NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 85, 14 April 1915, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

Pku Pxiess -Association. Wellington, April 12. The afternoon session, presided over by the Rev. W. J. Williams, was wholly devoted to the discussion of the subject of “Education.” under the headings: (1) “Childhood,” (2) “Youth,” (3) “The Emigrant.” Mr E. H. Mander introduced the first part, and moved the following resolution, which was unanimously carried: Whereas the health of the people is of the greatest importance to the country and the use of alcoholic beverages is injurious to health, and whereas the Department of Education recognises this but in part only by requiring a certain amount of instruction in the laws of health and has of late given special attention to physical culture and drill as aids to physical development among school children, and whereas the habit of using intoxicating drink* is a serious hindrance to such development, this congress strongly urges the Minister for Education to so amend the regulations concerning education that teaching in suitable form on the nature of alcoholic effects on the human body he made definite and compulsory in all schools, elementary and secondary, private and denominational, that are subject to inspection by the State inspectors of schools, and that these inspectors be required to report on such teaching in the same manner and to the same extent as they do on any other ordinary and compulsory subject of education ; further that a deputation from the executive of the Alliance wait on the Minister for Education on the first opportunity, bringing this vital subject to ids attention.

The Rev. T. H. Mathieson dealt with the subject of “Youth, 18 to 21.” The resolutions carried were: “That it be a recommendation to the New Zealand Alliance that a special letter hearing the signatures of the president and secretary of the Alliance he sent to every Bible class and endeavour or kindred societies in New Zealand, urging them to organise for special work in pledge collecting among the young people of their own age ami that the executive draw up a plan of work for the guidance of such societies.” Mr A. B. Atkinson and Rev. T. H. Radford spoke on the “Education of the Emigrant,” the congress adopting the following resolution: “That we urge upon the no-license leagues and associated bodies the great importance of promptly noting the arrival of immigrants in their electorates and immediately devoting special attention to} educating them in regard to the New Zealand situation, and directs the executive to have prepared literature especially adopted for this purpose.”