NOTES AND COMMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 7, Issue 81, 1 February 1902, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

In Memor am. 1 he sympathy of our members should be extended to Mrs Wills, whose husba id, the Rev T. J. Wills, of Ormondville, passed away on January 24th. Mr Wills was a persistent and enthusiastic “ Nolicense ” worker, both voice and pen being pressed into the service on every possible occasion. Let our loving thoughts be sent to Mrs Wills and her three boys, who even in their sadness should feel cheered to know’that he who has passed away will long be remembered with honour and love in many a New Zealand household. • Women s Disabilities. We are glad to note from Miss Maunder’s letter in the correspondence column, that her Union is planning how' to arouse interest in the Women’s Disabilities petition. It is hoped that now that the holidays are over, our women in every district

will make a vigorous canvas, and till as many sheets with signaturesas is possible between now and early in May, when they will be called in. Those who have signed already, cannot of course do so again this year. Petition forms can be obtained on application to Mrs Sheppard, Bo.\ 209, P. 0., Christchurch. Articles dealing with the “ Disabilities ” question were published in the White Ribbon of December, 1900, and March, 1901, reference to which may assist those who may not have had much information on the question. It is expected that the petitions will be presented at the coming Session ot Parliament.

• The Coming “No-License” Election. —The New Zealand Alliance has not only secured the services of Miss Florence Balgarnie for the coining campaign, but, according to latest advices, those of Mrs Harrison Lee and Mr J. G. Woolley. Mrs Harrison Lee was in London when the request to come to New Zealand reached her, and she at once determined to throw up her work there, and join in the “rallying of the forces” here. If Mr Leonard Isitt returns to New Zealand as well, as we fully expect he will, we shall be rich indeed. Surely, with such a contingent of helpers, we should score many a “ No-License” victory at the Decembei polls.

World’s W.C.T.U. Convention. — Miss Agnes Slack writes: —“It is almost finally decided that the next Convention will meet at Ottawa, Canada, or in the U.S.A. Lady Henry Somerset is planning to go; she is greatly anticipating meeting our comrades across the Atlantic.”

Miss Stone's Abduction. The fate of Miss Stone, one of our prominent Temperance workers in Bulgaria, who was carried off into the mountains by a band of brigands, is causing great anxiety to her friends and fellow-workers. A ransom was subscribed and sent by a deputation. Cablegrams of the 7th inst. state that the building where the party conveying the ransom slept was wilfully fired, but the ransom was saved. *

From Italy. —The editor of the Unione Ftwminile , published at Milan, sends a copy of this paper, with a re. quest to us to send the White Ribbon

in return, “ in which,” says the editor, “ we are highly interested.” ♦

An Example to be Followed. — A by-law prohibiting expectoration on public footpaths in the city of Hobart, which has practically been a dead letter, is now in operation, and will, it is hoped, reduce a habit which is filthy and dangerous to the community.

• Travellers’ Aid Society. The Englishwoman's Review tells us that this society is doing valuable work. Quietly, and without fuss, it meets and furthers on their way thousrnds of girls who in this travelling age are landed alone in the bewildering bustle of the stations and quays of the large English towns. In London alone 1818 were assisted in this way during the year ; and local committees are set up in other places. Queen Victoria was a patron, and gave it her support. Queen Alexandra has consented to continue.

• Women s Enterprises. —Miss Mary Forster, who holds the certificate of the Natural Sciences Tripos, Cambridge, is acting as guide to the British Museum, conducting ladies, or parties, at the rate of 2s 6d per hour for one person, or for small parties 3s per hour. She has had excellent opportunities of studying the celebrated collections of gems in the Museum, and in describing these and the varied antiquities she does not give cut-and-dried lectures, which one usually gets from professional guides, but bright, interesting, conversations on the subjects with which she is familiar.

What Next ? Says the Temple Appeal :—“ The establishment of a chair of brewing in Birmingham University, England, has aroused the righteous indignation of temperance workers who are engaged in the terrible conflict with intemperance in Great Britain. Drunkenness is recognised by all to be England’s greatest curse to-day, and the further encouragement of the evil by raising brewing to the dignity of a college curriculum by the British liquor trade seems almost diabolical. To offset this offence to the national peace and prosperity, White-Ribboners are making a strenuous effort to establish temperance professorships in the chief Universities of England. The movement was started in Great Britain by the Hon. Mrs Bertrand Arthur Russeli, sister-in-

law of Earl Russell, formerly Miss Alys Smith, daughter of Mrs Hannah Whitehal Smith, of Philadelphia. Already funds have been raised to establish a * Lady Somerset Lectureship ’ in the University of London, and plans are being made with the American temperance workers to have a similar lectureship simultaneously started in one of our leading educational institutions. How well this would look in the curriculum of Chicago or Northwestern Universities : ‘ Frances Willard Lectureship.’ ” * A Mission. —Dr. Grattan Guinness, son of the famous Grattan Guinness, is at present holding missions in New Zealand. His meetings in Dunedin were most successful, and he is now attracting numbers of men to his meetings in Christchurch. On Sunday, Feb. 9th, he gave an address on Purity, to men only, when there was a very large attendance.

