REVIEW.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 254, 18 August 1916, Page 10

REVIEW.

The session of Parliament is over, and as members of the Temperance Party, we must confess we arc disappointed with the result. In spite of petitions and protests, women’s meetings and patriotic meetings, very liitle has been accomplished in the way of placing restrictions on the Liquor Traffic. True, the anti-treating clause has been passed, but it remains to be 1 seen to what extent it c an be evaded, or how far it w ill become a dead letter. Over early clos ng the battle raged long and fierce, the 1 efforts for reform being defeated by the time-worn expedient of “talking it out.” An amendment in favour of S o’clock closing was all hut carried, hut the fates were unpropitious, and through different adverse circumstances, the two votes that would have secured the reform were lost. And so New Zealand must siill lag behind the rest of the c ivilised world, and rn joy the unenviable distinction of do ing less than any other part of the Empire to secure* the physical, moral, ar.d economic efficiency of her peopl**. What now is to be* done? First and foremost, the* people must wake up to the- necessity for more united action, there must be a more general willingness for self-sacrifice, and readiness to le*t personal ease and comfort go for the sake of manifesting wholehearted enthusiasm. Are there* not jock) persons in Wellington who earnestly desire 6 o’c lock closing ? Where were half of them on the evening of the 30th June 1 , when their presence was urgently required at the Town Hall? A demonstration was needed to prove that the people were in earnest, that they would not brook re-fusal on the part of the Parliament to pass the early closing clause*. Every man and every woman who honestly believed in the* desirability of shutting the hotel bars at () o’clock ought to have made a point of being at that Patriotic: Meeting, no matter how inconvenient it might have been, nor what other important engagement had to be set aside. The resolutions were such as to appeal to every patriotic heart burning to sec ure the highest good for the community. The speakers were in good form, and brought forward cogent arguments in their support, but instead of being packed or overcrowded, the hall was not muc h more than half full. A wellknown M.P., who was present, at the

fir-t half of the meeting, but was obliged then to return to the House, was asked in the* lobby, where there were several Cabinet Ministers, whai sort of a meeting it was? Obliged to confess the* true* position, he could not but realise the damning effect upon the* chances of the c lause going through. The* (iovernment, we*ak kneed and fearful, in the face* of the powerful Liquor Party, could snap their fingers at the* Temperance folk, who at the* critical moment had so signally failed to present a >o!id and determined front. When will the peoI le* wake up and realise that the*y can obtain their demands only as they prove* the*ir earnestness and sincerity by the*ir read ness to make sacrifices for the* cause? Or to take up a matter that lies nearer home te> us women of the* W.C. T.L., why is it that so small a proportion of members of a Union think it necessary to attend the meetings? Important resolutions are* passed, protests are* r.iise*d, but a great deal of the* force* they would have is !e>st berause* the*v have so little backing by the* ’’nion members. Not every member can speak in public, not every one ran take up public work, but even’ member, though absolutely. sile*nt, can exercise* an influence* for good, even bv merely be*ing in he*r place on every possible* occasion. Sisters, be*stir yourselves ! Even now ye»u arc threatened by a very real danger, it is time* that you showed yourselves in deadly earnest, resolved noi to be trifle*-! with. Over and over again it h is be*en said : “If the women of this Dominion would only stand shoulder to shoulder, with unbroken ranks, they earn'd carry anv reform that they set the*ir minds upon.” Ac t and agitate ! Let your voices be* heard with no uncertain sound that the* accursed evils that are threatening *.he* welfare, the very live*s of our young men and maidens. may he swept away, and our land be* made in very truth “(iod’s Own Countrv.”