ALCOHOLOGY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 19 September 1910, Page 8

ALCOHOLOGY.

AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.

(Published by Arrangement)

The twelfth International Congress on Alcoholism was iheld in London in July, 1009, and the full official report of the proceedings are now in New Zealand. Our townsman, Mr. J. C. Legg, with Mrs. Legg, was present at the Congress and through his courtesy we are able to review the report. As at present constituted it is a biennial congress, the first having -been held at Antwerp in 1885; and since that the meetings have been held in the various centres of Europe, always with increasing numbers and interest. Though 1885 saw the first Icongress of this series, there had been many national conferences on alcoholism Idn various countries of Europe and in | America. Sweden led the way in 1831, and still in proportion to its popula- ! tion taikes first place in the fight against alcohol. The early temperance movement was an anti-spirit propaganda, tat this ere long advanced to the only logical position of anti-alcohol, or total abstinence. The first world's congress was held in London in 1346; it was, however, not until 1863 that the first distinctly international "temperance" congress was held, outside English-speaking countries and was held in Hanover, under the presidency of the then King of Hanover. This international congress has now become a recognised institution in the philanthropic world, with a permanent committee of leading men and women of all nationalities, and the London meetings were attended by 1547 members, besides other friends, including 57 representatives appointed by the British, foreign and colonial Governments at the invitation of the British Government. A mere glance at the contents table of this report shows how the movement has girown and in wlhat varied directions its influence is felt. The proceedings are not all in English; German and French are recognised as allowable in the papers read and the discussions that followed. In this, we are very grateful to the editors of the report, that they have appended translations of all the German and French articles. There was a proposal that the future proceedings should (be conducted in Esperanto, but this was not agreed to. The central meeting place and committee room was in the Imperial Institute, but the sectional meetings were held in the Ken- • sington Town Hall. The Duke of Connaught was honorary president, with Lord Weardale as acting-president, and i the Dean of Hereford as chairman of the , British Committee. To one not in the : habit of following the workings of the various societies for social and general betterment, or rather for removing the , hindrances thereto, it is quite a reveiation to see in how many different rei specfcs alcohol affects the world's progress. It touches men, women and children in all ages and conditions; in , I the home, the school, the factory. It affects the national life in the efficiency • or otherwise of its defence systems, its • economic and industrial systems, its health, its morals and consequently in , its highest interests. It is especially interesting to notice the unanimity in the , discussions by speakers from all coun- , tries of the supreme importance of tem- , perance teaching for the young, fully a third of the report being taken up with the papers on the child, the home, and the nation; and how this important subject of temperance can best be dealt with . in schools. In this' part of the subject | the representatives from the Continent of | Europe have given great attention to the theory of this teaching; but America takes the lead in actually giving this instruction in- all schools. Mrs. Cora Stoddard 1 , of Boston, in an informative paper, shows how that already the teaching on this subject in America has assisted largely in that national progress we all desire; it has raised the level of sobriety; it has lengthened the average life of the citizen; and has become the most hopeful phase of national reform. The sections dealing with the economic and industrial efficiency of nations, on the treatment of inebrity by the State, on the efficiency of >our national services, are all so interesting that remarks thereon must be left for the future, tin addition to the discussions there was an exhibition of scientific apparatus, lantern slides, charts and publications (bearing on and illustrating the way in which the great temperance crusade is being carried on in the various countries of Europe and in America; in fact, all over the civilised world. It is a pity that more copies of thi« report were not in circulation in New Zealand. There is nothing to indicate the price of the volume or that it is for sale. The publishers are the National Temperance League, whose secretary, Mr. John T. Rae, of Paternoster House, London, might give the information if he were applied to. The volume is well got up and the illustrations excellent.