PATERS CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 57

PATERS CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

, THE NEW REFORM BILL. Last week I gave some particulars of the Representation of the People Act passed last year, but which, I imagine, will be popularly known as the New Reform Bill. A day or so after I wrote that Chat the "Daily Mail Year Book" for 1919 came to hand, and from it I add a few lines: 1. The voters are increased from . 8,357,000 to; about 16,000,000, roughly doubling the number. 2. There were about 6,000,000 women's names put on to the roll, and of these about 5,000,000 were electors' wives. 3. Youths of 19, who have served or who are serving, in the army or navy have the right to vote. 4. "Conscientious" objectors who have refused all work of national im- . portance are disqualified from voting until after five years following . the declaration of peace. 5. No one to vote for more than two constituencies. 6 Proportional representation to be applied to university constituencies returning two or more members. 7. One member is allowed for every 70,000 of population in Great Britain; and by separate bill, one for every 43,000 in Ireland. 8. Expenses (of candidates?) are limited to 7d a head in county elections, and 5d in boroughs. Like all previous,Reform Bills, disaster was pictured as the result of having women voters—we had this pessimism in our Dominion. Lord Chaplin, in the House of Lords, indicated by his remark,that he thought the women would show their "cattishness" directly they had the chance. Perhaps my young readers know that, if they kept quiet, women were allowed in the gallery of the House of Commons; but to keep them from distracting the members of the House by their bewitching smiles, I suppose, they could only Seep through a lattice called a grille. Mrs [enry Fawcett, LL.D. —she wrote, many years ago, a little interesting volume on Economics, —in an article, "The Woman Voter's Opportunity," says: " Already, after the Reform Act was passed, but long before any woman had voted, those who were on the watchtower of politics perceived a very decided difference. Did not the grille of the Ladies' Gallery come down even before the Bill had become an Act, but after the House had assented to Women's suffrage by a majority of 7 to 1? And did not Lord Chaplin give away his case when speaking against the clauses enfranchising women? Referring to the grille, he anticipated that the new woman would use her power to reerect the grille and put men behind it, and thus humiliate them as women had been humiliated in the past. But this notion of retaliation, of tit for tat, is the

old dispensation, and is very far from representing how women for the most part learn the lessons of life." THE DAILY MAIL YEAR BOOK.

This is a little book, costing (posted) about Is 6d, which I recommend to all, and particularly to teachers who take an interest in citizenship—and what true teacher doesn't? The conclusion of the war is the fitting advent of a social revolution, in which women as the complement—not the supplement—of men are to have an equal say. Apart from the u&uai yearly da,ta admirably condensed and arranged, there. is a series of special articles of which I'll name three or four: "The Woman Voter's Opportunity" (Mr» Fawcett); "Overcrowded Houses and the Remedy"; "Britain's Greatest. Asset—the Child" (Right Rev. the Bishop of Birmingham, DJD.)■; "The Housing Problem"} "Liquor Traffio Control"; "Why We Must Have a Ministry of Health" (Sir Malcolm Morris, K.C.V'.O.); "The Whitley Report" (Right Hon. J. H. Thomas. M.P.). These give an idea of the trend of thought and action, and who are better qualified to work at these questions than women ? This book has been published for 17 years, and I have a.complete set, so I am not recommending what I do not buy for myself. CORRESPONDENCE. A month or so ago I suggested that "Alien's" letters from Home during the course of the war were worthy of being published in a permanent form as a distinct contribution to the history of our Dominion. This opinion is held by a correspondent whose letter is given below-, though he adds that some of my Chat* might also be rescued from oblivion. That is as may be, but Alien's certainly deserv» the distinction. Perhaps some other readers will give an opinion. And this calls up the question of a systematic gathering of reviews of the war as embodied in soldiers' letters. There must be tens of thousands of them in the Dominion, and many of great value. I have had lent to me a score or more to copy for myself or extracts from them. I am just finishing now making extensive extracts from a diary kept by an invalided returned soldier who was on Gallipoli. B>ut I haven't yet said what I wanted to. The Government has asked th*i originals be lent to the Director of the Wellington Museum to make extract* from, and we have in Dunedin the Hocken collection in the Hocken Wing of . the Museum, and the M'Nab collection in good keeping in the Free Library. But I am not satisfied that these are being kept up-to-date, and that it has been anyone's business to collect data connected with the Dominion and the war. There is another very fine New Zealand collection got together by the late Mr Turnbull, in Wellington, who had collectors at work all over the Dominion, and perhaps further afield.

The Mitchell Library, Sydney, endowed, I think, by a llr Mitchell—a year or two ago deceased—who looked into the future, and did what Dr Hocken, Dr M'Nab. and Mr Turnbull have done for New Zealand, Are we to wait for some lover of New - Zealand History to endow our collections with a sufficiently large sum. to provide a salary for a librarian, and a fund to buy works as they come upon the market? In any case, there ought to be an enthusiastic Government permanent official. In the last two Saturday issues of the Times, Soldiers' Diaries are advertised for. and "good prices will pe paid for good material" to go out of the Dominion, and so be lost to us. Can any reader make suggestions here? In the meantime. I shall be quite willing to edit letters and make extracts to fill a part of my Chats. What do you think of this? Here is Mr Turnbull's letter—any relation to the gentleman I have named? : Koremata, Pomahaka, December 28, 1918. To "Pater," who chats with the Boys. Sir, —A few weeks back, I noticed you suggested that "Alien's" letters from Englandd should be published in' pamphlet form from the commencement of the war. I think that an excellent idea", and I am sure thoy would sell and be a m-ofitable investment if they could be sold, say at 6d a copy, they, I've no doubt, would sell like hot pies. I have just a few minutes agO finished reading her letter in Witness of December 25. It appeals to me as an excellent one/ ■" When I could spare the time, I think I : have read the mojst of hefc letters in the course of the war. The eonfirollihg of the food rations would be handed down to. the rising generations as true history, I've, not noticed anyone reply to the above as I made sure you would have had from' some of those who make a practice of writing to the newspapers. I would suggest. "That your own Chats with the Boys" in. the course of the war bo. also published in pamphlet form for future preservation. J read your "Chats with the Boys" with: much acceptance, and I enjoy them although I am over "three-score years and two." I also read many of the D.L.F. letters too, and Dot comes in for all the kind congratulations. Will yoil accept of my ; kind regards for the many excellent papers you have produced? and long may you bo spared to still write to the boys.—Yours faithfully, Geokge Tttbnbtjll.