Presidential Address

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 8, 1 November 1953, Page 4

Presidential Address

(Auckland District Convention)

Once God has permitted us to meet at our Annual Convention. To look back over the ve.ir that his passed, and report what lias been achieved, and consider and plan the work for the IT. With grateful hearts we can truly "HithptO the Lord has helped Hi." Sisters, we are all building an organisation, not daubed with the untenipered mortar of self gain, selfishness, pride, or Hate: but with love, patience, lonff- suffering, and gentleness towards suffering humanity, who "by the cunning devices of liquor traffic are ruining body, soul, and spirit. Let us evCI be faithful to God, Home, and Humanity. The past vear hai been a busy one; much time, energy and thought has been joyfully given to further this sjlortotss work of the Women's Christian Temperance I'nion. We stand for total abstinence WC are not 'blind to the fact t'lat the liquor traffic il growing, and, sad to say, even the members of some churches are advocating the moderate use of alcohol. What a great responsibilitv will he upon their shoulders in the Day of Judgment. "Wine is a mocker; Strong drink is raging: an 1 whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise " Lei God be True. Prohibition, Purity and Peace are Ottr aims. We riff with deep moral indignation of this cancerous inroad of liquor, bringing poverty, misery, sickness, and even death to both the rich and the poor of the land. What the liquor traffic would have the people believe is that there is no harm in an innocent little glass of wine. Social drinking ha I become the fashion of the day, ending in vice and .rime, broken homea, bigger gaols, death by accident, increaae of police force, crime against children, drink court costs, drinking drivers; surely the public conscience must awake, every sober minded man and woman must see the hand writing on the wall+of humanity. Something

spectacular will have to he done to bring pressure to hear. The voice of the people must be heard. Resolutions are not enough: we must stand for Justice. VVc art- living in a democratic country; our voice must be heard on this vital question which i> knocking at our very door. We groan within ourselves when we read of the tremendous amount of money spent in the drink bill of 1952. Over It million pounds; the highest ever recorded and .'quailing £ 13/3/9 per head of population. Gambling 80 million pounds, Smoking 16 mill on pounds This huge sum, approximating 160 million pounds, is spent by a population of less than 1 million, averaging £B3 per head of population. It if outrageous when WC are in need of old peoples' homes, hospitals, shelter for children and widows. How many homes could be built for homeless families with this amount of money? The Liquor traffic is the cause of waste, in both man • power and materials and handicaps the production of much needed goods. Reading from "Voice of Experience" Dr. Samuel Garber, Coroner of Guyahoga County, iaj l, "During the twelve years I have been Coroner 1 have investigated officially more than. 27,000 deaths from violence and other causes. Tnerefore I have had ample opportunity to observe and Study the part Alcohol plays in such deaths. I • recognise that the chronic alcoholic is a grave national health oroblem. But my study and experience convinces me that the so called moderate drinker is a kraver problem, at leas* as far as accidents are concerned. The Ke« Zealand Herald of April 18th last commented on the Liquor Law Farce in which Mr Shand. MTV, is quoted as saying "The law must be enforced, and if this was found to impossible, the the law should be modified to the point where it was enforcable ; much o! the liquor law was a deal letter The attitude fo gambling was full of inconsistencies; while it was legal to bet on hordes, it was illegal to on At our Blenheim conference Mr. Shand, MP.. said he was equally concerned with some social evils, over which our convention was deliberating. I am sure that everyone is familiar with the statistics which record the terrible waste of human life through traffic accidents which range from minor collisions to tragedies, caused only throrgh driving while unfit and under the nfluence of drink. Evidently punishment by goal for drunken drivers is not sufficient, and the only remedy is for prohibition orders to be taken out against each culprit. • The liquor industry seems fo be all out to make as much profit as possible even .if the population is degenerated. Let us not lose the advantage, public sentiment is awakening to the results it his on the lives of our weaker brethren

and sisters Lei us not fail to do our part Right must prevail There is a great need for all Christians to co-operate with the W.C.T.U. K\ cry true Christian should rally round a.id with us march to m gainst the povn brknest, with one \oice and with one accord always remembering that one will put a thousand to flight, will put ten thousand. What promise! Do we behew ,n God? Individual! of Strength and courage can do much to promote higher ideals Hut isolated, they are olten too io it that such ideals become realities greater strength results from voluntary association Once again 1 urge \ou .ill to take up this glorious work; who knows what the result will

It is most gratifying to know there is an increase <»n several Cradle Rolls, thus proving the untiring i n the part of different superintendents, ever with s watchful eye to enrol the little cry keen and progressive inten manifested m the effort! of the Council of Christian Education. Splendid work is being done by the Committee. \n opening has been made for another member ot the committee to teach Bibl< boo! children We arc \er\ grateiul: ma\ God richly bless our work among the youth of our land.

Moral and Social Hygiene has been time and again brought before the members of the various unions and the public. 1 would like to mention here the splendid work that is carried out at W.C.T.U. Maori (oris' Hostel VVe all fed that the nine is not tar hence when another hostel for our Maori girls will be up. I thank all those, far and near, who made it possible by gifts to render comfort and protection and love tO those girls left their homes in the country to come to flic city. We VY.GT.U. women long to see justice done towards our Maori >«ister>; the curse of drink is striking the very heart of our Maori people. Mori and more are forming the liquor habit. I nder the shadow of this terrible evil their I daughters are growing up. The HonoOl Stability Of the country, the well being of the Maori community, of the home, and of the people, demand that we put forth every possible effort in arousing the Public to the evils of intemperance. Will we, each and all pledge ourselves to put forth a determined effort to stay the work of destruction"" Let an armv be formed to stop the sale of liquor and the evils arising lrom it made plain to the public SO that it's sale to the le will be prohibited. Let the drink maddened man and woman be given an opportunity ' frOSH its SOndaste, Le» the voice of our courtry demand *nat it's lawmakers put 9 stop to litis infamous traffic. We must insist on the practice o( democratic principles The s lbterfuge in regard to the law is unworthy of any decent citi/en v 1 wish to pay a tribute to and sincerely thank all superintendents who ha D faithful to their calling. Our Anti-Gambling Department srortl of praise As g 1 citizens and profestinsj Christians we meet toda) to re-dedicate I to a crusade of action against the ravages off Liquor and Gambling. We W.C.T.U. women make no denial that we seek to restrain and ultimately destroy the Legalised Liquor Traffic. A. T. RICHARDS (Mrs.) (Auckland District President.)