NOTES AND COMMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 8, Issue 89, 1 October 1902, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Our N. Z. President.- Readers of our paper will be glad and thankful to see by the Wellington Union’s report that Mrs Atkinson has recovered from her long illness, and is back again in her own home. This is good news in deed. Wc can now look forward to seeing her take the chair at the coming Dunedin Convention. * The Barmaid Question. — Miss Jessie Mackay reports that in responsto her letter to the various Societies she had two replies by return of post. On from the Christchurch Progressive Liberal Association, saying that it fully sympathises and will assist in bringin about the desired reform. Also one from the Wellington branch of the So ciety for the protection of women and children, enclosing the following resolu tion which was carried : “ That this Society sympathises with the proposal to prohibit the employment of barmaids, and is prepared to support any attempt to obtain legislation in that direction.” * The Totalisator.— The Public Petitions Committee, reporting upon a

rumber of Petitions asking for the abortion of the totalisator, makes the following recommendation:—“That in view of the large and influential representations made by the 7143 petitioners praying for the abolition of the totalisator, this committee recommends the prayer of the petitioners to the earnest consideration of the Government.” This looks as if the public conscience was being awakened on this important question. * The Top Line. —Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice for New Zealand, says: “ Every voter has a right to Strike out the Top Line Only, and he thus Votes for Both No License and Reduction.” * A Notable Woman. —Miss Rosamond Davenport Hill, news of whose passing away was received by the last English mail, was for years a prominent figure in the educational world. She represented the city on the London School Board, for eighteen consecutive years, and was, at her last election in 1894, returned at the head of the poll. The London limes , in its obituary notice, remarks that ttie vast amount of committee work which she got through at the Board office never prevented her from keeping a close and continual supervision of the schools under her care into which she introduced every available improvement. • Womanhood Suffrage in Australia. —The movement for the enfranchisement of our sisters in the Commonwealth is progressing satisfactorily. Women tnere have already the franchise for the Federal Government, and in August the State Franchise was conceded to them in New South Wales. I bis makes the third State which recognises the right of women to Citizenship, and the remaining States, viz: Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania, cannot long delay such recognition. • Young People’s No- License League.—As the result of two socials given by the Christchurch W.C.T.U., to young people, engaged during the day a Young People’s No-License League has been formed A large number of young people of both sexes have been enrolled for active work, and with Miss Bessie Henderson. as President, and Miss Muriel Day, as Secretary, the League will lack neither practicalness nor enthusiasm. The

members hope to exercise an educative force, and are preparing papers to this end. In the meantime, however, they are at work placing new voters on the Electoral Roll, and distributing literature. • Wanted —The name and address of the subscriber who sent a postal note for half a crown to the Editor (instead of to the Business Manager) on the 10th inst. Half crowns are always welcome, but the Business Manager likes to know to whom to send the receipt The postmark on the envelope is North Dunedin. • With the Exchanges. This month we have received :—Boston Woman's Journal, Chicago Ttmple Appeal, Britain’s Opium Harvest, Anglo-Russian, Berlin Centralblatt des Bunde* Deutcher Frauenvereine, Milan Periodico Unionc Femminile, London Shield, Oregan Xorth West White Ribboner, Calcutta White Ribbon, Victoria White Ribbon Signal, Sydney White Ribbon Signal, Melbourne Woman's Sphere, Australian Our Federation, Tasmanian People's Friend, Wanganui Good Templar Watchword. • For the Eiection Campaign. —The days of Col./ agents are not yet past, for Australia 1. sending to New Zealand gallant fig* ‘ers to help us in cur struggle for our hearths and homes. Though only three in number, they are a valuable accession, for their mettle has been proved in many a conflict. Mrs Harrison Lee has been in the field for some time. Mrs Clark, whom our readers will remember for her successful franchise work in Western Australia, has lately arrived, and Mr John Vale is to be here almost at once • Acknowledgements. —We have received from Mrs Catherine P. Wallace, formerly Australasian Franchise Superintendent W.C. T.U., a nicely printed and bound volume containing a sketch of, and tribute to, the life of her late husband. P'rom Mrs M. E. Sanderson, Treasurer World’s W.C.T.U , h r halfyearly report.