NOTES AND COMMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 9, Issue 45, 1 June 1899, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Frances Willard and National Councils.— ln connection with the meeti.jg of delegates from the various National Councils of Women which is to be held in London this month, it is interesting to recall the fact that Frances W’illard was the hist President of the National Council of the United States. Her wide sympathies, sound judgment, and clearness of vision amply fitted her for this position, and in electing the foremost woman of the foremost organization of women to this honourable office, the National Council of the United States did itself credit. The proceedings of the International Council will be watched with interest, as representing the sisterhood qf woman, irrespective of clime, race, or creed. May it be but the presage of the Brotherhood of Man.

The Missing Ships. —The past month has been a time of peril for those on the sea. Stories of vessels storm-driven and helpless, of ships dismantled and crippled, and of brave men battling in vain with the angry waters, have saddened the hearts of all. When one thinks of these things, and of the wives and children waiting and watching for those who will never

come back to the land, the bitterness of the sad refrain “ For men moat wu;K, and woin**n must weep, I'ho’ storms t>e sudden, and waters lx* deep,” is forced right home to the heart.

What amount of blame or responsibility can be attached to the owners of the OJntu and Perthshire we cannot say. The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand has always had the reputation of looking carefully after the strength and equipment of its vessels. Vet, if the experience of experts is to be trusted, a “ well-deck ” like that of the OhuU is but a death-trap tor a deeply-laden vessel in a strong sea. It seems absurd, too, that the safety of a powerful, gigantic vessel like the PerthIrr: should ne confided to the strength oi a single shaft. Surely it should be compulsory that vessels undertaking the long and dangerous passage to and from England should either be fitted with twin screws or properly rigged for sailing in case of a bteak-down ?

The Palmerston Convention. — The Prohibition Convention of Palmerston North was a grand demonstration of the temperance sentiment of the provinces of Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki. Three hundred and twenty-two delegates, appointed by the representative Churches and Temperranee Societies, answered to the roll call. So magnificent a display of the moral force at the back of the “ No License ” movement cannot be disregarded by the Government, and there is little doubt but that at the forthcoming election measures will be taken to safeguard the purity of the poll. The resolution to urge voters to vote for “ Reduction ” as well as “ No License’’ is a wise one. By striking out the top line only we shall have two strings to our bow.

Bishop Julius. —The accession of Bishop Julius to the ranks of the “ No License ” Party is a most cheering fact. The Bishop is no bigot or fanatic. He is a healthy, robust thinker and worker of the Charles Kingsley type. As yet he is not convinced of the absolute harmfulness of alcohol as a beverage, and, having made no secret of his opinion, he has been claimed as a champion by the brewers and publicans of the colonv. But as an earnest and thoughtful man, daily confronted by social problems, made hoplessly complicated by the temptations of the drink shop, he has faced the position boldly, and has

come to the conclusion that he dare not vote for the present system of selling liquor.

Rudyard Kipling. The case of Bishop Julius reminds us of a more distinguished man who has recently changed his mind and become an advocate of “No License.” Rudyard Kipling has not been a total abstainer, nor have his writings commended temperance. But he saw two young men get two girls drunk and lead them down a dark street. “ Then,” he says, “ recanting previous opinions, I became a Prohibitionist. Better it is that a man should go without his beer in public places, and content himself with swearing at the narrow-mindedness of the majority, than to bring temptation to the lips of young fools such as I had seen, I understood now why the preachers rage against drink. I have said, ‘ There is no harm in it,’ and yet my own demand for beer helped directly to send those two girls reeling down the dark street to —God alone knows what end. . . . It is not good that we should let it lie before the eyes of children, and I have been a fool in writing to the contrary.” * Manslaughter or Murder.—A brutal case of a woman having been struck and kicked to death at the Masonic hotel, Cambridge, appeared in the telegrams of June 9UI. The evidence is baldly given, but it is stated that the man was lying on a sofa,and his wife called him a “drunken old fool. ’ At this he struck her three times, knocked her off a chair, her head striking a sofa. Next day the man— Carroll by name—was seen by the nursegirl to strike his wife in a bedroom, and the disturbance continued until midnight. The next item of information is that there was an inquest on the wife's body, and the jury, after ten minutes’ absence, gave a verdict of manslaughter. There is something horrible in the indifference displayed in the whole matter. The fact of the disturbance being allowed to “ continue until midnight ” speaks volumes for the character of the hotel. Was there no human being near to interfere whilst this brutal murder was being perpetrated ? Just another question : Is murder reduced to manslaughter in cases where the murderer is drunk ? Surely this case should not be allowed to rest where it is !

