NOTES AND COMMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 10, Issue 118, 15 March 1905, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Wanganui Convention. There is every prospect, at time ol writing, of a large attendance at our annual W.C.T.U. Convention, which this year is to meet at Wanganui, opening on the 15th inst.

Beyond the Veil. The many friends of Mrs Ballantyne, of the Christchurch Union, will sympathise with her in the loss of her second daughter. For many years Miss Ballantyne had been in weak health, and incessantly watched and tended by her mother. Of late she had seemed stronger, and had persuaded Mrs Ballantyne to leave her and take a trip to the North Island for much needed change, and it was during her mother’s absence that the call to the “ life elysian ” came.

Live Untons. We are specially glad to note the work taken up by two of our newly formed Unions. Waimate is interviewing the South Canterbury Education Board, with regard to the instruction of the children in the physiological ertects of alcohol. Levin reports that it is nominating “ three capable women ’ for election to the school committee. It is good to see the word capable in connection therewith. An incapable man on such a committee would pass unnoticed. The incapacity of a woman would be proclaimed upon the house top.

Go and Do Likewise. —We would urge our Unions, in all parts of the colony, to follow wherever possible the action of Levin in nominating able women for election to school committees. New Zealand women are not yet fully enfranchised, but the surest way to obtain greater liberty is to use fully and wisely that already possessed. •

Brave Women. —The roll of honour of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand contains the names of 140 persons. Of these 18 are women.

Opening of Cottage Home.— The new Cottage Home, recently acquired by the Christchurch Children’s Aid Society, was formally opened by Lady Plunket on the 3rd inst. In her reply to the address of welcome Lady Plunket incidentally referred to thegenerally happy lot of children in the colony as contrasted with the wretchedness only too painfully evident in the old country.

The Cottage Home is intended for the reception of emergency cases, and also for those not provided for, under the Acts, by State aid.

Mentally Deficient Children.— The President of the Christchurch Children’s Aid Society, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, speaking at the opening of the new Cottage Home, urged the necessity of special educational institutions for children mentally deficient. It is quite certain that in withholding these schools the Government is not dealing justly with either the normal 01 the abnormal children of the colony.

Women in Public Office. The urgent need for the presence of women on public Boards was strikingly evidenced a few weeks since in the refusal of the directors of the Sydney Hospital to accept the application of a thoroughly qualified lady doctor for an appointment on the resident medical start of the institution. W hat right have men to say that the women patients of that hospital shall not be treated and prescribed for by one of their own sex ?

Women as Dietitians.— A new field for educated women is opening in connection with many American hospitals. Young women graduates, who have taken a college course in chemistry, bacteriology, and kindred branches, are being placed in charge of the dietary kitchens. One paper says, “ There is no more promising field for educated gentlewomen than that of the expert dietitian. Many women have qualified for the position, but the demand so far exceeds the supply that hospitals and institutions are seeking far and wide for women.” A recent appointee had a choice of nine positions before she selected her present one.

Paters on Hygiene. great satisfaction that we note, month by month, in the reports sent, the educative work that is being done in the various Unions through the papers written by Mrs Oldham, Superintendent of Hygiene. We strongly advise any Union that has not had these papers to at once apply tor them.