NEW ZEALAND'S BURNING QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 25, 24 October 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S BURNING QUESTION

LECTURE BY MRS. KINETON PAEKES.

A series of dravingrooni meetings line been arranged by a number of Wellington hostesses, at which Mrs.' Kineton Pni'kcs will epeak upon various matters of interest to women, and more particularly upon the question of Prohibition. These iirst of these meetings was held last evening nt the Pioneer Club, Lady, Stout being the hostess. Mrs. Parkes quoted the words of Mr. Lloyd George in regard to the liquor trnlfio in England—that England had two enemies, Germany and liquor, and that the latter was greater even than the submarines. In wartime everything was accentuated, the good with the bad, and against the bravery and the magnificent self-sacrifice that wero shown hourly by men and women aliko were terrible and far-reaching evils. The example of France, Russia and that of the King in banishing liquor vras not.followed by the State, tho Church, or the leading men of the country. The enemy was too deeply entrenched, and against it Mr. Lloyd Georgo was almost powerless. The wonderful recruiting rush in England was described by the sneaker. Everywhere were placards exhorting tho men to join Kitchener's Army, and then later were to be seen other placards exhorting the people to eat leas bread. In every way they tried to limit their consumption of wheat, but in the course of time it began to dawn jjfcon thinking people that in spito. of tins appeal to eat less bread thero was no reduction in tho grain that was used by .the brewers. The same thing happened in regard to sugar. They were reduced to an allowance of half a pound of sugar a week, and wherever they went they had to bring their own eugur with them. Again, they noticed that no restriction was applied to the breweries.

If the liquor traffic were economically unsound from the point of view of food, what was its position in regard to our man-power? Mrs. Parkes asked. She further told her hearers that, seeing the kind of country New Zealand was, with us fine natural advantages, she had expected, to find a most robust manhood. She was greatly surprised to learn that 70 per cent, of tho New Zealand men wcre'rejectfid for military service on the ground of being unfit. She turned to America to find a State that offered similar conditions as did New. Zealand, and found one which was nearly akin. In that State the percentage of unfits was 63 per cent. And yet in the State of-Kansas, the veteran Prohibition State, only 10.per cent, of the men were turned down for military service. Drink and disease were very closely associated, and it was found that in a very large percentage of cases men contracted disease through being under the influence of liquor.

'lhe law stated that if National Prohibition were carried it should not-be-come- operative for 4) years. If tbe people who were darning their livin" by the sale of drink were asked to give up tho business before that time, they were bound to be given something in return, iiither they had to be given the 4J years or, instead, compensation. The latter was the greater gain, she considered. home discussion followed Mrs. Purkes's address, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded her. Supper concluded an interesting evening Among' those who were present wore: Mrs. AY. F. Massey, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and lire. Luke, Mr. and Mrs. D. Robertson, Mr. Caughley, Mr. and Mrs. A. Gray and many others.