Association of Women Teachers. A general meeting was held on Saturday, Feb. Bth, at the Normal School, Christchurch. The President (M iss Henderson), stated that although this meeting had been called as usual on Saturday morning it was felt that an evening meeting would be more convenient, as such a large number of teachers are at present engaged at technical classes. After seme discussion it was decided to hold the next meeting on a Friday evening, that being the evening most suitable to country members. It was decided that at the next meeting three short papers by members should be read and discussed on the “ Advantages and Disadvantages of the present Sewing Regulations.” The Secretary was instructed to write to the Secretary of the New Zealand Institute, asking for particulars as to the superannuation scheme now under discussion.

W.C.T.U. Annual Convention.— Our Annual Convention will com mence its sessions at Palmerston Nortl on Wednesday, March 12th. Delegate who have not notified their intentioi of being present are requested to do sc at once to Miss Barry, Palmerstoi North. We regret that we were un able to procure a copy of the officia programme for publication. Letter from our President and Correspondim Secretary will be found in anothe column.

One Woman, One Vote. —Both of the letters mentioned above refer to the question of “ One Woman, One Vote,” and, fortunately for the information of our readers, they deal with it from different standpoints. For ourselves we have no hesitation in saying that this change in our Constitution is a reasonable and necessary one. The statement that on one occasion plural voting served a good purpose does not seem to us a proof that is correct in principle. It must be apparent that the power given by plurality of votes might have reversed the decision in the very case referred to by Mrs Atkinson. The thought that each branch is a living, active, individual unit of the N. Z. Union is the one that we should cultivate ; and all branches should be encouraged to be content with no less than a whole delegate, who would represent their wishes in detail, and uphold their dignity as befits the high position they hold as links in a worldwide chain. Plural voting is, undoubtedly, out of harmony with the spirit of the times, and, for our part, we should be glad to see the N. Z. Inion pass on to something more in accord with that spirit.

Alternate Delegates. —There may be some force in M rs Atkinson’s statement that there might be a difficulty in finding a sufficient number of women to act as proxy delegates. But, on looking into the matter, the difficulty is not so great as it at first appears. The “ Alternate Delegate ” plan is one that is practised in similar conferences to ours with success. The method is that two women shall represent one Union between them, taking the sessions in turns, so as to suit their mutual convenience, having, of course, only one vote between them. While it might be difficult to find many women who could attend all day for three or four successive days, quite a number might be available who could attend half of the sessions, and would gladly do so. This plan would have the extra advantage of helping to educate a larger number of women to take a deeper interest in, and a more comprehensive view of, our work, and in a short time we should be able to “ count heads ” with the greatest confidence, feeling sure that “ what is in them ” is both helpful and intelligent.

\ Better Still. —The foregoing suggestion is only for those Unions that

find it quite impossible to send their own delegate to Convention. But if even a proportion of the Unions could only realise that to collect the money for their delegate’s expenses early in the year is far from being impossible, a much larger number of representative women would gather together for counsel and inspiration every year. The effort would mean work, and some sacrifice, but, after all, what difficulty is ever conquered without sacrifice ? And the result would repay the effort twice over. This has been confessed before now, when the effort has been made.

The Unions Must Decide. —Each Union has this year to decide whether this change is to be made in the Constitution or not, and give specific written instructions to their delegate on the matter.

Miss Ellice Hopkins’ Appeal. We feel sure that out women will not need to be urged to procure copies of “ The Power of W omanhood,” which is being sold at such a low price, and which is said to be a beautifully as well as powerfully written book. If the copy promised 11s arrives in time, we shall be glad to review it in our March number.

Mr Falconer. The “ Soldier’s Rests,” established by M Falconer have been very highly appreciated by the troops, and we wish him “ God speed ” in his work.

It should ever be remembered that alcohol is not a food, as many people suppose. It cannot make blood, from which alone bene, flesh, nerve and muscle are formed, but it even prevents the natural changes going on in he blood, and obstructs the nutritive and operative functions. There is a common idea that alcoholic drinks act as an aid to the digestion of food, This, however, is not the case. The action of alcohol on the digestive fluid, is demonstrated by chemical experiments, is to destroy its principal (the pepsin). This is why so many spiritdrinking people suffer from dyspepsia. So says Professor Boyd Laynard.

The late Cardinal Manning said “ For thirty-five years I have been priest and bishop in London, and I am

now approaching my eightieth year. I have learned some lessons, and the first is this: The chief bar to the working of the Holy Spirit of God in the souls of men and women is intoxicating drink. I know’ no antagonist to that good Spirit more direct, more subtle, more übiquitous, more stealthy than intoxicating drink. Though I have known men and women destroyed for all manner of reasons, yet I know’ of no cause that affects man, woman, child and home with such universality of steady power as intoxicating drink.”