ORGANIZER’S REPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 15, Issue 171, 16 September 1909, Page 9

ORGANIZER’S REPORT.

On August 10th I travelled to Lower Ilutt, breaking the journey at Masterton where I met the local ITuon, who were eager for a visit. The District Convention at Ilutt proved a great success. After the close I returned to Masterton, gave a talk to the girls and did a good deal of visiting. The following Tuesday six or seven of us drove out in the rain to the house of Mrs Te Tail and organized a branch there, having a most interesting time. Mr Anaru, the only gentleman present, made a very tine speech, expressing his appreciation of the W.C.T.r., and his conviction that wrongs would never be righted until the women and the men stood side by side in the

work of moral reform. ll** aiul his wife ha*! been working in the Temperance < ’ause for twelve years, and were delighted to join the 1 Tiion. The following dav a special meeting of the Masterton lTiion was held, to which the latlies upon whom I called had all been invited. However, the proverbial temperance weather was in evidence, the rain descending with almost tropical violence. In spite of this, about twenty-five women gathered, two new members being secured and seven subscribers to the paper. Next day I left tlie mud behind and arrived at Hastings to find the dust upon the roads thick enough in some parts to upset a bicycle. < hi the Friday night I assisted at the Hand of Hope which has been lately started by our own women and appears to be a lusty infant. On Monday night I gave a “ talk ” to a small audience of girls and women, there being sundry other attractions. My visit concluded with an afternoon meeting at which two new members were initiated and four White Ribbon subscribers secured. At Napier on the Thursday and Friday, I had the great pleasure of hearing Mrs K. L. Stevenson, and on the Sat in day travelled down to Palmerston in her company, where tin* Onion was kindly entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs Rodder; Mrs Stevenson giving a most practical ami helpful address to the workers, dwelling especially upon the necessity foi promptitude and method in the conduct of our meetings. Our distinguished visitor then took train for Wanganui. SP'THAGKTTE MOVEMENT. The following letter has been received by the Corresponding Secretary in response to the resolution of sympathy sent from the Wellington Convention: Coiigleton, 1.) 6 09. Hear Fellow-Worker, “ Thank you and your dear fellowworkers of the W.C.T.I*. with all my heart for the resolution of sympathy with our active, militant suffragists, who have brought our enfranchisement nearer than all the quiet, patient lady-like efforts of the previous forty-three now nearly forty-four) years have succeeded in doing. I began to work for women’s suffrage in October 1805, when I formed the first W.S, Committee and collected over three hundred of the signatures to the W.S. Petition presented by Mr J. S. Mill in 1866. 1 heard Mr Mill in i 860) deliver his first speech to the electors of Westminster us a Parliamentary Candidate for that Horough, and he spoke out splendidly for the enfranchisement of women, aud his triumphant return to Parliament tea* our calf to immediate action, and but for

tlie mad folly of women themselves in dividing into hostile political factions \v. might have been enfranchised mum years ago. It lias not, perhaps, been altoget her lost time for women hart U nnu it much in the interval, and in various directions, larger education, huger freedom and in other ways, and have become trained to take up active work in all manner of directions, and are now fitted to take their just place in the life of tin community which they have trained themselves to serve and serve nohlv. In one direction the delay has even helped us our enfranchisement will now mean recognition of woman a* a xcs, as equallv fitted with men to take active part in the active life of the world and equallv necessary with men to the perfection of that life; and what will not a truly free, noble womanhood do for the future of the rare ? Whether I live to see theii actual enfranchisement at 76 life is, and must he, uncertain or not, the issue h now absolutely assured, and the fewfoolish Liberal mem hers who still refuse to understand, to feel, and to act, can 110 more prevent our speedy vict >rv than they can, at will, stem the rising tide. 1 am sending you a photograph of mv dear child, Annie Kenny, as we stood side by side on the plinth of Nelson’.Column on the day of our tirst Trnf'al on Square Demonstration. Annie Kenu\ was a simple factory girl, working hard hut thinking much and doeplv, and gifted with the quiet dignity of a naturemade lady. She has genius, real genius aud has also real power 111 virtue of hei great faculty of loving human sympathy. My other dear child, 1 Tirvstaliel Pankhurst, has splendid powers, fitting her to he, what she possibly enough limy live to he, our lir>t woman “ Lord Chancellor ” or “Chief Justice,” for she is a fully trained and accomplished lawyer ami is none the less, but rather the more, a sweet and loving woman. < Hir four hundred or more women who have been in prison for tin* cause are-one and all-ready to go again and again it need be, while thousands more are now prepared to follow their example. Hest of all, the International Congress of the Women’s Suffrage of International Alliance has proved the Kixfcrhooit of women to he now a tnet of irorfd-tride potency unit xii/nifimntr. I am glad and thankful to have lived, loved, and worked for the coming of this day, as mv dear husband when in life with us, and I doubt not still does in that great Heyotid where w e have so many dear friends, and as does my dear son, still living aud working by my side.—Cordially yours in the faith, — Elizabeth (\ WalntkxHOLME KI.MY.”

,N.H. —Above-mentioned photo, lias bee*n sent to Christchurch to be placed upon the w all at Headquarters. M. S. Powell.