SPRING MILLINERY AT G. H. STILES’.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1059, 21 October 1911, Page 4

SPRING MILLINERY AT G. H. STILES’.

A splendid display of Trimmed Millinery, straw shapes, plaits, etc., is now being made at this establishment, and an early inspection is invited, so that you can get the best choice. Any hat chosen can be put aside for forward delivery at no extra charge. Having a very experienced milliner, any shape to suit all customers can be made up at the shortest notice. —Advt.

Imagine a race of women who would consent to devote 120,000 of their annual offspring to a visible dragon. Imagine a race of men so blind, so infatuated, or so sensuouslv cowardlj r as to allow such a dragon to remain unstrangled _in their streets. You cannot imagine

it, much less can you imagine it of your own race and people. That dragon would surely die if it cost the lives of the best half of the manhood of our teeming millions to slay it, and its destruction would be cheap at the honourable sacrifice. New Zealand mothers, New Zealand fathers, do you not see that you are cradling in your arms or rocking in their cradles clean, sweet little lives which, if the drink traffic survives, will surely gutter-out in dishonour and shame?

Cannot you understand that the wolf is sniffing at your own door, waiting for your own baby ? It is true he may not get it. 'there are merciful chances, thank God; but then he may. You see 120,000 of the babies to be born into our Empire during this year are by the fact of the existence of the traffic doomed—that is, utterly damned—as “ food ” for it; and that provides a chance for your baby being included. If not. it means that 120,000 of somebody else’s babies will die drunk or immediately because of drink. If you realised this you would, if needs be, take your life in your hands and beard this fatal business. No womanly timidity, no fear of personal consequences, would hinder you ; or, if youlfelt that your own little one was in this supreme danger, would you not, of your great mother love, put your own thumb upon your baby’s pure white throat, and mercifully stop its breath while its life is innocent and spotless.

For those who for gain or any personal advantage help the traffic to live, their action is their own condemnation. Judas found a fitting solace in a suicide’s halter—poor fellow ! he at least had the grace to be sorry. You see, he had betrayed to death the “ man ” who,_ after all, cared less, and cares less for himself than he cares for the children whom the drink traffic betrays not only Jo death, but to foul and lasting dishonour. That, however, is a consideration for publicans, brewers, and wine and spirit merchants. The question is, What is New Zealand going to do about it ? The men and women of a coming generation are, as the children of to-day, now in safety at their mother’s knee; but the “wolf” is eternally hungry, and if it lives these children will become the carrion of tomorrow’s drunkards. What will New Zealand do ? “ Will she let it have them ?”

This year of grace, 1911, will afford a supreme opportunity for the extermination of “the traffic.” You, reader, will be