ALCOHOL AND HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1922, Page 5

ALCOHOL AND HEALTH.

TEACHING IN THE SCHOOLS. MODERATE LEAGUE PROTESTS. WORDING OF A PAMPHLET. By Telegraph.—press Assoclatloj; Wellington, Last Night. A deputation of the New Zealand Moderate League waited upon the Minister for Health and Education to-day to protest against the wording, especially from a scientific point of view, of the education report No. 13 “Alcohol in relation to the human body and mind.”

Mr. D. jVJ. Findlay, president of the league, stated that in regard, to the teaching of temperance in schools and the principles laid down by the Minister himself in connection with the matter, the members of the league were in entire approval. They had always approved of teaching temperance in schools. He maintained, however, that in its wording pamphlet No. 13 was not truly scientific and not an accurate pamphlet. The pamphlet No. 13 referred to Horsley and Sturge’s work, but the report of the British scientific advisory board (specially set up to ascertain the existing state of scientific knowledge on this subject) made no recognition of the work of Horsley and Sturge, though contributions of numerous other investigators were quoted. No. 13 went far beyond the declarations contained in the report of the British scientific advisory board.

The education pamphlet said: “It must be emphasised that alcohol causes weakening of self-control, and therefore of real power, and that this is true even of small doses.” That and other sentences of the education report had the effect of casting a slur on those who might take alcohol in moderation. “I say,” added Mr. Findlay, “that this pamphlet undoubtedly holds up to disrespect in the minds of every child, their parents, if those parents are known by the children to make even moderate use of alcohol.” The Minister remarked that he did not think that was a fair deduction from the teaching of the pamphlet. Mr. Findlay said the Moderate League suggested the pamphlet should be withdrawn and revised. Mr. Parr, replying, said the question of the scientific propriety or otherwise of the pamphlet was not a new one; it cropped up last year, when one newspaper took exception to it.' This repo rt, remarked the Minister, which is one of a series prepared by the Education Department with regard to diet and drink, was prepared in 1919, and it has been in the schools for some time. It was for the use of teachers in giving instruction. The prohibition party had nothing whatever to do with it; it was prepared by the school medical service, and it received careful supervision and approval of the senior doctors of the Health Department. It attempts to put in concise scientific form instructions regarding the effects of alcohol. That was contained in th? syllabus as far back as 1901, and it must not be forgotten that this teaching was an essential part of the curriculum for the past thirty years. The Minister added: “I m assured by the officers of the Health Department that there is no statement in the pamphlet that is not scientifically sound. The pamphlet has the imprimatur of the Health Department upon it, and presumably this department is* quite impartial. Therefore, until it can be shown me that according to modern science its statement of the case is scientifically unsound, L see no necessity for action on my part.” 'The Minister said the statements of the deputation would receive his consideration, and he would give a more detailed reply to the criticisms which had been advanced. Dr. Frengley and Mrs. Caughley also spoke in explanation of the pamphlet.