn’t laugh—they are to be pitied. 5. The personal touch. Put our mind and prayer round one individual. POEM QUOTED BY MRS. GREEN AT NORTHLAND DISTRICT CONVENTION If you think you are beaten you are; If you think you don’t care, you don’t; If you’d like to win, but you think you can't, i is certain, of course, that you won’t. Think big, and your deeds will grow; Think small, and they lag behind. Think that you can, and you will; Tis all in a state of mind. TOLD BY MRS. HIETT AT DUNEDIN CENTRAL In reference to the Olympic Games, 1 was interested to Tead in a Manchester paper that Duncan Wright, the British Empire Champion Marathon Runner, says there are more teetotallers in the .thletir world than in any other walk if life, and that he could go through, tie whole list of British and World Olympic Champions, and find that 99 per cent, were teetotallers.

Presidential Address —continued. portions of the United Provinces and the Last Punjab, are experimenting with liquor bans. Both Bombay and New Delhi have control systems.’ Prohibition has also crossed the border into Pakistan. An important stn> which Madras took on the road to Prohibition was to forbid newspapers and magazines published within the province to carry liquor advertisements. We are frequently told that if we do away with the liquor traffic taxes will go up. Ladies, did you ever know man tell a sillier tale than that t Taxes will certainly need re-adjusting for a year or two but if you work it out you cannot help seeing that the saving in hospitals, police courts, damaged property, will, in hard cash, go a long way toward keeping the balance even, while the saving of human happiness and life, especially that of little children, will not only tip the scale but will bring it down with a thud that will just about echo round the world. For the sake of the children we muit get rid of the liquor trade in all its branches. Are all Christian people putting a» much prayer, thought, energy and cash into this fight as they did into their war effort? Many folk are afraid of a tommy-gun but it is a harmless pet beside the liquor trade! We must be very wary of both the liquor trade and the gambling evil. Both are founded in iniquity and flourish only by thoughtless and, frequently, by deliberate cultivation. 1 wonder ho.v you are planning to banish these. The w’omen will surely have to do the greater part of the job, partly because they take a longer vision and partly because they are more tenacious than the average man. They change less easily when they have decided to work for something worth while. I sometimes attend a temperance committee which is largely composed cf men and there ! hear what I never hear in a temperance committee of women — that is from someone who has been a member for years who just sits back and announces that “ we will never get rid of the liquor traffic and had better be content with something less.” It looks as if it is harder for a man to stick to a cause, or a person for that matter, than it is for a woman. Tlifs is frequently exemplified over the air by a male voice who almost tearfully implores women to use a certain brand of washing powder if she wants to keep her husband’s love. So far I have never heard a woman's voice imploring men to chop the wood, wipe their boots or mind the baby if he wants to keep his wife’s love. There it i r ; the brunt of carrying out any job that concerns women and men, and what job does not, in the long run, must be borne by the woman. Of course there are many men who have for many years valiantly carried on the fight against alcohol consumption,

gambling and indecency; and that without any soap powder or face cream. They could well do w r ith more htlp from their own kind. Let us see what we can do to influence lads and young men to join them. Let us enjoy the present blessings and take eagerly the opportunities this day; it is the only one we have. Jeremy Taylor said “This day only is ours; we are dead to yesterday and are not born to tomorrow’.” Power to its remotest bound is duty. Remember God provides unlimited power and infinite opportunities. Let us by God’s grace use both to the limit of our capability; carrying our banners proudly into the battle for God, Home and Humanity, knowing full well that victory will come because it is not God’s will that evil shall triumph. Thanks be to God who giveth us the will, faith and strength to work for Him. Set your faces toward the glorious sunrise which will herald the dawn of the day when this country shall be free of these terrible and soul-destroying evils. These things shall be: a loftier race Than e’er the world hath known shall rise, With flame of freedom in their souls And light of knowledge in their eves. They shall he gentle, brave, and strong To spill no drop of blood, hut dare All that may plant man’s lordship firm On earth, and fire, and sea, and an. There shall be no more sin, nor shame, Though pain and passion may not die; For man shall be at one with God •In bonds of firm necessity. May the power and blessing of God be upon you.