CAMPAIGN NOTES.

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 218, 18 August 1913, Page 11

CAMPAIGN NOTES.

(By M. S. Powell.) On Saturday, July sth, I travelled to Nightcaps, where I was the guest of Mrs Barclay. 1 found the Union greath discouraged, the attendance having dwindled down almost to vanishing point, and indeed “the stars in their courses" appear to light agains. meetings in Nightcaps. At this time of year the roads in the township are almost like .1 swamp, the feet of the horses keeping up a musical (?) squish-squash, while outside locomotion is all hut impossible. The hours of trains and mails are all unpropitious, and the miners ariivc home to dinner at four o’clock. After a couple of days spent in visiting, we held a meeting on the Tuesday at 2.15, when five new members were received, including two White Rib boners only just arrived from Scotland, who were delighted to find their beloved work near at hand, one of them, Mrs Wilson, taking the secretarxship, in place of Miss (iibbon, who felt unequal to the ta.-k.

On Wednesday of the following week 1 returned for a second meeting, hoping for a better attendance, but we numbered only five. As the human race has developed through lighting and overcoming difficulties, we should raise a tine type of White Ribboners in Nightcaps. 1 he members undertook to work the Cradle Roll and try what they could do with the democratic pledges. On Wednesday, 9th, went on to Otautau, and was present at the monthly meeting, which was small, as a soaking rain was coming down. Friday and Saturday were spent in visiting Colac and Orepuki, the prospects being hopeful at the latter place. Here I called upon Mrs Bonthron, who entertained me with the story of the formation of the first Band of Hope m Southland in the early sixties, when and her husband worked away alone, not a min ister standing by them nor a church open to their meeting. In -pitc of her 87 years, the old lady retains all her faculties, her intellect being as clear a> ever, and her interest in the temperance cause unabated. She could remind me of the circumstances under which we last met, though the incident had quite escaped my memory. Several calls were paid in

Riverton, but there seems no possibility of organising at present. On Friday evening, 18th, a talk on Maori work was given in the Presbyterian Church, Otautau, at the close of which four new members were initiated. Nine years ago I visited around this township and gathered the women together with a view to organising, when they said, “If we form a branch, it will be to do something for the children.’’ 1 programme was adhered to, and on Monday, 21st, I had the pleasure of speaking in the fine new Town Hall to the Band of Hope, which has all along been a conspicuous success. The President of the Union is ex ottic.o President of the Band of Hope, although a gentleman frequently takes the chair, and the members are ap pointed (not asked!) in turn, two and two, to provide the programme.

1 had a conversation with Mr Fisher, President of the Wallace NoLicense Council, on the Democratic Pledge Campaign, which 1 have no doubt will be thoroughly worked in Otautau by the Union and other workers.

This western campaign proved somewhat trying, as trains are infrequent, and several times they must be reached by 8 a m., and even 7.20, il the next meeting is to be attended, sc that 1 was very glad to get a quiet week-end in Invercargill. On Wednesday, 23rd, (lore was reached, and I again found myself in the home of old friends, Mr K. C. Smith having belonged to Loot Street Church. Invercargill, while Mrs Smith is a daughter of Mrs Kvery, late of Oamaru.

Thursday 1 took the 7.45 train foi Fdendale, where we have had a branch for almost two years, though that fact appears to be unknown to the District Union, and th 1 - auxiliary does not figure in the official list. A morning spent in visiting levealed the fact that the little township possesses some fine women, but cows in summer and mud in winter render meetings difficult to carry on. Having failed in making any arrangement with Mataura, I spent the afternoon tramping around that township in the mud and rain preparatory to returning for a campaign later.

On Friday, 25th, in spite of weather, we had a fine drawing-room meeting at Mrs Blackie’s residence, Ciore, when the l’nion was well re-

presented, and two members joined. 1 his town is truly remarkable for the way in which it has recovered from the Hood of three months ago. The damage done was estimated at from ,£75,000 to ;£ 100,000, and yet outside assistance was declined as unnecessary, the residents cheerfully taking up the burden. Most of them, lam told, had money saved, there being, before that period, only one ease receiving charitable aid —a veiy fine testimony to the results of No-License. On the Tuesday we hud a good meeting in the Temperance Hall, when superintendents were appointed for various departments, and three new members initiated.

Next day Fdendale was visited, and a number of call- made. On the Thursday (31st) a meeting was held in the Methodist Church, when the attendance was good. The Union has been labouring under great difficulties, no one understanding the work, and having no connection with any other l’nion but (iore, which organised them in 1911. The President ha> battled bravely along with very little help, and in the dark as to what to do. However, now they have got better organised and got an insight into the work, 1 hope the> will do well.

On Friday an early start was made for Bluff, which was reached in time for th** ordinary meeting at 3 p.m., when a talk on Maori work was given to a good audience. The following days were spent in visiting, and on Tuesday, August sth, at the monthly meeting in Invercargill, 1 urged the claims of the Democratic Vote Campaign. There \va> a fine attendance, the room being crowded out. A new member was received, a quantity of purity literature sold, and those who had not signed the democratic pledge did so. MISS POWELL’S ADDRESS. Dear Madam, —Kindly allow me to state that my address for the present will be St. Clair, Dunedin. Will correspondents kindly remember that when I write them privately, asking for an immediate reply, the address at the head of my letter will find me, provided that request is complied with. Otherwise, the last issue of the “White Ribbon” must be referred to. For instance, in April 1 sent out a number of enquiries, asking for a

reply by return, and giving an address a week or two ahead to make sure of the letters reaching me. Some of these replies are still coming in, sent to the address 1 gave over two months ago, and recently White Ribboners have addressed letters to districts when I have moved on eight and in one case twelve —times since working there. Some of my letters have been re-addressed so often the authorities have been compelled to pul the address upon the bat k ! May 1 say once more, the address in your last issue will always find me, because the friend whose name is there given is kept informed of every change of address until the next paper comes out, and forwards on all m\ letters. Some letters have been lost, and no trace of them can be found. Vcurs in the work, M. S. POWELL, Dominion Organiser W.C I.l'.