ALLIANCE CONVENTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2435, 14 April 1915, Page 8

ALLIANCE CONVENTION

EDUCATION MATTERS CHILDHOOD, YOUTH, AND THE EMICRANT. The New Zealand Alliance commenced its annual Convention in St. John's Schoolroom yesterday morning. Mr. W'esloy Spragg (of Auckland) was in thy chair, there being present delegates from many of the Dominion electorates. Preliminary business being over, the Rev. John Dawson read the annual report. It had been hoped, stated the report, that Parliament would have passed a,Sill reducing the majority required to carry No-License or Prohibition, but the Bill, was defeated. At the last election the Prohibitionists diverted their energies to the election of members of Parliament who would either substantially reduce or remove the unfair majority required. The action of the party in entering into politics had - somewhat affected the Prohibition" vote, hut this was the price they had paid to secure the election of a majority to the House favourable to the demands of the party. The outbreak of the war very injuriously affected' -the campaign work and the vote for. Prohibition 1 and No-License. The interest of 'the 'people was largely diverted away from; reform, work. Attempt's had been' made, by the advocates'of'the liquor "traffic to establish wet canteens;, at the camps where members of tlie Expeditionary * Forces are being trained. The Government had wisely ..refused to. grant, the request. In. connection with the last poll it :, was cheering •> to _ note that , for the' whole of the No-License electorates there "was a majority of "4085"'votes. In sixteen electorates majorities were recorded, in favour of No-License, and in thirtyone. electorates there were majorities in favour of National Prohibition. Amid- all- the horrors of .the. ..present world war hopeful signs regarding Temperance '-Teform:'increased. From Russia came the statement: "War is said to be hell, but this is like, a foretaste of heaven;"--/; Snch experience is the outcome of l the- change produced throughout that great' Empire by the total prohibition of the sale of _ vodka. Tile present successful prosecution of their-part- : -in' -the war-is stated by highest authority "to be one of 'the direct issues of this, great reform;, the morale of the soldiers and t'heir recuperative powers in- wounds and sickness, together .with the vast increase in the capacity and productive powers of the nation as a whole, led to the permanent enactment of Prohibition. France has also faced the problems of liquor, • and prohibited the sale of absinthe, and the British Government is at the present seriously engaged in finding a solution to the _ perils and problems arising to the nation and Empire out of the increased liquor drinking of certain sections of' the British publio. - ;Afternoon's, Session.

The afternoon session, presided over by the Rev. W. J. Williams, was wholly devoted to the discussion of the subject of "Education," under three headings, (1) "Childhood," (2) "Youth," (3) "Tie Immigrant." Mr. E. H. Mander introdnced the first part, and moved tho following resolution, which was unanimously carried: — "Whereas the health of the people is of the greatest importance to the' country and the use of alcoholic beverages .is injurious to health, and whereas the Department of Education recognises this, but in part only,-by requiring a certain amount of instruction in the laws of health, and has of late given special at. tention to physical culture and drill as aids to physical development among school children; and whereas the habit of using intoxicating drinks is a serious hindrance to such development, this oongress strongly urges the Minister of Education to so amend the regulations concerning education that teaching in suitable form on the nature of alcoholic effects on the human body be made definite and compulsory in all schools, elementary and secondary, private and denominational, that are subject to inspection by the State inspectors, of schools, and that these inspecrequired to report on such teaching in the same manner and to the same extent as they do on any other ordinary and compulsory subject of education. "Further, that a deputation from tho iexecu'tiye of the Alliance wait on the Minister of Education, on the first opportunity, bringing this vital subject to his attention." • '

The Rev. T. H. Mathieson dealt powerfully with the subject of "Youth—lß to 21." The resolutions carried were: "That it be a recommendation to the New Zealand Alliance that a special letter, bearing the signatures of the president and secretary of the Alliance, be sent to every Bible class and endeavour or kindred societies in New Zealand, urging them to .organise for special Work ,in pledge-collecting among young people of their own age, and that the executive draw up a plan of work for the guidance of such societies." Mr. H. Cocker submitted the following resolution, which was also adopted: "That this congress recommends tho Allianco to .prepare a prohibition vest-pocket handbook." .

Mr. A. R. Atkinson and Rev. F..H. Radford ;spoke on tho "Education of the Immigrant," the congress adopting the .following resolution: "That we urge upon the No-License leagues and associated bodies# tho great importance of promptly noting , the arrival of immigrants in their electorates, and immediately devoting special attention to educating them in regard to the New Zealand situation, and directs the executive to have prepared literature specially adopted for this purpose." ; The Evening Session. The evening session of the Congress commenced at 7.30 o'clock, the Rev. iW. •J. Comrie presiding. A discuson ''Literature" was introduced by the Rev. I'." S. Smallficld, of Auckland, with an address on "Tho VanIt was decided to. improve the publication in various directions and to push its circulation. The managers were generally complimented upon "tho character and conduct of tho magazine., The Rev. W. J. Williams, editor, was tendered the hearty thanks of the Congress for the ability displayed in the production of the paper. This was followed by-.an ablo address by the Rev. J. Proctor, of Christchurch, upon-the subject of the need of a "Dominion Campaign Paper" to start and sustain the education of tho general public in the direction of tho abolition of the liquor traffic. Mr. H. E. Pacey, of Auckland, opened the subjeot of' "Tho Public Press—its Attitude to us and our Attitude i to it." In his address the speaker indicted the supposed impartiality of the Press Association and editors of tho daily press, and outlined suggestions as to obtaining a fairer attitude towards Prohibition on the part of these.