PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 213, 18 March 1913, Page 9

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

Pear Comrades, — At this, the ‘2Fth Annual Convention of the Women's C hristian Tenijierance Union, we meet together again with a deepened sense of the dignity and sacredness of our calling os White Itybboners. Frances Willard says that ‘'Mother-hearted women are called to la* the saviours of the race,” and so to-day we have come, home-loving mothers, impelled bv mother love, for the protection of the home, of little children, and the youth, whose heulth and happiness the liquor traffic and other evils constantly menaces. To all the past year has brought some opportunity for service for the Master, and to some, |>erhaps, disappointment, and the sacrifice of cherished plans. Hut for all God has seen fit to send, we can thank and praise Him “Who is too wise to err, and too good to be unkind."

Cooking back over the past year, what has been accomplished in our land, for the good of society, for the betterment of the race, or for the moral uplift of the people ? Many agencies are at work among our young men and women, and much is being done for the saving of childlife for the protection of children, and for the amelioration of the lot of the distressed, the sick, and the afflicted. Hut many of these agencies deal only with effects. What is l>eing done, we ask, to remove the cause o. s.» many ills from which large numbers suffer ?

I am afraid we must answer that the past ye.»r has not l>een very pro liffc ip this resj>ect. And yet, to im-

prove such conditions, we must cut at the root of the upas trees that cast a deadly influence around, if lasting good is to t*» done. How trite is the saying that “Prevention is fitter than cure,” and yet it is so true, so self-evident, that it apiiears to me that the efforts of this Society of women should be more and more directed towards the elimination ol all those forces that are the direct cause of much evil, sin, and suffering,

The philanthropist, the politician, and to some extent the Churches, often seem satisfied to apply a lotion here, an<l a poultice there, when the nation and society are suffering from malignant growths which need the surgeon’s knife, sharpened ami keen, tiefore they can be healed of their diseases. All praise to those who seek to ease the lot of the sick and down-trodden in the community ; but other measures are needed, or the number of those needing treatment, care, and relief will In* multiplied. In the political world there is very little to chronicle in the direction of moral reforms. Political unrest for many months prevented the pushing of many legislative questions in which we are interested, and to deal with which we need more settled palitical conditions. We hoj>e something may l>e gained in the future from the findings of the Education Commission, especially in the direction of temperance teaching in our public schools, ami domestic training science for our girls. The Cost of Living Commission is also of interest to the house-wives of New Zealand, and the consideration of the same by Parliament, should lead to some understanding of the cause of the rise in the cost of living during the last ten or fifteen years. Hut the burning question of the day to us who are banded together for the annihilation of that great destroyer of the race, the liquor traffic, is undoubtedly the Democratic Vote Campaign, inaugurated for the purpose of bringing to our politicians the realisation of the power of the people’s vote at the ballot-box, ami (he determination of the Prohibition Party that the will of the j>eople shall be no longer frustrated by their representatives in Parliament, who last session played into the hands of the liquor party by their vote against a measure designed to give us some relief from the three-fifths handicap. We are verv glad to learn that the pledge campaign is Invng so well supported, but I urge all here present, ami all Cnions. to bring all their energies to bear in this effort to right a grievous wrong. We must lie determined that thus movement shall not languish for want of support, for it means much to our great reform, that we should

be able to go to the next poll unhampered by the three-fifths majority. It is absurd that a minority should dictate to us the conditions under which we should vole, or be allowed to force on the people what the majority do not want. Their contention that, because great sums of money are invested in the “trade," ami that the value of property will lx* affected by National Prohibition, should entitle them to the protection provided by an artificial majority, is nn impertinent demand, for when did any member of (he “trade” ever consider the rights of the wives, mothers, and children of their deluded victims, who have Ihhmi roblwsl of the comfort gf home, food, and cfothing, in order to keep the publicans’ coffers full ? A demand for consideration from such as these carries no weight with us, who consider that the well-being of the people outweighs any other considera lion. Our demand for the reduction of the three-fifths majolity must be attended to, or politicians must look elsewhere for support at the ballotbox.

Artificial protection for a trade that is the most prolific source of crime, vice, and misery is subversive of all that is just and right. It is in our midst to-day because of the grievous traits in human nature — averice and appetite. Greed for money animates both the brewer ami seller of intoxicants, and this and other lands lie under a terrible burden in order to gratify their unholy love for it. This love destroys all compassion for their victims and those depending on them, makes them deaf to the cries of neglected and half-starved little ones, and oblivious of the tears of outraged motherhood. They are wreckers of homes, of character, of reputations, of happiness, but apparently they care no more for the results that arise from the evils of drink than di<l the wreckers of an age gone by, who lured on to the rocks and reefs by false lights the vessel which looked for safety and harbourage. The false light of the liquor bar lures men and women to destruction, as surely as did the ft Ise lights of Lii- wreckers of gallant 'ease's in day*; of yore. We hold responsible for those wrecked in mind, body, ami soul, not only the men who s rt ll t but the voter who casts his vote for the continuance of the trade, and make* it possible for the drink-seller to Carry on his business of wrecking the lives of his fellows. I cannot sav that I do not b’ame th? men who sell strong drink. We should, and do, hold them responsible for all that follows in the wake of the liquor traffic. Hut the voter, who for the sake of appetite votes continuance, is equally to blame with the man who

sefls. We brand them all as responsible for the loss of the gallant ships which sail out of the port of dome and never return, because they are stranded on the rocks of the drink evil. Shall not the men whose trude it is to tempt men and women to destruction, bear the scorn and contempt of all people, because of the wreckage of human life, and homes, and happiness for which they are responsible ? This organisation takes its stand on the principles of total abstinence for the individual, and total prohibition for the nation. Reforms are /lot brought about by unstable waverers, and to Ik* able to say, "Here I take mv stand, I can do no other, is

