The Waikato Independent Incorporating "The Cambridge Gazette." SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1924. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 3229, 7 June 1924, Page 4

The Waikato Independent Incorporating "The Cambridge Gazette." SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1924. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Help The Scouts. One of the most deserving organisations working among the boys and girls of the country are the Scouts. Both Boy and Girl Scouts bodies are working under regulations that must commend themselves to every thinking person. The boys and girls are taught to honour the King, to be loyal to their country, respect and love their parents, lead noble, useful, Christian lives, abstain from wrong-doing, and endeavour to do kindly deeds. If all the boys and girls were Scouts, and acted up to the principles inculcated by their order, the world would be a very much better place than it is at present. This movement deserves our support. In Cambridge district a few faithful workers are steadily assisting the work among the boys and girls, with very gratifying success on the whole. Just now the great need of both organisations is that of a hall or other building where regular meetings can be held, and where the Scouts can be trained in their work. The work has been so sadly hampered in this respect that the little band of workers, together with officers and well-wishers, are now actively engaged in a campaign to raise funds for the erection of a suitable building. With this objoct in view a Paddy’s Market was held recently. An entertainment lias now been arranged for Tuesday evening next, 10th insf., to help swell the funds, and we hope and trust that there will be a. packed house. Any who cannot attend should at least purchase a ticket. The cause is a most deserving one, and vve commend it to our readers for their cordial and liberal support.

Drinking by Women. Tt is gratifying to know that some of the Licensing Benches are expressing strong disapproval of any attempts to encourage drinking in hotels by 'women. Mr Cut-ten, Stipendiary Magistrate, chairman of the Auckland .Licensing Committee, recently made some pointed comments on this question, expressing strong disapproval of hotel licensees encouraging women to drink in hotels, while a telegram received this morning from Christchurch states that Mr Widdowson, S.M., chairman of the Christchurch Licensing Bench, has intimated that, that body has determinedly set its face against, women drinking in hotels. According to an article which appeared in the X.Z. -Herald a few months ago, the custom of women taking liquor in hotels is growing apace, and is much more common than is generally supposed; indeed the article in question caused considerable disquio-t-i----tudo among social workers. II is quite evident that hotelkeepers, by providing facilities’ for drinking, arc directly en-

eouraging this habit; therefore it is pleasing to know that the Licensing Committees are endeavouring to counteract this sinister influence. Whatever may be one’s opinions regarding women’s right to partake of intoxicating liquors, there will be but few, if any, who would care to see women acquiring the habit ol drinking regularly in hotels. Nothing but harm can come from such a habit. Liquor already creates sufficient evil, confined as it is very largely to males, but once facilities are that will bring a largo num'ber of women within its insidious clutches, the harm that will be done to our whole race is incalculable. The love of alcohol is one of the greatest evils against which we have to fight to-day. Let us use every possible endeavour to prevent any possiblo avenue by which its victims will be increased!