FOR TEMPERANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 795, 16 October 1929, Page 11

FOR TEMPERANCE

NEW SCHEME OUTLINED VIEWS OF BAPTISTS *’Tlie centralisation scheme of the New Zealand Alliance has proved a failure, and in future churches and centres must work by themselves for temperance,” said the Rev. W. J. Comrie. president of the New Zealand Alliance, who waited as a deputation on the Baptist, conference this morning. Tie urged the need for co-opera-tion among the churches. "This is a moral question as much as an economic one,” said Mr. Comrie. “Our hope of banishing the liquor traffic, which we all acknowledge as detrimental to the best interests of the community, lies not with Parliament or its members, but with the churches. When the people of the Dominion are convinced, then the poll will be carried,” Mr. Comrio outlined the new scheme of attack of the Alliance, which includes proposals for temperance committees in all congregations. Teaching should also be carried out in There was a great opportunity among the bible class and Christian Endeavour movements, which, he considered, at present lacked any great temperance sentiment. “The modern teaching on sin is responsible for the position,” said the Rev. J. Carlisle, of InvercargilL The practice of wine drinking at dance halls was seldom attacked from the pulpit. That the country is not yet ready for a clean sweep of licensed houses was the opinion of Mr. F. E. Andrews, based on the emphatic vote at the last poll. The Alliance had depended in the past entirely on a frontal attack, which was wrong strategy. "The cause is not hopeless,” said the Rev. ,T. Laird, M.A. “The churches can win if they realise that this is part of their work. We must change public opinion through literature, which can be distributed through our Sunday schools and other organisations.” A resolution was passed that the union will do its utmost along the lines suggested by Mr. Comrie. A special temperance department was constituted to deal with the education of the young. COMMITTEES SET UP Committees were set up today as follow: — Fire insurance.—Rev. L. B. Busfield (convenor), Messrs. F. X. Andrews, F. £>. Battley, 11. Dearsiey, W. Lambourne and F. E. Kretschmar. Chaplain’s Advisory Committee. — Revs. E. N. Goring, C. W. Duncumb and J. tliddlestone and Mr. C. Mills. Mr. Goring was appointed Baptist representative for the Central Command.