what we exj>ert from every member of our Union on the question under discussion. We are at present supporting Inebriate Homes, Mental Hospitals, Gaols, and C'haritable Institutions, in most cases because the liquor traffic is in our midst. “We contend that we are right in our demand for Prohibition, because it seeks to preserve the integrity of manhood, and to protect the helpless innocence of womanhood and childhood. Because it is just to the sober, righteous, law-abiding 1 taxpayer, whom it relieves from the unjust burden of paying for the financial and criminal havoc of the liquor traffic. It is helpful to the weak brother who needs protection against himself and his most dangerous and deadly enemy, the liquor traffic. Prohibition is necniful to free the Commonwealth from the guilt and curse of unholy alliance with the drink evil in its atrocious work of destroying manhood, prostrating industry, wrecking the home, cursing the Church, and poisoning all the streams of personal, domestic, social, and national life."

For these, and many oth**r reasons, we demand the abolition of the threefifths majority, that the licpior traffic may receive the fate it deserves at the hands of the profile, who have already carried by a large majority a vote in favour of National Prohibit’on.

TOTAL AUSTIN KNCK CAMP AKIN. In order to help to prepare the wav for the Local Option 1 oil of 19U. I would strongly urge our Unions to carry out this year a vigorous campaign for Total Afistinence. This can be carried on side by side with the Democratic Note Tampa ign. and may be made equally elfi*ct ive.

I'he distribution of literature from door to door bearing on the nature and effects of alcohol, should fie earned out bv our workers, and pledgecards also distributed, afterwards to fie collected and tabulated. We could thus keep in touch with those people

who need education on the alcohol question. Literature which would appeal to young men should he socially prepared, for so many of th»\<*» go the downward road through strong drink, often through ignorance. “My people perish for lack of knowledge” is as true to-day as in the past, and “Educate, educate, educate !“ should lie our watchword. We should also lie winning votes for No-License and l'rohihition by making people total abstainers, for we are much more likely to persuade the total abstainer to xote with us than the moderate drinker.

Do not let us neglect any opportunity for pushing our cause this year, although the poll is not near at hand. To rest on our oats even for a short time is to be lieaten in the race.

Evidence in favour of total abstinence from scienrsts, from medical men, from sociologists, and many others, comes crowding in upon us, and never was there a time in the history of the race when so much valuable evidence against the use of alcohol was at command. Thomas A Edison, “the Wizard of Science, - says : “I am a total abstainer from alcoholic liquors ; 1 always felt I had a better use for my head. The Emperor of Germany warns his soldiers and sailors against intoxicants, for he has learnt that modern warfare demands clear brains, stead > hands, and unclouded judgment. Explorers, too, have proved that alcohol impairs efficiency and saj>s vitality. Railroad companies do not desire the service's of men who are drinkers, and steamship companies are l**ginn ; ng to learn that in the us* of strong drink lies a great menace to the safety of vessels.

The evidence which Came to light a short time ago as to excessive drinking among firemen, should warn our snipping companies that total abst inenoe should fie demanded of the men upon whom depends the safety of travellers on the sea. The risks run f»x those who go down to the sea in ships is increased a hundredfold by the employment of those who. although they max not fie actually drunk, are still under the influence of drink. If the statement which I heard made by a ship owner fie true, that ninety-nine wrecks out of a hundred are caused through drink, then we haxe here a terrible indictment of the companies who allow intoxicants to he sold on their vessels. It is time Parliament stepp'd in ami prohibited the sale of drink on steamers, and protected those whose lives are entrusted to the care of the shipping Companies in this country. SCIENTIFIC TEMPER WE TEACHING.

It is most gratifying to learn that p number of our Unions gre assisting

this department of our work by offering prizes to the children in our public schools for essaxs on this subject. 'Temperance xvall sheets have been placed in all the schoo’s by the Government. Valuable knowledge is conveyed to our children by means of the wall sheets, and to encourage the scholars in the acquisition of such knowledge must Ik* helpful to them, lx»th now and in after life. I hope more Unions will follow an example so likely to lead to good re suits. The Education Commission, in its report to Parliament, among other proposals, recommended that “there should fie health lessons given in every schoo\ amongst them fieing th* moral evils of intemperance, what intemperance costs, ami alcoholic leverages and their action on the hutmm body.

We hope that now the syllabus is lie ng revised these recommendations will tie given effect to. But we Tin.st insist that this instruction Ik* made compulsory, and not lie left to the discretion of the teachers. MKI>I rA L TEM I ’ERAN UE.

'This is a most important branch of our work. In view of the fact that National Prohibition is in sight, when alcoholic liquor n.ax not be imported except for medicinal, scientific, or sacramental purposes, the Tenqierance forces of tlvs land should see that the valuable scientific information at our command should Ik* placed in the hands of medical men, many of whom display lamentable ignorance as to the dangerous nature of alcohol when used either in sickness or health. An eminent doctor says :

“Liquor as a medicine to lie taken inside the body can do no gins!. It do*s harm in proport;on to the amount taken, ami the |K*rson who prescribes it does not do the fiest th ng for the patient. In fact, if I xx'ere sick. I would discharge any doctor who would advise liquor instead of

the other and better remedies.“

Our hospital and maternity nurses should also be supplied with literature liearmg on the subject, for it appears to fie a common practice to gi\e even very young babies small quantities of brandy ami whisky as a remedy. Our World’s Superintendent of this department writes : “A Nexv York physician wrote in acknowledging receipt of such literature : * I 'have read the leaflets sent. Every open-minded, intelligent, medical practitioner will Ik* glad to haxe his attention

called to this vital matter.’ If th s is true, then xve must not negvlect such an opportunity of calling attention to this question.

