“DID NOT WIN WAR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 368, 31 May 1928, Page 11

“DID NOT WIN WAR”

SOLID OPINION IN U.S.A. DR. FAGAN ON PROHIBITION It is the belief of Dr. M. Howard Fagan, an American ecclesiastical lecturer, that solid public opinion in the United States does not claim that America won the war, but gives credit where it is due. Dr. Fagan, who is a New Zealander with 25 years’ experience of American life, lectured in the Ponsonby Road Church last evening and among other subjects, touched upon the prohibition issue in the States in his address, “America —Good and Bad.” The lecturer spoke with pride of his native land, and urged his hearers to see that the Dominion’s beauties were published far and wide, for, he said, “one can see more scenic wonders in ten minutes in New Zealand than in ten years in Honolulu.” He himself had, during his stay in the United States, lectured over 50 times on New Zealand, and was going back with increased enthusiasm to tell his adopted country about his native land. While praising the country, he stressed the need for improvement in our railways and hotel system if overseas visitors were to be encouraged. As a result of 18 years’ residence in States which were under no-licence, and visiting States which were wet, and then watching the whole country under prohibition, and comparing his experience with the past five weeks in New Zealand, Dr. Fagan contended that prohibition was a success. America encouraged education, and endeavoured to prevent children leaving school until they were 16 years of age. The desire for education was so strong among the young people of America that in order to work their way through college they would do any kind of menial work for a living, and the doing of this was regarded by the people as honourable. While the American placed too much value upon the material aspect of the almighty dollar, he at the same time gave freely of his means and his energy for the support of the Church life of the community and also supported the Church by his presence. It was true there were a few soapbox orators who claimed that America won the war, but that was not the opinion of the solid American citizen who was inclined to give the credit where is was due. Dr. Fagan leaves for Honolulu on Tuesday next.