TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF OUR WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, NEW ZEALAND.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 312, 18 June 1921, Page 10

TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF OUR WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, NEW ZEALAND.

* Jreeting: To all our members our wLsh is lovingly offered. May this New Year mark progress in every land, and the close of 1921 find us much nearer the happy goal of world peace, world purity, and world prohibition. Canada has been specially favoured in the closing months of 1920. At the request of our distinguished and beloved World President, the Countess of Carlisle, Miss Agnes Slack came to Canada for a few w r eeks. Miss Slack visited our four Western Provinces, travelling approximately eight thousand miles to do so. She w’as royally welcomed; everywhere hearts and homes were opened to her, and this, not alone among our White Ribbon members, but in Official and Government circles. Educational and Philanthropic, all delighting to do her honour, and feeling honoured by her gracious presence. Miss Slack’s visit has been a stimulus to our movement. All through the West country she has increased the membership of our local societies. She has inspired those who had the pleasure of hearing her public addresses with a new vision of our great world’s work, its scope and influence. it will be more clearl> understood and appreciated, and the Canadian West will have a keener realisation of their relationship to it as a part of the world wide propaganda for Prohibition. It is of infinite importance that conntries affiliated with the world's work should from time to time be brought in actual touch with the work being carried on by the World’s Union, and Miss Slack’s visit has in this way been a revelation to many hearers. Many grateful messages were voiced in the meetings and sent to our honoured World President for thinking of Canada, and so kindly asking Miss Slack to come to us.

CANADA’S PROGRESS. On February Ist the provinces of Nova Scotia. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta go dry. This is made possible through the coming into force in those provinces of the new Federal law. This law empowers the Provinces to vote against inter-provincial importation. On October 25, 1920, they gave large majorities under the provision of this law. The women exercised the franchise in every Province. The “Mother Province,“ Ontario, recently gave a mandate against the sale of spirituous liquors for beverage purposes by a majority of 400.000. In April this year, Ontario will vote upon the question of interprovincial importation. and a sweeping victory is anticipated. In the Yukon Territory a similar referendum will f>e taken in the spring. There is not a licensed open bar in Canada from the Silver Sea Board —the Atlantic—to the land of the Midnight Sun, a distance of 6000 miles. The provincial laws vary. Prince Edward Island has for long years been under a prohibitory law. Quebec has local option in two-thirds of her constituencies. A special restaurant system prevails in Montreal. British Columbia has just declared against the continuance of the measure of prohibition they had foi a plan of Government control. New Brunswick will take a referendum on interprovincial trade. As they gave strong majorities against the retail trade, it is expected the further question will be similarly dealt with. It is hoped that very soon, by Federal enactment, the fair Dominion will be under a total prohibition from coast to coast and from the river to the North Land. CONFERENCE OF WORLD’S OFFICERS. Then one had the privilege—highly prized of meeting our esteemed international visitor. Miss Slack, at Rest Cottage. Historic spot! made dear to a worldwide hand of women White Ribtw>n wearers, because of the Leader whose personal home It once was. One could imagine the emotions of the pil-

grims of other times who travelled far to visit a sacred shrine. Rest Cottage! the home of Frances Willard! We have known of it—lt seems always—and when on that bright December day we entered its precincts, and were greeted by Miss Elizabeth ( Jordon's cordial words, “Welcome Home!” we exclaimed, “It is the realisation of a life d-eam to visit this house of memories precious,” and. as we viewed the desk where first a world proclamation of Prohibition was written by our now promoted Leader and Founder, our heart was thrilled indeed; we felt the place we stood was holy ground. And our Conference! With our dear Miss Anna Gordon presiding, and the present Work! President, the Countess of Carlisle’s smiling eyes watching us from the portrait above in "Miss Willard’s room,” with Miss Slack and Mrs Boole, it wits a time long to Im* remembered. It was an occasion unique, and its memory will bo cherished in the future days. To your honoured President and all dear workers my best love and warmest good wishes for success and Divine blessing to attend all your splendiJ efforts in our White Ribbon cause. — Your affectionate comrade. BLANCHE READ JOHNSTON. Hon Secretary W.C.T.U. Barrie. Ont., Canada, Jan., 1921.