The White Ribbon: FOR GOD AND HOME AND HUMANITY. Monday, September 15, 1902. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 8, Issue 88, 1 September 1902, Page 6

The White Ribbon: FOR GOD AND HOME AND HUMANITY. Monday, September 15, 1902. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Read and Consider. — Our leading article is omitted to make room for the report of the Conference of Delegates fiom various Christchurch Societies to consider the question of better government. The report, which we have headed “ Government by the People,” will be found in another column. Not one of our readers who wishes to honestly fulfil her duties as a citizen should fail to read and carefully consider the great advantages that would How from the reforms proposed. * Convalescent.— Our readers will rejoice to learn that our N. Z. President is surely (if slowly), gaining strength. In a private letter received by the Editor, Mrs Kirk w r rites:—“ I am thankful to say th ire is progress, but it is still extremely slow. She is able to walk a few yards with help, and is h jping to be able to take a drive in a week or two.” * Approaching Departure of Mrs Wells. —Early next month, Mrs Wells, known to our leaders by her contributions to the “ Home ” columns of this paper over the initials A. W., and to women in various parts of the colony by her work in connection with the National Council of Women, is to leave for Europe. She is accompanying her eldest daughter to Leipsic, where the latter will remain to complete her musical studies. Mrs Wells will be much missed in the Canterbury Women’s Institute, in which she has for long taken an active interest, and of

which she is President. As she contemplates being only absent for a few months, it is hoped that she may be able to retain her seat on the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, and continue her eminently useful work. * Wholesome Food. - A subscriber wrote to us last month asking if particulars of a vegetarian diet that would nourish and satisfy an average working man could be given. Under the heading of “ The Home” we publish an article which has been written to supply this information. The writers have made a study of dietetics for some years, and one of them holds a City and Guilds of London Institute Certificate f )r cookery. It will be gratifying if the article should arouse fresh interest in the vital question of wholesome food. The Barmaid Question. —It is an old adage that “ One volunteer is worth two pressed men ” It is a pleasure, therefore, to announce that Miss Jessie M *ckiy, so well known for her literary ability, has offered to assist Miss Dalrymple in stirring up the women’s societ.ies to take action re barmaids. After the hue article by Miss Perkins published in our July issue, it is scarcely necessary to say that the barmaid system is a degradation to women and a lure to young men. We trust that the officials of each of our Union branches throughout the colony will make a point of passing and publishing resolutions, and also of piocuring a public expression of opinion on the subject from every Parliamentary candidate in their district. # The Temple Building, Chicago.— From time to time the Temple trustees (M rs Matilda B Carse, President) ask White Kibboners for subscriptions towards purchasing the Temple. It may not be generally known that four years ago iln W.C.T.U. of the United States, by an overwhelming vote, decided to discontinue efforts to purchase the building, and to give first place to the “ Frances E. Willard Memorial Organising Fund.’' When Mrs Carse, fifteen years ago, proposed the erection of a W omen’s Temple, the cost was stated at £*160,000. The National W.C T.U. of the U.S.A. agreed to co-operate on condition that the work should not be commenced until £*100,00.) had been donated, and also that the building should be erected on freehold ground. These conditions were not observed.

The £Too,ooo was not donated, the building was erected on leasehold ground, for which a yearly rent of £*Booo has to be paid, and the cost of erection was exceeded by £*93,000. The rents are insufficient to pay the charges on the building, and the arrears alrea ly amount to £*14,000. It seems 10 us that subscriptions could be more usefully employed in organising work than in the purchase of bricks and mortar on leasehold land. International Arbitration. —Most of our readers will probably have seen by the Press of the colony that a telegram from the Hague, dated August 28th, gives the information that the tribunal convened to arbitrate as a result of the Peace Conference will take as its first case the difference between the United States and Mexico as to which is liable to pay the pensions of Californian clergy. * Equality of Opportunity. - Although the Factory Act is being amended by the House of Representatives, there is no sign of any alteration being made in the clause which lays down that women shall work for fortyfive hours a week only, while men w’ork for forty-eight hours. The result of this clause is undoubtedly prejudicial to women. The common-sense view of the matter is that, if a woman can work for forty-five hours a week, three hours extra, spread over the week, should not hurt her. W hat is the outcome ? It is that no firm will employ women after their apprenticeship is served, as the time restriction often seriously interferes with business. If women cannot work for forty-eight hours a week at certain trades, they should not enter upon those trades. Let us insist upon equality of opportunity, a fair field and no favour. It is largely due to the apathy of women that these one-sided laws are allow'ed to exist. Is It T rue ? —Speaking in th: House of Represent itives, Mr Hutcheson said that the West coast of the North Is land was the very home of sweating children, whose intellectual and physi cal welfaie was being sacrificed His remarks were in connection with th i dairy in lustry, in which it has hem said that children of tender years are taxed beyond their strength. Seveial of our Worn n’s Societies have asked for a commission of enquiry into this matter,

but have always been put off on the plea of lack of evidence. « Women’s Franchise in Tasmania.— Telegraphic news has reached us that the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) of Tasmania has decided in favour of Women's Franchise. • Kaiapoi Eiectorate. —Thisgo-ahead community is straining every point to win at the coming election. They have now gained Miss Powell’s serv ces as “No License ” lecturer from October Ist until election day. Practical Christianity. -It w'oul 1 be a matter for sincere thankfulness and congratulation if the clergy throughout the colony were to follow the lead given them by their brethren in Auckland on Citizen Sunday, August 17. In most of the churches the preachers dealt with the duties and responsibilities of citizenship The Rev TF. Robertson “ indulged in some plain talk,” says the Auckland Star , “about sanitation and the tactics of the City Council. He said much remains to be done by our civic authority. For years back that authority has given an evil example to the people. It has not provided for the growth and progress of the city. Its culpable neglect and incapacity demand a verdict of culpable manslaughter. F'or years past ministers of the Gospel, as well as medical men, hive felt this keenly. We have to visit sick beds and death beds,” he continued, “ and stand by the graves of the victims of the neglect and incapacity of our City Councillors with a feeling burning in our hearts that we dire not utter. We shall tell them plainly that they should be clothed with shame upon our city streets, the broad arrow of criminal conduct glaring on their hacks. The free born citizens of Auckland must hear the call of medical science, of the Press, of the pulpit, and rise in all their selfgoverning might to wipe off our civic reproach. 1 lealth and life and morality must be found, and they can be found if sought for, and sustained by the public votes and sympathy in the city of Auckland. God help our citizens to find them at the next election of our City Councillors.”