Sir \ ictor Horsley's “Alcohol and the Human Body” may now be obtained for Is. Hd., and every Union should have a Copy for its own perusal and the information of others. leaflets can always be obtained from our National Su|>er.ntendent of Medical Temi»erance. ST A I K CONTROL. Certain of our politicians, some of whom are connected with the dr.nk trade, are endeavouring to raise the issue of State Control, now that they are convinced that National Prohibition is in sight. As far as our knowledge goes, only the editor of a southern pai>er, also a few brewers, who are trembling at the approach of the doom of the drink traflic, and a few people who want their liquor at any cost, are at all anxious for the State control of the drink, traffic. But am kind of control will do for these people, if they think its discussion is likely to distract the minds of the voters from the burning question of the annihilation of the drink evil.

Ihe examples of State Control with which we are most lamiliar are the Russian Go'ernment's monopoly of the sale of vodka, and the Gothenburg system. The results of both should not la* \ery encouraging to those who wish for such experiments to be tried here. In Russia, it is said, the curse of strong drink rests upon the working man, and impoverishes him to an extent pitiable to contemplate. hr. Sajis, at a Tem|M*rance Conference held at Moscow, stated that in some parts of Russia as much as 47 per cent, of the workmen’s earnings went for intoxicants, averaging 2d.7 for the entire empire. While Russian people spend a billion dollars on vodka annually, the consequent diminution of the working capacity of the people, and the disorganisation of labour, are responsible for a monetary loss of at least three milliard roubles every twelve months. Such is the result of State Control of the liquor traffic, which some people of this country wish to see established here. In Gothenburg there Came to l>e six times as many arrests for drunkenness, in proportion to the population, as in London or Liverpool, and the strict requirements of the law are ignored in the same degree as are restrictive features of other forms of license laws. Thus, the convictions for drunkenness under the Gothenburg system in Stockholm were MB j>er 1000, while in London convictions were 9 jK*r 1000 of population, and in Liverpool 11 convictions. The State dispensary s- stem puts the State in the compromising, ignominious position of a bar-keei>er. It is a monopoly, and, moreover, debauches the conscience of voters through the claim that it will till treasuries of towns and

districts, and relieve the taxpayer. The dispensary system is even worse than the* license system, for, comparing the statistics of crime in South Carolina under the dispensary system with those immediately preceding under the lionse system, we find the.t crime against the person increased over 10 j*»r cent., homicide nearly 100 jkt cent., against projierty more than IUO i*r cent. It those persons who ad\ocate State Control know these facts, then they t re more foolish than we ever thought they could be, ami if they do m 4 know them, their ignorance is inexcusable. If they tell us that neither the Russian system nor the Gothenburg system, nor the South Carolina dispensary system, is what they want, we ask what is their system of State control ? A close study of this subject has satisfied us that no system will l>e effective in stopping the terrible results of the trade in intoxicants but the absolute prohibition of the trallic itself, Ol R YOUNG PKOI’LK. There is a matter relating to the young jieople who have been trained in Bands of Hope that 1 wish to bring liefore you. Many of these are lost to us, because as they grow older they leave the Bands of Hope, and drift beyond the influence of our l'enq>erance societies. This should not be, and in order to keep in touch with them we must devise some means that can lie used to that end. A little Cure and attention at the most trying time of life may Ik* the means of saving some of the youths from forming acquaintance with undesirable companions. At a time when many of them are leaving school for employment, new companions art* met with, and new friendships made, and before they have time to think to what these may lead, they may lx* caught by the evil surroundings ol the liquor bar, and lost to all the In*.ter influences of life. We have our young women's branches, but 1 feel {>ersuaded th.it we must do as have our sisters in America, that is, organise Young People’s branches, that shall include both young men and young women. We must stop this leakuge from our Bands of Hope in some way, and we can do it if we will take the trouble. It would not be difficult to obtain from the Bands of Hope the names of both girls and youths who have ceased to attend the meetings. There certainly should be in many districts enough of these with which to organise a Y’oung People's Union, and so we could hold together thise line forces, whose energy and enthusiasm we can ill afford to lose. It is worth while for us to consider whether we should not, at this Con'eation, change the

name and for.n of our “Y" branches into “Young People’s Branches.” Our Cradle Roll children should not Ik* allowed to get out of our reach. When too old for the Cradle Roll department, they should Ik* formed into Rands of Hojk*, which I consider should meet for very young children on Saturday afternoons.

One of our newer Prions already has two Rands of Hope, one of fchich, for the juniors, meets on Saturday afternoons, the other early in the evening. We must hold our young people, or our work n ust suffer in the future, and we would do well to follow the good example mentioned above. ANTI-GAMBLING. The efforts of the racing fraternity to increase totalisator |K*rmits, and to obtain the right to publith total isator dividends, was defeated last session of Parliament. But no doubt another effort in the same direction will be marie this year, and we must Ire ready to frustrate such effort by bringing the influence of our Unions to Ixxir on every member of Parliament. Most of them are ready to succumb to the demands of those who make (heir power felt both inside and outside of Parliament, ami we must Ik* ready to oppose any refieal of the present law, which lessens facilities for lietting.

