WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 11, 13 May 1915, Page 7

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

By request of the Women's Christian Temperance Union the following open letter to the "Moderate League" from the members of the 80th annual Convention of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, of New Zealand, Christchurch, March, 1915, is published :—"Gentlemen.— Thousands of voters at the last poll accepted your promises of reforming all or any of the objectionable features of the liquor traffic, and on this understanding voted to give "the trade" another chance. These voters have noticed that you have been working assiduously to foster and push the liquor traffic whenever possible; but we have yet to learn what you are doing to eliminate the drunkenness and criminality so long resulting from the licensed liquor trade of New Zealand. Already, one young man has paid with his life for the vote of Moderates,and other lives have been lost under very sad conditions. The grain now being destroyed for the icanlacture of drink is greatly needed for hungry British and- Belgims, and we wish to know if you League purposes to petition the Government to close breweries during the period of the war, jso as to set free the food products of our land in this time of serious national need. Please let us know just what steps your League intends to take in fulfilling the pledges made to the voters before the poll.—Yours, etc., RACHEL DON. N.Z. President of W.C T.U."