OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 11, 1 May 1896, Page 4

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

THE “ N. Z. SCHOOL READER.”, The following letter (the receipt of which has been acknowledged) was sent to the Hon. the Minister of Education by a sub-committee appointed by Convention : To The llon. The Minister for Education, Wellington. Sir,— We, the sub-committee appointed by the Convention of the many branches of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union throughout New Zealand, to examine the contents and style of the literature of the “ New Zealand School Reader,” are of opinion that to put the said book, in its present form, into the hands of the young of New Zealand will not tend to their advancement, intellectually or morally. The language in which much of the book is written is slangy and vulgar, and could not fail to corrupt the purity of the English tongue throughout the community. The sentiments expressed in not a few of its pages are such as to lead to cruelty of disposition and indifference to the suffering of others. Whilst acknowledging the value of many of the historical passages, we must protest against this book being introduced into the schools of the colony, unless it at first receives very careful revision.— We have the honour to he, sir, yours obediently, (Signed) A. J. Schnackenberg, President N.Z. W.C.T.U, E. M. Widdowson, Hon. bee. Christchurch W.C.T.U. L. W. Dalrymple, Member Sub-Committee.

April 17th, 1896. Dear Miss Kirk, Please convey to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union my thanks for their courtesy in passing a resolution appreciative of my efforts to admit women to Parliament. Such a letter is very encouraging. I propose to re introduce the Pill. If your Union would ask of every candidate at the coming General Election to support such a measure, it would soon become the law of the land here, as it was in England many centuries ago, and as it is to-day already in Colorado and in South Australia. —Yours very truly, Alfred K. Newman,

Premier’s Office, Wellington, April 29th, 1896. Madam, I am directed by the Premier to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth inst., forwarding a resolution from the Convention of the W.C.T.U. of N.Z. relative to the C.D. Acts, and, in reply, to state that Mr Seddon will Jo h s best to get the Act repealed, as it is a blot upon our Statute Hook. I have the honour to be, Madam, Your obedient servant, Alex. Willis.