The totalisator works enough havoc w ithout increas ng such facilities, and while waiting for its abolition we must protest against any effort for lessening the restrictions on gambling. The totalisator returns are still increasing by leaps and bounds, and the Government share is also increasing. We must not wait for the abolition of the totalisator until the Government’s income fiom the licensed betting machine becomes so large that the taxpayer’s interest in it becomes too strong for us. We should not forget the answer of a ptvmier of Tasmania to a deputation urging the abolition of Tattersall’s sweeps. He said : “It is either Tattersalls or taxes,” and the deputation realised to the full the force of the argument, in the event of the choice lietween taxes and Tattersalls having to be made by the taxpayers of the country. At the last Carnival races held in Christchurch in November, 1912, the amount put through the totalisator on the Jockey (Tub’s and the Trotting (Tub’s grounds was 41218. 117, an increase on the year before of £27,205, and a still more effective comparison is provided by the figures of 1902 and 1912. Th -se show at a glance how the gambling spirit is growing in Canterbury alone.

In 1902 the Canterbury .Jockey Club and the Trotting (Tub combined put through the totalisatyv

the sum of £93,522, in 1912 £213,417, un increase of £149,895. No doubt lotting has increased in the same proportion throughout the Dominion, and this in spite of restricts legislation, financial strln. gency, and moral suasion. Race gambling has been fostered to an alarming extent by the totalisator, licensed by the State. The remedy for this evil is the same as for the liquor tratlic—total abolition. One of our most influential papers states that “the totalisator has created nine-tenths of the gamblers in the country, and if the totalisator were abolished the evil would be enormously reduced, and within a decade it would be no greater menace to the community than it appeared to be before the machine was introduced." As soon as possible the people should lie induced to demand the abolition of that which is the cause of such an increase in ga mb) mg. OTHER SOCIAL REFORMS. There are other social questions waiting solution, and many of these are affected by the laws under which we live. Although for 19 years women have hod the franchise, and by the influence which the right to vote has given us we have been able to obtain much-needed reforms from Parliament, there are still many positions o;ien only to men, and we have not yet secured full political freedom. We are still deemed incapable of a share in the making of the laws by which we are governed, or to take a seat as members of ihe Legislature. How difficult is the tusk of obtaining legislative reforms affecting the position of women when only men ure the legislators ve have proved many times, to our cost. For many „y we have urged the raising of t it gj of consent to 21 years, and it i ; still as low as 16 years. It is sufficient even then to obta ; n acquittal of the accused in cases of indecent assault if the |>erson accused had reason to believe the girl to be over 16 years of age. The clause allowing this should certainly be abolished, for it is grossly unfair. The utmost penalty for rape (hard labour for life) Is only inflicted where the victim is under 10 years of age, and it falls by rapid degrees to three years when the age of 16 is reached. For taking advantage of an imbecile girl, the penalty is only two years’ hard labour, and the same penalty is all that attends the crime of procuring girls under 21 years of age for immoral purposes. On the other hand, a woman who attempts to procure miscarriage on herself is liable to seven years’ hard labour, while the man who is respon-

sible for her fault may get off with u much lighter punishment. For offences against projierty, much heavier penalties are provided lor than ollences against the person. Rut the inequalities in the law are so numerous that it would tase up more time and space than 1 have at command to deal with them. 1 have briefly mentioned some oi these inequalities, and at a later stage of this Convention we hope to deal more fully with them. The need for women to participate in making the laws is shown in the extraordinary injustice inflicted on mothers, as far as their own children are concerned. On the death of a father, the mother shall be sole guardian only if no appointment has been made by the father, but if such an appointment has been made, thin the mother can only act jointly with the father's nominee. During the lifetime of father and mother, the father is the only guardian of the child, and he may make what provision he pleases for the child's future, without consulting the mother's wishes. I nder the law the wife has no economic lndejKMidence, and can only demand from her husband, shelter, food, and clothing. The husband can also mortgage his home without obtaining the wife's consent to do so.

These are specimens of our manmade laws, and it will be a difficult matter to secure redress until women represent us in Parliament, and the women's point of view as well as the men’s is considered. The position would lie just as absurd if all members of Parliament were women, and they made all the laws by which both sexes were governed. Again, is it safe or wise, or sane, to « ntrust legislation relating to the vice problem to the hands of men only ’* In our Law Courts women are tried by a .nan .fudge, and a jury composed solely of men pass on her a sentence of guilty or not guilty. Women in our gaols may not have the attention of a woman doctor, and the visiting Justices, even to the women's prisons are all men, as also are the inspectors of prisons, and no women visitor to our gaols has any official standing. The difference in wages paid to men and women is also an injustice. Equal pay' for equal work would mean justice for both sexes, for undoubtedly', in many cases, women are employed instead of men simply because they cannot demand as high a wage. This state of affairs should not be allowed, and a body of women, with the numbers and influence we have at

command, should not cease our efforts until the inequalities in the laws touching women art* removed. CURFEW LAW. A measure such as the Curfew Law is much needed for the protection of jur boys and girls. Much evil is brought to light in our Law Courts, brought about in many cases through want of parental control, and it is the duty of the State to protect from themselves those who have not the care and control from parents, or guardians, they arc entitled to. Evidence will be brought later before vhis Convention to prove how effective such a law' has been found to be in the results desired where it is in force. JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. I am sure this Convention will he most pleased to learn of the n°w regulations regarding juvenile delinquents. Four officers, appointed by the Government in each centre, will administer the new regulations concerning juvenile offenders. Their duties will le to keep in touch with those juveniles who hitherto have been committed to a reformatory, but under the new conditions will be placed under the supervision of the officer, and allowed to remain in their own homes. The order of committal to a reformatory' will l»e sus|K*nded in order to allow the Probation Officer the opportunity' to help the boy keep in the straight path. If the youth does not improve in his behaviour the officer has only to recommend that the decision of the court shall take effect, and the bov will then be Committed to a reformatory, A similar scheme has been so successful in the United States, where it has been in practice for some time, and also in New South Wales, where the Magistrate has for several years had this power of dealing with juvenile offenders, that we fiel sure good results will follow this humane effort to stop the committal to a reformatory of those whom there is some hope of saving from a life of crime, before the taint of having been in a reformatory can rest upon them. We hope a careful selection will be made of probation officers, for very much will depend on their tact and discretion. ( ARE OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED. Already the Government has made some provision for the care of feebleminded children, and has also provided that young people alreadv in State institutions who may be deemed mentally and morally irresponsible shall, after due consideration and examination by a medical

man, be detained until judged to be fit and pro|**r persons to take their place in the world as ordinary citizens, and responsible members of society, loach case is to be reported on yearly, in order to determine whether further detention is necessary.

