W.C.T.U.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1939, Page 10

W.C.T.U.

MASTERTON MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the W.C.T.U. the Temperance Fact was presented by Miss McKenzie as follows: —“The action of alcohol on the nervous system is essentially sedative and—with the possible exception of a slight direct influence on the respiratory centre—is not truly stimulant. The popular belief in the stimulating properties of alcohol as regards nervous and other functions seems to be of purely subjective origin and illusory.” Some items of interest were brought to the notice of the meeting such as legislation having been passed on drinking at dances, which should evoke profound thankfulness that the present Government deems it necessary to take this decisive step in social reform. In quoting Dr J. G. Inkster, 8.A., D.D., a Canadian visitor to New Zealand, the secretary emphasised the need for public sentiment behind legislation. “The only mistake the Temperance people had made in Canada,” Dr Inkster said, “was in asking for Government control of the sale of liquor instead of Government control of the manufacture.” A protest was expressed in a motion regarding wet canteens in camps. Final arrangements were made for the commemoration of the Frances Willard centenary this month. The tea hostesses were Mesdames Coddington and Speight.