Wine at Weddings

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 597, 25 February 1929, Page 1

Wine at Weddings

“Deplorable'’ Say Methodists

Need for Education

”II7E must discourage on every possible occasion the drink- ™ ing of alcohol. It is a deplorable thing that young people should take a glass of wine at weddings and other functions and not stand on their principles,” said the Rev. C. H. Olds, of Upper Hutt, at this morning’s session of the New Zealand Methodist Chureh Conference.

rixHE discussion arose out of the re- i port of the committee on temper- j ance and public morals. Tbe general j opinion of the conference as a whole, j and the representatives of the New Zealand Alliance who were present, was that it had become necessary to return to bedrock, and once more reorganise the education of the people on anti-liquor lines. Submitted to the Rev. W. Bramwell Scott, of Dunedin, the committee’s finding was: “We recommend the conference to reaffirm its unfailing conviction that the only solution of the problem presented by the liquor traffic in New Zealand, and its attending evils, is the carrying of prohibition. We believe that the increase of the continuance vote at the recent poll largely resulted from the heavy financial handicap under which the campaign was conducted by the New Zealand Alliance, together with the misleading and untruthful methods adopted by the liquor trade in its propaganda. “We recognise in this not defeat, but simply retarded victory. We heartily rejoice in the overwhelming endorsement of the dry regime in the United States at the preeent presiden tial election, and pledge ourselves to renewed zeal in this great fight. “We desire to stress the urgent necessity of training the young people concerning the evils of strong drink, and commend a still closer cooperation with the New Zealand Alliance in every effort made to this end. We welcome the Youth Movement Against Alcoholism as a most promising agency for- enlisting the young life of the Church. We reaffirm ouf belief in the elimination of the middle issue, thus providing for a straightout contest between prohibition and continuance on a bare majority.” The Hon. L. M. Isitt, M.L.C., said that the prohibition party was striv-

ing hard to find a weapon with which the liquor traffic could be laced effectively. It had lost ground steadily on one line, and the most sanguine among them could not hope lor any legislative victory for the next few years. The prohibition party's position in the country was not as strong as it had been, but it was on the United States that hope was pinned. If prohibition won out completely there, economic necessity would force Great, Britain to follow suit. “We have got to set to work on the old lines with our temperance teachings and bands of hope,” he added. Mr. J. Jacobson (Petone) also spoke to the motion. The methods that had been adopted were in some cases utterly wrong, he said. It was necessary to talk to and teach the individual.

The resolution was carried, and, on the motion of the Rev. E. Drake, it was decided also that ministers and office-bearers be urged to see to the establishment of a temperance committee in every church. At a later stage in the proceedings, a deputation representing the New Zealand Alliance, and consisting of Messrs. C. R. Edmond, A. C. Sexton, and C. Burton was received. “We are attempting to face the facts of the position as they have been revealed by the vote of the people.” said Mr. Edmond. In 1911, prohibition secured 55 per cent, of the votes; from 1914 to 1922 the position was about stationary, after which the prohibition vole dropped to 40 per cent. In two weeks’ time a meeting of the New Zealand Alliance was being held to discuss complete reorganisation, he said, and he appealed for the support of the Methodist Church. Mr. Burton stressed the importance of the political aspect, and Mr. Sexton dealt with the work of the Youth Movement Against Alcoholism among young people.