But there are many adults of both Rexes already at liberty who are a menace to society by reason of mental and moral deficiency. Some provision should lx* made for the segregation of such persons, where they would lie under proj>er control, preferably in farm colonies, and where they could earn their own living, and not lie a burden on the State, as so many of them are to-day, and their children also, most of whom are illegitimate. In some districts three generations of these mental and moral degenerates are being supposed by the C haritable Aid Boards, and some feebleminded girls have three or four illegitimate children, all a buidi'n on the ratepayers. PICTURE FIT.MS. A censor of picture films is badly ne.ded in this country, and we should again approach Government with the demand that one should be appointed. There ure still many films shown which should never be allowed to be exhibited, for they appeal to the lowest passions of human nature, and should lie suppressed. We know that many films are harmless enough, and some are educational, but those which represent the lives of the oldtime bushrangers, cowboy fights, and the tricking of husbands by wives, and vice versa, should be suppressed. They are a source of moral contamination to our voting people, and place liefore them a very low ideal of life indeed. MORAL KIM < ATIOX OF THE YOFNG. The recommendation of the bEducation Commission that, in regard to sex physiology, some instruction of the kind should lie undertaken, is encouraging to who have so advocated th s kind of teach ng. The C'ommission proposed that such instruction should be given, preferably by the parents, and with that vve all agree. But so many parents shirk this very important duty that it is absolutely necessary that children should obtain instruction in this important subject in our schools, not from the head teachers, but from qualified medical specialists of both s u xes, as vve recommended last year. HIM AM I ARIAS* T.KG ISLATION. The “Widows’ Pension Act” has extended the benefits of the measure to the wives of incurably insane men. and allowance is now to be made in respect of all children of the widow,

if the mother has resided 10 years in the Dominion. On the death of a widow, a guardian may receive the pension on fiehalf of the orphans. An amendment to the “Justices of the Peace Act" provides for the defence of persons accused of indictable offences, at the expense of the Grown, if it is made clear thut the accused has no means to pay for counsel, and if the circumstances warrant such a course.

The Public Trustees' powers are greatly extended by the “Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Act,” under which this officer may take charge of the estate or pro|ierty of any jierson unfitted to manage his own affairs. A safeguard is provided against the improper use of this power by clauses providing for the necessity for a Supreme Court Judge's decision in the mutter. I he most important clause, you will agree, is the one referring to any person, who. in the language of the Statute, “is, by reason of his taking or using in excess any alcoholic liquors, or any intoxicating, stimulating, or sedative drug, unable wholly or partially to manage his alTairs, whether such inability is continuous or occasional. This should bring relief to many wives where the head of the house =s wasting his substance in riotous living. BARMAIDS. The Parliament of this country appears gradually to l>e awakening to the dangers of the open sale of alcoholic liquors, and makes occasional spasmodic efforts to lessen the attractions of the bar. In this direction a Bill was pass?d in 1910, a clause of which limited the number of women who could dis!>ense liquor in a bar. These were further defined by an amendment in “The Barmaid Registration Act, 1912." from which year the only women who were allowed to serve in the bar were the wife, sister, or daughter of the licensee, or any |htson duly registered as a barmaid under the Act. As usual, the publicans set the w its of their legal adv isers to work to discover some way of evad’ivg compliance with the law, with the result that they thought it was possible to do this bv employing unregistered barmaids in private bars, although this is contrary to the actual intention of the Legislature. It was sought to !>e mantained that, as the Act did not give any description of a private bar. no such thing could exist, ami consequently a barmaid employed to dispense liquor in a “private bar’’ was not a barmaid under the Act. The Magistrate by whom the charge for the evasions of the Act were heard (pr. McArthur, SM, of Wel-

lington) w’ould not admit that there was any doubt of the mean.ng of the provision, and fined the defendants in th » Case T2 ami costs, and pointed out that the penalty was a recurring one. Not satisfied with this decision, the liquar party is, of course, ap|>ealing against it. In this connection we might point out that “The Trade” is ths only one that systematically sets it seif against the law, and attempts evasion at every possible point. It may also l>e interesting to note that because he is paid for it, a lawyer, who is also a legislator, can he found who will try to question the plain meaning of the Act. THE WORLD'S PROGRESS. From matters of especial interest to women in our own land, I would direct your attention to what is passing in other parts of the world. The Womens Christian Temjjerance Union is world-wide, and embraces many departments of work. Therefore vve watch with great interest all humanitarian movements in all countries which have for their object the progress and wellbeing of the race. We rejoice to know’ that Prohibition is steadily winning its wav in the 1 nited States, and West Virginia has recently carried Prohibition by the huge majority of 92,000 voles. This State has not yet granted the suffrage to women, but women, esI>ecially of the W.C.T.U., worked heroically in the campaign, and much praise has been bestowed on them by the men of the State, for their dauntless fight against the liquor evil. The States are not going l>ack on Prohibition, as the liquor party would have us l>elieve, for those which are already dry States are valiantly' holding their own, and the number is being added to. Maine has again shown to the world that she still stands for the righteousness which exalteth a nation, by repudiating the Governor who stood for the repeal of the prohibitory law, and electing one pledged to uphold that law against all the enemy 's trickery and machinations. WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE. . In the United States great advance has lem made in Womens Suffrage. Four States have come into line, namely, Arizona. Kansas, Michigan, an<l Oregon, making ten States in all where women enjoy the franchise. In all the campaigns for the suffrage 'the women of the W I’.T.U. took a most prominent part, as vve would expect them to do. From Denmark comes the news that it is confidently’ exjiected that f he Danish women will secure complete enfranchisement within the year. The Prime Minister has introduced a Bill

