A WARNING TO PARENTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 32, 13 October 1911, Page 8

A WARNING TO PARENTS.

mHE "Otago Daily Times" (Dunedin) one of. the oldest and most high-ly-respected papers in this Dominion, writing in a leading article, made some observations Avhich parents and all those having the- care of the young at heart ought seriously to consider. The "Otago Daily Times" said: — "It is impossible to disregard all tlie evidence AvMch is tendered, to us concerning the prevalence of drinking, both secretly and openly, in No-license districts. And, if the evidence on this point is reliable, it will be generally admitted that the liquor so consumed, being ob- . tamed from ...premises that are not licensed and not subject to inspection, is far more likely to be unwholesome and harmful than liquor that ie ,sold publicly, and- ' is drawn from a supply which may '■ at any moment-- be subjected to analysis. Furthermore 1 , the appli- • cation of the coercive principle to r tho * settlement of matters that af-

i'ect the personal, tastes of "the. ccm->. ' ■' munity cannot be viewed with satisfaction. Has tho application ;of moral suasion so entirely failed ' ~ that the reliance is to be placed on the policeman, rather than up- ■• on the agency of--moral effort, to J y bring about a state.of. sobriety? ,'- The temperance" '■> extremists aro noAvadays inclined to scoff at the suggestion that they should re- - vert te the use of. their."powers of^ . persuasion and instruction to com- - bat the evil of immoderate drinkT"" ing. It is patent, however, that moral effort has accomplished a ' • great deal in the past.- The world ' has become much more sober than it AAas. The drunkard'",'is . uoav a social pariah, distrusted, in business and generally avoided. A person sacrifices the respect of society if he habitually, drinks to excess. There has been a gradual but steadily widening recognition!' of tlie virtues of temperance, and yet, during the past seven years — a period during Avhich the agita- -■■ tion in favour of No-license has made tremendous headAv'ay in New—■ Zealand—as -manjias 35,964 first" offenders were charged with drunkenness in this Dominion. This appears to' us to point very forcibly and painfully to -gone of the most .unfortunate outcomes of. the reliance of the advocates of reform upon legal coercion. Parents, it ■•'■•■" would seem, in their blind trust in' the efficiency of_ No-license to 'present their children from becoming drunkards, are neglecting to in-' .culcate in their families those priiin. V, ciples that make for' the building of character and for the strengthening of moral fijSre..-'And, if so," , the abandonment, 'or -virtual abaa-*""* donment of moral effort in favour ' pf material penalties, has had a V truly disastrous consequence." If Prohibition is carried there will grOAv up everyAvhere the wicked and detestable sly-grog-shop, Avhere your sons Avill be lured on to secret iniquity., It-is far better to have an ftpen wellconducted hotel than half a dozen s_y-grog-shops. Therefore, strike out the bottom lines on all papers on , election day. -