GENERAL LITERATURE.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 310, 18 April 1921, Page 14

GENERAL LITERATURE.

Supt.: Mrs Mowlem. This department has had a rather quiet year, owing, no doubt, to very little aggressive work being done apart from our Field Secretary; she has lieen busy, I believe, judging from her orders which have come to hand. The passing of th rt Government measure in our Parliament for the strict education of our youth, especially in our public schools, on the evils of alcohol. is an indication that our work and our literature in the past has had its influence, and has been doing its work in our land upon mr law makers and those in authority. This measure, we understand, is to be in printed form, and therefore will be literature of more value to us, meeting our demands along this line as nothing has hitherto done. This measure in leaflet form, we hope, will meet any emergency in the coming days. It does not mean that the printed page or aggressive work is con fined only to this, or must take a back seat, and allowed to sink into insignificance. The fact that there yet remains the drink and many preventive evils in our fair land is an evidence that much yet remains to be done along this line, and we trust that our Unions will take encouragement from these very evident signs of progress, and still seize every opportunity to bring our heaven-born principles before the public. There are many votes yet to capture. We have on hand a good supply of that which is necessary for the working of our Unions, such as membership cards, what the W.C.T.U. is. etc., etc., and all writing material. We trust to have our new hymn books to hand right soon, also a good supply of White Ribbon bows. Reports that have come to hand show -ome activity. Ashburton is not behind in this, and tells of regular distribution of literature amongst the members, at the Rest Room, the railway station, the sick in hospital, especially the soldiers’ ward, the Soldiers’ Clubroom. and Old Men’s Home; books instructive to the young on sex questions kept in circulation, also purity leaflets. Copies of “White Ribbon” placed monthly in Public Library and women’s rest room, also four dozen Convention numbers of “White Ribbon" distributed free. Winchmore, Greenstreet, and Tinwald Branches also participate and co-operate in all this work with their Mother Union. Special mention is made of the work of one of the assistants. a young lady who is almost blind, yet who has been mast faithful in her work. “Verily, she hath done

what she could.” They also, with the Ashburton Union, collect magazines and booklets, and for wal’d to those in need of reading matter. Christchurch reports a quantity ol Purity literature distributed, also some on the economic question of the liquor traffic at the luncheon booth at the A. and P. Show. Fei’ding has a memt>er interested sufficiently to donate £1 to provide eight monthly copies of the "White Ribbon” for one year for fi*ee distribution. Seventy copies of Convention number given away, also copies of "Handy Booklet" and "Safe Remedies” in illness given to each new member. Ilaweru has kept the literature box at Railway Station supplied. Invercargill supplied Hospital and Hluff Sailors’ Rest. Nelson (2) reports has circulated amongst its members, etc.. "American Motherhood," which has been very much appreciated, but now this publication has ceased, they are on the lookout for something else to take its place. Literature has also been sent to mills, railway works, and lonely workmen; also the box at Railway Station kept full. They have also a library of 40 or 50 books, which is a real moving concern, and until recently a depot for the sale of books. Unfortunately, the shop has changed hands, and for the present this is now closed. Palmerston (?) (no name attached), has not done very much lately, with the exception of Prohibition reading matter in railway box. Kakaia Branch has l>een doing steady work in distributing to non-sympathis-ers and railway box. Wanganui has done the same. Wellington Central has made a speciality of seeing that tin* railway boxes are kept full; a full supply is kept there, and the sympathy of the care taker enlisted, and when it becomes empty she refills f rom her supply in tlu* cupboard. Annual Balance-Sheet.

Audited and found correct. S. BOX ALL February 19, 1921.

£ s. d. To Goods Solti .... 22 15 11 15 11 I d. Wright and Carman .... 10 16 8 My order sent to Knglund 2doz. Hymnals .... .J ft ft *‘W.R.” Bows .... .... 1 ft 0 Exchanging .... .... 0 O Postage 1 7 6 Balance Forward ... 1 9 6 15 11