which includes women on equal terms with men, and it is said that the opposition tc the proposal has decreased to one vote. In South Africa also this movement is progressing, and the first Women SutTrage newspaper in that country has been published. The chances of the women being successful are said to lie most encouraging. In threat Britain a bitter diasppointment has befallen our sisters. Whether we believe in militancy or not. I am sure we all sympathise with those women who, through the ruling of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, have once more hat! their ho|>es dashed to the ground. Mr. Asquith's promise of embodying in the Franchise Bill any amendment carried in favour of granting suffrage to women, has been annulled by an unexpected decision of the SfKtiker. There is now no possibility of the Woman Suffrage question being dealt with 'during the present session of Parliament. We are not surprised that Knglish women who have been demanding the vote for many years feel they have been tricked once more, and they have no doubt a right to question the Prime Minister’s honesty of purpose in relation thereto. We must not forget that a majority of the women demanding the vote are not militants, and that whatever may tw* thought of their tactics, it should not prejudice the right of the many thousands who have long laboured for women’s enfranchisement. In British Columbia it is said that public opinion has recently undergone such a radicaf change on this question that Suffragists are practically assured of securing Parliamentary enfranchisement shortly. In France there is a movement amongst progressive women for the right to vote on the liquor question, anti 'a short time ago I received a letter from Furope asking for information about the methods employed here to educate women to vote for No-License and Prohibition. To demonstrate the necessity for some drastic way of dealing with the liquor traffic in France, I quote the following from the “Union Signal” : “Advocates of moderate drinking not infrequently refer to France as an example of the harmlessness of the habit. Such superficial thinkers should he confronted with the terrible series of statistics which sjiecialists at t ached to the principal Paris Lunatic Asylums, have just given to the public, and which are published in a late issue of the ‘New York Times.’ “The figures given show that since the time when exact records were begun, 1808, the proportion

of inmates among the men brought there by drinking has increased from 14 to 47 per cent, and among the women from less than 2 i>er cent, to 20 per cent. “ ‘Most, of these unfortunates,’ say the specialists, ‘are psycho paths descended from other alcoholics.’ They conclude with the following appalling statement, which deals directly with the population question in France : ‘Of every thousand children horn of alcoholics, about one-third disappear either at birth or in the first two or three years, and among the sur\*ivors there are a large number of idiots, epileptics, many degenerates devoid of moral sense, aud instinctively perverse creatures of abnormal impulses.’ “It is enough to regard the great group of various sjiecies of mental degeneracy bequeathed by alcoholics to their children, to he sure thut alcoholicism supplies the men s side of the Paris asylums with three-quarters of tb*»ir population.” I have quoted the foregoing in full to prove the fallacy of the statement that the people of wine-drinking countries are a comparatively sober people. Not alone are French women awakening to their country’s peril, but the women of Hungary are stirred by the terrible ravages of strong drinK. An appeal signed by women of the Hungarian aristocracy, foremost amongst them the daughter of the late King of the Belgians, has been addressed to their fellowcountrywomen. an appeal which has stirred the heart of Hungary to an effort to secure freedom from the destruction wrought by intoxicating liquors. In heart searching, soulstirring words they plead for a»d to banish this devastating destroyer from the homes and lives of their I>eople. I wish I had time ami space for the whole of the ap|>eal, but I give the oj>ening paragraph of th-* Knglish translation:— “To the Women of Hungary—“We wish to put heart ami life into the words w r ith which we here address you. We wish that—these who read them may have souls to understand the greatness of the end which we pursue. We would that we might press to our hearts the mothers, the betrothed, the children, in order to convince them that our cry comes with love from the depths of our lH‘ing. Magyar women ! Realise the responsibility which the fight against alcohol imposes on you, on your families, and on society. "Remember the tears which secretly redden your eyes and burden your hearts when you think

of a father, a husband, a son. a linncee, fallen to drink. 'Phis man holds you to himself ; his fate is bound in yours. “It is not the men chiefly who suffer from drink. It is the souls and strength of the women which are worn down with this sorrow. l>o you not realise that alcohol engulfs not only the country and the nation, but all your happy, womanly hopes ? “Come to our help, Hungarian w omen !” When we read these burning words and realist 1 the spirit breathing through them, we cannot refrain from thinking that Hungary, led by such women, must ere long solve for herself on progressive lines this great problem. WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC. This terrible evidence of a nation’s vice has liem once more dealt with by the British Government, ami drastic punishment is to be meted out to those who are found to participate in any way in this diabolical traffic. To its shame, Ik* it said, the British nation has long delayed ilealing with the question, and only because of the terrible revelations which have come to tight, and which forced the hand of the Government, has the nation at last. lieen aroused to do its duty. Some time ago the Bishop of London said : “It was an awful thing that thousands of innocent girls should tie trapped every year in all parts of the world, and taken into hotbeds of vice, and confined in a prison from which there was no escape during life.” He also said : “There were 20,W>0 men in London alone living on money earned by young girls in a life of shame, and for financial profit there are men and women engaged in the lieguiling and tricking of girls into a life of infamy.” But in “Votes for Women” Mrs. IVthick Lawrence declares : “That for one woman who is decoyed ami Captured and sold by the agents of this hideous commerce, there are hundreds (as I said last week in this imiier) who are forced for economic reason, and from various other causes, to traffic with their own honour and to sell themselves.” If this statement is correct, it demonstrates the ne**d for a readjustment of economic conditions affecting women, and is another great argument for the women’s right to vote. We can have in this country only a very fa ; nt conception of the conditions under which thousands of women in England work and 1 ix*e.

