PETITION FOR SIX O’CLOCK CLOSING.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 251, 18 May 1916, Page 1

PETITION FOR SIX O’CLOCK CLOSING.

For many \ears we have been learning what a deadly enemy to our race is strong drink. A century ago even Christian people spoke of vme as “a good creature of God.” Hut public opinion changed, and the next step was to regard it as a medicine, and its moderate use not to be harmful, but only to be given up for the sake of the weaker brother. Now it has been banished by IS. physicians from their pharmacopoeia, and by all advanced medicoes i> regarded as a poison. There was a time when our Courts discussed the question .is to when a man was drunk. Now one scientist has decided that question by saying, “If a man takes a tablespoonful of alcohol, he is drunk to the extent of a tablespoonful until his system has expelled the poison.” But it has required this war to show what a deadly enemy to national efficiency is strong drink. Lloyd George said: “We are fighting three enemies, Germany, Austria, and Strong Drink, and Drink is the worst foe.” Sir John Madden said: “This war has clearly shown that drink is the foe which Britain has most to fear, and in the fight against this foe there must be no relenting.” General Joffre says: “Every patriot should fight against alcoholism.” A senior warrant officer in the Canadian camp at Salisbury Plain writes home: “Every tragedy on Salisbury Plain has been directly caused by drink. As 1 write, within a few yards of me lies

a Montreal boy with his throat cut while crazed with drink.’’ In N.S.W., 3000 men, who had undergone on an average four months’ training, were all lost to the Army through drink. We can rarely take up a paper in our own Dominion without seeing some account of a soldier in trouble, and always drink is the cause. In Haw era Court a trooper, up on three counts for stealings due to drink, pleaded for another chance, and said he wished to serve his country, and that he would take out a prohibition order against himself and enlist under another name. The Standing Sanitary Committee of N’.S.W. Military Experts reported to the Defence Minister on the drink question as follows: —“In our opinion ther*“ is no other single cause which has >0 profound an effect on the health and efficiency of the troops.” The seriousness of the position has been emphasised by many men in prominent positions becoming total abstainers. Nine Cabinet Ministers are now teetotallers: Lord Kitchener, Mr M< Kcnna, Sir Edward Grey, Mr Bonar Law, Mr Lloyd George, Mr H. Samuel, Sir John Simon, Mr Rum i* man, and Mr A. Henderson. But the unpatriotic brewers and publicans, who arc making money out of the nation’s ruin and disgrace, have raised such a commotion, and vested interests have proved so strong, that the British Government lowered before them, and instead of totally prohibiting the sale of alcohol, restricted the hours. In certain

areas the sale has been restricted to 5I hours daily. Mr Addison, replying to a question addressed to Lloyd George in Parliament last January, stated that in the areas where sale was restricted, the reduction in drunkenness was approximately 50 per cent. In the N.E. Coast area it was 37 per cent. ; in the Liverpool and Mersey area, 46 per cent. ; in the Midland area, 63 per cent. ; in West Riding area, 53 per cent. In Liverpool, during the five months before control, the convictions for drunkenness were 5752 ; and for the five months after control they were 3464. The Liverpool Licensing Justices reported: “Apart from figures, general observation shows a better condition in the amenities of the streets, a diminution of those offences usually associated with drunkenness, and a general improvement in public order.” In 1914 (5 months of war included) the convictions for drunkenness in London were 67,654, the highest for many years. After reduction of hours for sale of liquor the convictions dropped 43 per cent. For 5 years ending 1914 the Victorian Drink Bill rose each year. In 1915 it dropped £\ Two causes were assigned for this, the first the Patriotic Pledge crusade, and the other 9.30 p.m closing of bars from July 6th. Whenever there is disturbance or riot the hotels are closed. We never hear of shops or churches being closed, only hotel bars. Senator Pearce, Federal Defence Minister,

closed them during the recent disgraceful military riot at Sydney. Sensible people* arc* asking why the bars were not closed before, and then the riot would not have taken place. Temperance bodies and churches in this Dominion are uniting to demand from our Government 6 o’clock dosing in the interests of economy and efficiency. South Australia and Tasmania have carried it by referendum. The figures were:

Now i> the tune to work and show our politicians that there is a general demand for restriction of hours. Let us spare no effort to collec t signatures.

It is also suggested that we follow the example of the sister States in Australia and organise public meetings and rouse enthusiasm. Also let each elector send to his or her member and let them know that their constituents expect them to support early closing. The national sin of intemperance is the greatest source of ou» weakness. It is just as patriotic to tight the foe within as it is to fight the foe without. Cannot the women of New Zealand put as much strength, energy, and determination into the* fight against alcohol as our boys “at the Front” put into the tight against Germany? Take it as a fact that the most patriotic thing you can do just now is to canvass with our petition For God, and Home, and Native Land, strain every nerve to secure 6 o’clock dosing. It will prove a long stride on the way to National Prohibttion.

Since penning the above we hear that the Christchurch Prohibition League has asked all ministers hi Canterbury to get their congregations to pass resolutions in favour of <i o’clock closing, such resolutions o he forwarded to the Premier. Also to suggest that each member sends two posticards in favour of it, one to the Premier and one to their own member. Will our sympathisers everywhere do likewise.

Tasmania. S. Australia 0 o’clock ... 42,7*3 100,4 *8 7 o’clock 427 ; 839 X o’clock *,0<)j 2,087 9 o’clock 1,871 9,865 IO o’clock ... 26,153 1 ,960 11 o’clock ... 560 61,530