Odd Coalition

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 230, 17 December 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

Odd Coalition

BEER AND BABIES Frothblowers’ Aid CAVILLING CRITICISM It is reported, and with somewhat precise details, that certain English infant welfare societies, which "find themselves in financial straits, have been offered, upon specified conditions a subsidy from the Order of Frothblowers (says a writer in the Observer”). The Order of Froth-blowers requires no introduction. Its name is not "writ in water.” but in a liquid extremely difficult to harmonise with infant welfare in any of its aspects. The ritual of froth-blowing centres in the consumption of beer. Infant welfare also is interested in the consumption of beer—as one of the obstacles to the attainment of its ideals. Beerdrinking is one of the habits against which it is important to safeguard the expectant or nursing mother, ir the interests of her child's health. Beerdrinking is among the commonest influences which prevent the expectant or actual father from doing his duty by wife and offspring at the mos£ critical of domestic seasons. Every principle of child welfare deprecates beer as strongly as the rubric of the froth-blower commends iL An Odd Coalition Whatever be the reasons which have prompted an offer of money from the froth-blowers in this direction, there are obvious reasons why no treaty should be struck between organisations of such opposed character and inspirations. The work of child welfare would bo vastly simplified if parents of both sexes drank less. The esoteric mysteries of froth-blowing encourage increased drinking. It is difficult to think of any concordat being arranged between them which would not act as a fetter upon the clear message of science and medicine, as expressed in the infant welfare movement, as to the bearing of alcohol upon child-birth and the surroundings of infancy. The two cults cannot be amalgamated except by one or the other surrendering a vital portion of itself. The terms of the offer referred to, it may be supposed, will ultimately find publication, in which case the normal supporters of child welfare will be able to examine the matter for themselves, and consider in a more concrete light the points which have just been submitted. But there is something more to be said upon the relations of social work with such anomalous supporters as those who seem to have tendered themselves in this particular instance. Hospitals and Contributions Works of benevolence are seldom tn a position to refuse the assistance of money, and it is only in rare and extreme cases that it becomes their clear duty to do so. Hospitals do not draw the "line anywhere short of stolen property. However open to criticism the origin of money may be, their business is to give it a destiny l>eycnd reproach. At the same time, since charities are controlled in the long run by their subscribers, the identity of thoso subscribers will be certain to have its influence upon their conduct and policy. And in the case of any kind of benevolence which has to teach as well as to achieve, thero will be the strongest inducement not to teach anything that runs counter to its influential patrons’ associations or interests. It might be possible for a closely analytic eye to trace rather instructive illustrations of this in the reports and other literature of certain charitable institutions. The moral, as applied to the liaison so curiously suggested between frothblowing and child welfare, is perfectly clear For the child welfare societies to accept assistance, upon conditions, from such a quarter is, as has been said, out of the question. But, even assuming that there were no conditions, it would be almost as fatal in the long run to drift into dependence on the bounty of a cult so remote from their own aspirations. If th frothblowers offer them money unfettered by terms of any sort, they may feel it their duty to accept it. But if they allow themselves to drift into deoenden upon such a subvention, they will ultimately find themselves, implicitly or otherwise, crippled in the clear enunciation of those physiological and moral truths upon which their own propaganda is founded. If the child welfare societies accept this money, they will not only jeopardise their soul, but they will alienate public backing, which is much more :mportant to their work and existence than this beer money.