12 O’CLOCK LICENSES FOR DEVONPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 4, Issue 42, 1 December 1898, Page 5

12 O’CLOCK LICENSES FOR DEVONPORT.

Dear Madam, —After the sub-rosa manner in which Auckland City obtained its ii o’clock licenses, it was to be expected that the suburbs would lie on the alert and not lie caught napping in a similar manner. A small adver tisement appeared last week stating that the Licensing Committee would sit in the Council Chambers on Monday, December 5, to receive applications for renewal of licenses for Devonport ; then on Saturday somebody discovered that the publicans of the place intended petitioning for extension of hours, from 10 to 12 o’clock. The news quickly spread through this usually quiet little suburb, and very soon the W.C.T. U. was on the war- rath. Counter petitions were type written and delivered to the ministers on the Shore, all of whom are in full sympathy with the temperance cause. Having only Sunday to obtain signatures, some of the forms were placed in each Church Vestry or vestibule The ministers enjoined from the pulpit the need of immediate action, the result lieii'g a hearty response, some three or four hundred signatures being obtained in this way, besides a house to house canvass by enthusiastic workers, few objecting to sign A thoroughly representative deputation will wait upon the Committee on Monday morning. Fhe Mayor of Devon port will take charge of the petition I will wire result in time for your next issue, but we have little fear as to the result,

owing to the energetic manner in which the W.C.T.U. got everything into training Yours truly, Aiice Malcolm, Pres Devonport \V C.T.U. Dear Madam, The increase of juvenile depravity has f»een causing us a great deal of anxiety of late, and the matter having l**tn discussed in our Union, it has l>een suggested that a bell should lie rung at an early hour every evening, at which time it would Ik* required that all children under a certain age should return to their homes. This plan has been adopted in many American towns, and has l>een found to work most beneficially. We have thought that the liest way to put this plan into execution is for the different Unions to unite in sending a petition to Parliament. It is, of course, too late to do anything this session, but we shall l>e glad if the Unions will discuss the matter at their meetings in order that we may act unanimously next year. If the Unions are willing to join with us, or can suggest any better plan, we shall t>e glad if they will communicate with us as soon as possible. Yours in the work, (Miss) S. Twkmlow, Secretary W.C.T.U., Nith Street, Invercargill. Gisborne, Nov. 23, 1898. Dear Madam, Can you spare me space to say that I shall lie glad to receive orders for Mrs Stanton’s heautitul 44 Eighty Years and More.” The lxx>k costs Bs, plus postage, but if five, or any multiple of five, be ordered by our Council, the publisher generously offers them for 6s, post free. On receipt, therefore, of 30s for five copies, or even of 6s for one, I shall order and forward post tree to any address in New Zealand. In the latter case, however, there may l>e some delay, as the order for five must first l>e filled in. Yours, etc. M. H. Ehvwricht, Corresponding Secretary National Council of W omen of New Zealand.