Temperance

Temperance in general was about keeping the social fabric together, it was not as often seen just a Christian movement. Although men were also active in the temperance movement it was mainly linked to other movements such as unionism and women’s suffrage. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was a prominent example of a religion based temperance movement but was also heavily involved in women’s suffrage in New Zealand.

Movements to ban alcohol consumption in New Zealand had been well under way since the 19th Century. Prohibitionists believed that the reform would regenerate traditional values and cure most social ills. By 1911 such arguments had persuaded a majority of voters who demanded a ‘dry’ New Zealand. They failed to get it, but in 1917 the Government had bowed to public pressure and imposed a six o’clock closing for the duration of the war, which in fact lasted until 1967.

During World War One there were calls to help the war effort by taking no drinks pledges and to abstain from alcohol during the war, this was seen as patriotic and a way of helping win the war. The war made alcohol seem wasteful and inefficient and temperance was preached with genuine fervour, and aroused strong feelings between pro-temperance and anti-temperance factions. Statements used were “We can all help win the war by becoming total abstainers, and this action will also help conquer the enemy, Strong Drink”. Voting for national prohibition was introduced in 1911 and received 55.8 per cent of the vote. Although prohibition had started strongly it failed in its ultimate objective, the complete elimination of alcohol consumption. In the 1919 referendum total prohibition in New Zealand was only just avoided by the votes of the troops still overseas.