PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4474, 2 October 1922, Page 3

PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN.

JJB* MARY ARMOR ON LIQUOR. forceful address in PAEROA. The Centenary Hall wag packed to overflowing on Thursday aUernopn to hear a lecture on Prohibition by the American oratress,. Dr. Mary Armor. Proceedings opened with the Nationa Anthem being sung to an organ accompaniment by Mrs P. Hague-Smith. Mr Edwin Edwards, deputy-Mayor, presided at the meeting and apologised for the absence, through sickness, ofi His Worship the Mayor, Mr P. E. Brenan; also Mr G. Buchanan, local president Of the Paerpa branch of the Prohibition League, W. Bain, and Dr. T. G. Smith. In introducing Dr. Armor to the gathering Mr Edwards said there were probably many who would not see eye to eye with the lecturer, and he trusted that those people on the Liquor side would respect the feelings of the Prohibitionists, apd vice versa, and accord the lecturer a patient hearing. Mr Edwards briefly welcomed Dr. Armor to Paerpa, and explained that she was engaged by the council of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union to come to New Zealand and tell about the effects of Prohibition in America to-day and to assist the W.C.T.U. witjh their fight against the liquor traffic in New Zealand. Dr. Mary Armor, who was greeted with applause on rising to speak, said that the liquor trade was at present on its trial for life, and those present were the jurors who were going to try the brewers. The speaker proposed to give evidence against the liquor traffic. The liquor traffic had filled graves and swept more souls to damnation than any pestilence that God had ever sent on earth. From a scientific point of view liquor was a curse, and high medical authorities stated that liquor was not good for medicine at all. Alcohol was not really a stimulant, for it had only a briefl period of seeming stimulation, which was followed by a serious reaction. The statement had been made that liquor “warmed one up,” but this was not so, for the clinical thermometer .merely drove the warmth out of one’s system to the surface, where it was cooled off, leaving the system much colder than previously. The theory had been advanced that alcohol was a food, but the- speaker maintained that. it was a poison. Tt was ridiculous to suppose that stuff which ruined so many souls and bodies could have any beneficial effects whatsoever. Looking at the liquor traffic from the public opiniph point of view, the speaker mentioned that the Rev. Heathcote, who was lecturing against prohibition, had not' lowered himself so far as to say a word in favour of the public house. No honest person could think of the public 'house, epn-

scienliously and then vote agabist prohibition, she said. Electors/had merely to choose for themselves. wlwt ier they were going to fight in the interests of God or in the interests of the Devil. There could be no sitting on the fence in a matter of conscience

such as the poll on the liquor traffic. The brewers in .all their propaganda 'had never mentioned one benefit that drink had conferred upon its. victims. Was it not reasonable, the speaker asked of her hearers, that the people of New Zealand should decide-.to give prohibition a three years’ trial, since even the brewers could hot mention one good thing that drink had done for New Zealanders'! The speaker then proceeded to show that prohibition was a financial success. The revenue Which would be lost to the country by the absence of the liquoi traffic would be repaid over and over again by the money coining to the people that would, otherwise have gone into the hands of the publicans. The speaker referred tp the class known as moderate drinkers, a class which was a danger to itself and to the community. Did her hearers think, asked the lecturer, that they harl more strength of moral character than the many thousands of millions who had started with taking ope glass

of liquor and who had then fallen

when the craving developed ? The lecturer said that the brewers were so shamelessly selfish. They ask you to vote for license, not in the interests of yourself and family cr your town, but in the interests Jf their own pockets. A special appeal was made to consider the Maoris who so trusted the white men and followed all their vices. Liquor was certainly responsible to a large extent for the large death-rate of the proud and wonderful Maori race. - The . speaker said she was firmly convinced thpt prohibition in New Zealani was in sight; the people of New Zealand were commonsense folk, .and were not going to be gulled by the untrue statements of the licensed trade any longer. "I love my fellowmen,” concluded the lecturer, “and I Jove New

■Zealand. It is the most Wonderful Little country I have yet seen. I am no solomon, but will dp my best to answer any questions that may be~ submitted to me. I wish you every success and prosperity, whic,h will surely be Vours when the trade is banished. Dr. Armor received-thunderous applause on resuming her seat and was presented with a beautiful bouquet of purple flowers and fern by little Beryl Only one question was submitted to the lecturer, which received an answer. A vote of thanks to Dr. Armor was proposed by the Deputy-Mayor, and was c.arried by acclamation, as were also votes of thanks to Mr Edwards, borough councillors, and the residents of Paeroa proposed by the Rev. F. BDobson, and the ladies’ committee, proposed by Mr W, Marshall* At the conclusion of the meeting refreshments were handed round by the ladies’ committee of the Prohibition League. ,