Mrs. Barney’s Farewell to England. —A farewell gathering was held

in honour of Mrs. Barney in the rooms of the B.W.r.A. headquarters, Westminster, on March 29th, when Miss Vincent and Miss Cummins, of South Australia, were present among other friends. Mrs. Pearsall Smith presided. Many letters and telegrams were read in appreciation of Mrs. Barney’s visit to England, and all united in bidding her “God-speed. Mrs. Barney travelled by the s. 3. “ New England” (Dominion Line) from Liverpool to Boston.

International Congress against Alcoholism. The seventh International Congress was opened in Paris on April 3, when the lecture-room of the Faculty of Medicine was completely filled. Amongst the audience were many ladies, several priests—even a Dominican and a Capucian monk which shows the universality of antialcoholic ideas. A number of prominent names are given as being present; among them are the Bishop of Nancy, Pastor Rochat, of Geneva, Bishop Turinaz, M. Millerand, Deputy of Paris. Dr. Legrain, however, is said to be the soul of the Congress. He is Doctor-in-Chief of the Ville-Evrard Lunatic Asylum. He said in his opening address that he had met victims in lunatic asylums and prisons, in the proportion of nine out of ten. France had been deluded by the belief that moderation would cure the evil ; but now she recognises the necessity for more stringent measures. Dr. Legrain founded the French Anti-Alcoholic Union, which at tiie present time consists of 435 local bodies and 35,000 members. The Congress lasted five days, and was a great success. The next one will meet in Vienna in 1901.

Women’s Suffrage.— By the courtesy of the Honorary Secretary, Miss Catherine Hughes, the fifth annual report of the Brisbane Women’s Equal Franchise Association is to hand. On the whole it is encouraging, and the members have worked hard. Deputations have been formed to wait on Ministers, and candidates for Parliamentary honours have been interviewed, anti supported when they gave their promise to work for the aims of the society.

The Woman’s Franchise League of Western Australia.—-This League was formed at Perth, W estern Australia, last month. Lady Onslow presided. There was a good attendance.

Several capital addresses were given, ami a constitution adopted. We wish this new League every success.

Women’s Suffrage in England.— The effort to procure a day for a resolution on Woman’s Suffrage in the English House of Commons was so far successful, as it gained for Mr Firbank and Mr Faithful Begg first and second places respectively for March 28th. The resolution was set down in the following terms :—To call attention to recent legislation in several of our leading colonies conferring the Parliamentary franchise on women, and to move. “ That the exclusion in this country of women from the Parliamentary franchise is contrary to public policy.” The opportunity was lost, however, as the day was taken by the Government for one of its own measures, and a strong protest was made in the House by Mr Faithful Begg, and by a large and enthusiastic meeting of women-workers at the Institute, Hyde Park corner, when Mrs Fawcett presided.

A m \v packets containing eight numbers of Sirs Josephine Butler s Storm Bell of last year—viz., February, March April, May, June, July, November—and January, 1899, can be had on application to Mrs Sheppard, P.O. Box 209, at 9d per packet, post free.

Minutes of the National Council. —The book containing the proceedings and papers read at the Auckland meeting of the Council is published. Arrangements are being made whereby booksellers in the chief towns will be supplied, and in the meantime copies may be obtained at the office of the White Ribbon, 201, Hereford-street, Christchurch. Price, 7tl, post free.

A Correction. —In connection with the International Council, a paragraph has been going the rounds of the papers stating that Mrs Grace Neill would be the delegate from New Zealand. This is incorrect. The delegates chosen by the National Council to represent this colony are Mrs W. P. Reeves, Mrs Sidney Webb, and Mrs Sibthorpe. In the event of one or more of these ladies being unable to act, it was decided that Mrs McCosh Clarke and Miss Priestman should be asked to act in their stead.

Rev. L. M. Isitt.—We are glad to know that after his lengthy visit to

England the Rev. L. M. Isitt, with Mrs. Isitt, is returning to New Zealand by the s.s. Gothic , which left Plymouth on May 13th.

Two New Branches. —Our readers will be cheered to note the formation of two new branches of the W.C.T.U. by Mrs Harrison Lee, at Sanson and Bunnythorpe respectively.

Denmark. Miss Agnes Slack announces with joy that the Danish W.C.T.I . has again affiliated with the World’s W.C.T U., and that now no country is missing.