CONSCRIPTION + OR – PROHIBITION.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 263, 18 May 1917, Page 1

CONSCRIPTION + OR - PROHIBITION.

During this great world struggle it has been laid down as an axiom by our Government, and accepted as a fact by most. of our people, that in ! order to win the war they’have the right to conscript all that may help and to prohibit all that may hinder 1; victory. Conscription. The Government has not hesitated to conscript the young life of our Dominion, and in the main they have been loyally supported »by the people. Thousands who hate the . sound of the word conscription,. and hate yet more the thing itself,, have consented to it because they.l believe the representations of our rulers that the alternative to conscription isy German World Dominion. Prohibition. —Hut when the wives and mothers of this Dominion acquiesced in the conscription of their husbands and sons have they not the right to demand* that the Government prohibit all that hinders or delays victory. Now by the universal testimony of statesmen, doctors, admirals and generals we know that the liquor trade is hindering victory. How have our National Government dealt with this hindrance? Very tenderlly. Cabinet is continually telling us that our first aim should be to win the war, and that we _should grudge no sacrifice to that end. We would remind these gentjemen. that .‘‘actions .speak*? louder than words,” and however-, loudly th<jir. voices, may declare that their’main object is to win the war, in. yet more stentorian tones their actions

thunder ‘‘Save The Trade, and win the war, but if you cannot do both save The Trade.” Let us look bow they fiave. placed a shield over it. When war broke out. White Ribboners wrote

and asked the King's representative here if he intended to follow the example of his sovereign and banish strong drink from the Vice-regal Lodge. The reply to their request came from the Secretary, and stated that “their letter had been received.” The Parliament was petitioned to banish liquor from Bellamy's. This petition was recommended by the Committee to the favourable consideration of the House, but nothing was done. Then a petition for six o’clock closing of hotel bars bearing 60,000 signatures was presented; favourably reported upon then talked out. The following session, one bearing 100, (ajo signatures was presented and met the same fate as its predecessor. When the House divided upon closing hotel bars at 8 p.m. the Minister of Education was the only member of the Cabinet who voted for it. The Government gave us antbshouting with a flourish of trumpets and how is it enforced? Almost at any time if you watch you can see a group of men, and one handing sixpences round before entering the bar. It is done so often that the only wonder is that policemen so rarely see it, and take action. A vessel arrived at a New Zealand port, and a fireman drew his pay, ,£45. He spent eight days in the hotel, then was carried drunk on board without a penny. Query. Did he drink ,£45 worth of liquor m eight days, or did he shout for all his friends, or was it a case of “lambing down?” It would be interesting to hear the reply of the Sergeant of Police in that port to this query. A hospital ship was waiting to sail from a New Zealand i*>rt, hut the fire-

men were short. She drew out into the stream about 6 p.m. and waited. The hotels were searched, and the drunken firemen were taken out to her, in a tug before midnight, after r causing a delay of several hours! Another ship: left port with drunken' - firemen aboard- She made barely two knots ap hour the first night. Luckily German submarines were not about or her fate would have been sealed. A workman was drawn in the ballot, and his employers appealed, as he was essential to their work, which was of military character. If this man was so neces- , sary that he could not be spared to go to the fighting line, why is he allowed to spend several a day in the hotel, and leave it often incapable of doing any work ?

When the railway goods service was disorganised by the coal strike, and merchants could not get necessary goods carried, the trucks were used to carry beer. When the railway authorities were interviewed, they said their orders were to carry only food and liquids. So while boots, clothing, etc., for women and children could not be carried on the railway the publican could get all his beer carried.

The Government places a shield over this trade, and says all must sacrifice for the common weal, only the Ihiuor trade must not be called upon to give up even an hour’s trading.

Boys from the Prohibition /ramps of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand wer* compelled to have wet canteens in their camps in England. Canada protested, but to no purpose. Had the Dominions combined in a protest, and refused to allow a soldier to go to England unless their camps were as dry as the camps in their own land, this protest might have been effective.

Canadian wounded soldiers went to the wet canteen in their camps in England. The liquor drove them mad, and they were sent home. A Canadian officer justly incensed said: “Don’t be surprised if you lose Canada over this.”

It is time the electors woke up. Sir James Allen refused to give the Dunedin depletion a straight out answer when they demanded six o’clock dosing, and the deputation informed him that if this were not granted a movement would be set on foot to compel the Government to take a poll next

December. No Government has a right to flout the \mll of the people as the National Government has done.

Unless New Zealand conquers the liquor trade, the liquor trade will conquer her.

'Join the W.C.T.U. Crusade Movement, and inisist that as we have allowed Conscription to assist in winning- the* war, so we demand Prohibition to remove the hindrance of the liquor trade.