WILL NEW ZEALAND REMAIN BEHIND THE WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 7

WILL NEW ZEALAND REMAIN BEHIND THE WORLD.

Sir, —In reading the Home papers, I came aoross the following, whiou may interest your readers and lead them to do likewise: —

"A JOINT APPEAL. "In view of all that is now happening and following the unprecedented lead of His Majesty the King, we desire to press seriously upon the minds of those whom we can influence the duty and privilege of bearing voluntary part in the -nation's self-discipline and self-sac-rifice by abstaining from all alcoholic drink during the continuance of the war. Some definite act on the part of us all is due to our . brave men, to' the nation at lame, and to God. "RANDALL (&NTUAR. "COSMO EBOR.

"FRANCIS, CARDINAL BOURNE. "JOSEPH COMPTON-RICKETT, "President Free Church Counoil."

Sir, I have been waiting to see if what has already been done in Australia by the representatives of His Majesty has been done here in New Zealand, but- as yet I have seen- no notice, but I hope I am wrong and that it may already have been done. At any rate, it is well for all to see to it that our Dominion, which we think, and with good grounds for it, leads the world, does not get behind in dealing with this question, which that leading personality, Mr. Lloyd George, states to bo the most important'or all, and he rightly 6tates that the drink habit is the greatest danger threatening England —greater than the' Germans.

Travelling about New Zealand as I do, I have no hesitation in saying that since the war came upon us that the drinking habit has greatly increased amongst our young men. In the evenings I notioe the bars far more crowded than ever before, and a gentleman with whom I - was staying stated that at Awakino some young men were leaving to go to Trentham and that were given a send-off, which meant a very undue consumption of intoxicants, and so probably these young men went away in a oondition in which they had never before been in, and eo false kindness had been responsible for a great evil. Now, if all will respond to the appeal given above, would not New Zealand ba doing an aot of which in years to come she would be_ as justly proud es she is with the doings of her sons at the Dardanelles P Thanking you in anticipation, I am, eto., FRED H. SPENCER.