MRS. HELEN BARTON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 287, 23 August 1918, Page 3

MRS. HELEN BARTON

TEMPERANCE FIGHTER ON QUEENSLAND MINISTERS. Mrs. Helen Barton, the well-known Temperance, reformer, who has returned to Sydney from Brisbane, on tho ovo of her <lo[mrturo for Scotland, after a slay of three and a half years in Austnliu, holds vory decided views about; ih: Premier of Queensland (Mr. It van) nud his Government (says the "Svduey Morning Herald").

Replying to words of fnrewoll and speeches appreciative of her services in Australia, at a largely-attended meeting in Ihe vestibule of the Town Hall recently, wider tho auspices of the Women's Christian Temperanw Union, Mrs. I3arton said the people, of Queensland were very much hampered in the movement for temperanco reform by a despotic Government. To say that Ihe Queensland Government, stood in the name of democracy and labour was tho greatest misnomer. It stood aa the greatest despotism iu the whole of the British Empire to-day. "Talk about Ireland," she added. "Ireland is not in it. Premier Ryan ought Uf have been in his place last Sunday week giving a lead in tho people in'their hour of sorrow, in connection with the anniversary of the war. But not one man belonging to the Queensland Government was at the gathering." ("Shame.") Sho proceeded to speak of "a Premier who pretended to be a man eager to win the war and sco us through, and who went to the front and promised tho boys all sorts of things," and went on to say that, when she arrived in Queensland, Mr. Pt.van said that he would give his name as Premier nf the country to any effort to stimulate recruiting, and would bo quite willing to have a thousand recruits called the Ryan Thousand. (Laughter.) "But," she added, "he never addressed one meeting. He has done nothing to help to stimiilato recruiting. I took up tho challenge. I said I would get a thousand to fight the enemy within your borders. I found 1320, and he has not begun. Queensland is the only State where no curtailment of tho liquor traffic has been exercised durin? the war."

Mrs. Barton is only a littlo woman, hut she- hits out with sledge'-hammer force. Here is her opinion of tho eligibles in our midst:—"My Scottish soul revolts when I look around and see everywhere --in the streets, going to racecourses and to picnics, and around the hotel barsyoung men shirking thoir responsibilities to the Empire. Would to God that these men had in them more of tho spirit of patriotism. (Applause.)