PROHIBITION DEPUTATION.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 281, 18 November 1918, Page 6

PROHIBITION DEPUTATION.

I he Whangarei Branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union were represented at a Prohibition deputation that waited upon Mr Mand #, r, M.IV Mrs David 'V. Miller, who is also the Organiser of the Loyal Temperance Legion tor Whangarei, submitted the following address: Honoured Sir, — 1 am pleased to have the great privilege of expressing the strong feeling of the women of the YV.C.T.I. and other citizens of this district. We arc not here as the feeble fanatical advocates of a scheme which is cranky and intolerant; but as devoted patriots. Many of us have given our husbands, sons, and brothers to fight for freedom on the battlefield, and we women look upon the prohibition movement as .1 progresion of the patriotism which is keen to take a hand in the glorious reconstruction which is to follow in the wake of the war. We have a great faith in New Zealand, and recognise that an unique opportumtv is before us to be in the forefront of this inevitable wave of advanced legislation. We are zealous for the honour of this country, that she should be in the forefront of the battle for freedom from the admitted greatest enemy of mankind. It is unnecessary to quote statistics impeaching alcohol, as its d**stru< tive and damnable work is now freely recognised. Perhaps the most powerful impeachment is in the fact that many under the tyranny of alcohol would welcome the complete destruction of their mightiest enemy. The plea of the petitioners is not for personal favours, nor for the unjust unposition of the will of a noisy and unrnprevntative section of the people, but for the emphatic supjvort of the prim iple that this countrv is rottenri|>e for a clean sweep of the wasteful and evil traffic. We look to you. Sir, to give effect to this unselfish patriotic prohibition movement, and we have confident in y«»ur sense of fairness, not to mention enthusiasm, for this disinterested measure, to make abundantly clear in Parliament that the people are enthusiast icallv behind this movement. There are times when feeble supoort of a good and timely proposal is to be false to the highest, and to miss the psychological hour for advance;

and we respectfully and earnestly suggest that the present is om* su< h golden opi>ortunity to strike for reform. An unrepresentative but selfishly organised minority are subtly working to continue their own profit making at the expense of the people’s sobriety and progress; but we look to you, as a gentleman, and our respited representative, to adequately interpret our will in the House.