WORLD’S CONVENTION, 1913. The World's Christian Temperance Tnion Convention is to meet in Brooklyn, New York, in November of this year. There, will meet representatives from all parts oi the civilised world, a gathering of women whose hearts God has touched, the enlightened motheroood of the nations, handed together for the establishment of righteousness, and the destruction of all those forces which degra<k* and dostrov the home and humanity. As Frances Willard has said : ‘;\Ye are u world’s republic of women, who recognise no sectarianism in religion, no sectionalism in politics, no sex in citizenship. There are bands of ribbon white around the world, and you ami 1, hound by their pure, white clasp, thank (J«hl and take courage to wage our peaceful war ‘ for Ginl, and home, and every land.' We tielong ! la* t every lip echo the words ; let every heart cherish them. Each of us is as much a part of the World's Union as is any other woman. The white ribbon includes all reforms ;» whatever touch<*s humanity touches us." In that world's gathering at Brooklyn the representatives of the "world's great republic of women" will bring reports of advance all over the world, of victories won. of new ground occupied. There, also, will plans lie made to carry to still more remote corners of the earth the message of goodwill and helpfulness our organisation carries with it wherever it goes. Our work is growing slowly but surely in thorn* old countries of the Orient that are now putting on ■new strenght, awakening to fresh responsibilities, and owning their doors to outside influences. India, China, and Japan are welcoming our good tidings of wider outlook for women. In India, where our work moves so slowly, our World's White Ribbon Missionary, Miss Lockhead. will soon complete her term of serv ice, if able to complete her final tour of India, as now map[>ed out, she will have compassed the whole of India in her stay of three and a half years. She has laboured with great enthusiasm for the spread of our principles, ami has received much encouragement. In China, Miss Grace Goodrich, daughter of Mrs. Chauncey Goodrich, leader of our work in that country, is to organist,*/in that great land for the W.U.T.U. China, with its millions, is awakening after centuries of sleep to a realisation of its possibilities, and is in danger of being exploited by western nations for their own benelit. Already American merchants aie trying to fasten upon Vhina the cigarette and driuk habits,

by insidious and underhand means. Here is a great held white already to harvest, and if China, as reported, has granted sulTrage to the women, then it should be ours to aid them in their desire for lietter conditions. This can only be done if the World's Missionary Fund is well supported, and we must see to it that wvj do our share in supporting it. in Japan, where our Union has l>et*n established for many years, the work amongst young people in the schools and colleges is most encouraging, and the young American White Ribbon organisers nnd a splendid lie.d of labour in train.ng the young in the princ.ples of total abstinence. The Union of Japan is most anxious to secure headquarters lor the work, and is aswiag assistance from the World s W.U.T.U. towards that end. In Hurniah, an organiser is also trying to weld together the progressive women, both native aiul loreign, n branches of the W.U.T.U., and has l>een very successful in her etforts. And so the work of the W.U.T.U. is broadening and deepening amongst the nations, carrying with it to all women a message ol hope, love, and duty. iWe should not cease to pray for the success of these elio/ts to win the world for Christ's Own Kingdom, and for the workers penally, whose lot it is to toil under great disadvantages, sometimes without the help and encouragement which comes from the comradeship with others like unto ourselves. I’EItSONAL. We all heard with much regret of the severe accident which l>elel our faithful and loved organiser A'iss Powell. The loving sympathy of her comrades went out to our dear fellow-worker in her time of suffering, and enforced rest from the work she loves so well. It is a great pleasure to know she is getting strong again, and is with us to-day. Mrs. lA*e-Cowie has been holding a very helpful mission in Queensland for the Temperance forces there, and has met with most encouraging results. Miss Anderson Hughes, one of our own White Kibboners, won golden opinions from our l mted States sisters at their National Convention, where she addressed the members on the Prohibition question in this country. We sympathise very much with her in the illness of her brother, which necessitated her return for a short time to this country. IN M KM OKI AM. A great tragedy has stirred the heart of the world. Some of the intrepid Antarctic explorers, who went into the Far South to wrest its secrets from that silent land, have not returned. Amid the eternal

snows, in that great white lonliness, they lie where they fell, martyrs to a sense of duty, which we are proud to say animates the heart of humanity today as in the days oi otd. And yet they had their reward, for they realised in this life the vision they had dreamed of for years. To how many is it given to have such a realisation ? We think of them lying far awav iron, friends, home, and country, and yet how glorious their resting place, with (Gal above, and the wide, unbroken spaces of the Antarctic for their tomb. We sorrow for their death, and oiler our deepest sympathy to the relatives of these heroic souls, who have been bereft of their dear one* in so tragic a manner. I cannot close this address without mentioning the name of the great, leader of the Salvation Army, who passed awav last year. General Booth was one who dared much for the cause of righteousness, lie was a great-hearted, dauntless man, who revolutionised the thought of the Churches on many points, and dared public opinion for the sake of the men ami women of the underworld, for whom he toiled and sjient hansel 1. His works do follow him, und the organisation he left behind is a living monument to that devoted life, s|*»nt far others. Will am T. Stead possessed the same indomitable spirit as the leader of the SaCation Army. He sutTered imprisonment so that the eyes of English men and women might l>e opened to the traffic in the young girls of England for immoral purposes. He did not live to s_*e the last great effort of the English Government to deal with the system of procuration, which he did so much to expose, but there can Ik* no greater memorial to his memory than the Act passed to protect young girls from the vicious system of the white slave traffic. We also deplore the loss of Mr. Judkin. of V ictoria, at one time an ardent worker in this country for the cause of No-License and Prohibition. aod for some years Editor of the Australian "Review of Reviews." Many of us remember him as a speaker of great ability, ami his cheerful, kindly disposition endeared him to his many comrades in New /jealand. His brave light against the enemies of law and order in Victoria, and his cheerful courage under great suffering, marked him out as one of those brave souls whose spirit neither scorn nor hate nor pain can quench. He passed away at the last unconquered even by death itself, for such a soul only passes through the portals to life eternal, and to a world of greater possibilities. Our Union lost last year one of its oldest members in Mrs. Soulby, of

Kaiapoi. For twenty-ono years she acted as Secretary *»f that Union, and only relinquished office when weakened by illness. She loved our Union more and more as ihe years went by, and was devoted to its interests. Her kindly presence is much missed by her comrades of the Kaiapoi Union, who mourn her deeply.

Mrs. Allen, member of the Lyttelton Union, was one of the earliest and most resjiected members. She passed away last April. Mrs. Wilkinson, of Bevonport, also an old member of the W.C.T.U., recently passed to the larger life, and Mrs. Curtis Capon, of Winchmore, a member of that Union, and a faithful worker, has also been called home. Mrs. Taylor, who was a member of the Invercargill Un an. passed away last year. She joined the W.C.T.U. at the time it was organised in her own town, and was always an enthusiastic member. We have also to regret the deaths of two of the Napier members —Mrs. Begg and Mrs. Ldser. They were connected with the Union since its iormation, and joined when the late Mrs. ljeavitt visited Napier < For many years they were active members of the Union. Timaru has lost by death Mrs. Ouilbert, an old member connected with the Union from its beginning. She was for many years a treasurer of the Union, and an active worker. Manaia has lost a member by the death of Mrs. Alison, and the Auckland Union mourns the loss of Mrs. Caradus, who liecame a member when Mrs. ljeavitt first visited these shores. Master ton reports the death of two ineniljers Mrs. Ser|K*ll, wife of the Rev. s. .1. Serpell, Methodist minister, and Mrs. Allen, a verv old member of the Union. Mrs. Busby and Mrs. Frewin, of New I‘lymoath, have also passed to the larger life. All these “adorned the doctrine of Christ,” and faithfully u[ held the principles for which we stand, giving both time and strength to our Cause. “Heath is not death tt such as these, but just a lifting of the latch, and a step into the open air.’ CONCLUSION*. Vnd now, dear comrades, I cannot close without thanking you for the love and patience you have shown towards me during the last few* months. It has been a great sorrow to me that I have not been able to do more for the Union. Many plans have had to be dropped, and work put on one side, but I am glad to say that I hope in the future to he able to do more for the cause which we all love so much.

But, dear friends, we n.ust “Work while it is day, for the night Cometh when no man can work.” Now is the time to make our inlluenee and weight tell in this country. Part of a great hand of women united the wide world over for purer laws and diviner ideals, are we doing all we might do to extend our sphere of work ?

To us is entrusted the work of helping to purify our surroundings, and leaven society with our principles. Nearly 4<><M> women should community, that there shall In* only one standard of morality for men and women. We believe that a good woman may carry with her wherever she may go an induence that shall raise the standard of ideals, and so we should strive to place our best women in positions when* they may work side by side with nr.en for the good of the nation, of the city, of our school children, and the people generally. Is each Union doing its duty, each member doing he- duty, in this resect ? It was a great disappointment to find, after the School Committee elections last year, that so few women had olTennl themselves as candidates for seals on School Committees. Women can now sit on Kducation Boards, Charitable Aid Boards, and Hospital Boards, and on City and Borough Councils. Why should we not strive to enter these already open doors ? Let us lie up and doing, and claim Ihe positions already open to us, where woman's influence is so much needed.

This year, a critical year for this country as far as our work is concerned, may every member feel that the responsibility of the cause is hers. No one can do our tasks for us. and from us much is required. Shall we pledge ourselves here and now to the work of’freeing this land in 1914 from the liquor traffic? Think of the possibility that lies within our grasp ! shall we he slow to take advantahe of it ? In the name of God, we must gird ourselves for the fight, and make the campaign in the next two >e.irs for National Prohibition the most telling and the most arduous we have known.

We must organise branches of the W.C.T.U. wherever we Cun find a few women whose hearts God has touched, for it means a n?ucleus with which to co-oj)erflte in our efforts to protect home and Country from their most dangerous enemies.

As mothers we believe no monopoly, no vested interest, can weigh against the well-being of the homo and its inmates. We light to protect all that is nearest and dearest to us, and we defy any man, be* he publican or brewer, to dare to say a mother has no right to light for her

own —those she has brought into the world through pain and suffering. To see the loved ones disgraced, suffering, dying would rouse any heart, ami shall not we us a band of mothers stand up for the salvation of those who are our own by God's good gift to us ? We have got past ihe stage when either man's or woman's scorn and contempt can hurt us, for we stand on the God-given inalienable rig r ht of motherhood. Our cry is, “The home and family against the world.” May all our plans Ik* made, and our proposals deliU'rated, with the end in view of the glory of God and the well-being of humanity. I/*t us never forget that—“We arc here to play, to dream, to drift ; We have hard work to do, and loads to lift. Shun not the struggle—face it — ’tis God's gift.”