CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 376, 18 October 1926, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

(The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed in this column.) Pleasant Point, The Editor, September 20th. White Ribbon, Dear Madam, Because there will be many occassions when delay would mean anxiety, expense, and disorganisation, I write to ask why there need be so long a lapse of time, before fulfilment of orders for W.C.T.U. requisites. We were greatly incommoded here last month through the non-arrival of supplies for a new Union. I was ashamed to let the prospective members know how faulty our organisation was in this particular. Timaru “Y’s.” came to our aid at the last moment with membership cards, and the Presbyterian Sunday School Superintendent kindly lent us a wall hymn-sheet. This was after sending cash with order in good time, followed by a telegram urging haste. After a few weeks, word came that cards would have to be printed. They came soon after, but the hymn books, which, we were told a month ago, awaited clearance, have not come yet. Need these things be, in a work so important as ours? I aan loth to make complaint, but feel it will be in the interests of all the Unions. Yours sincerely, LUCY BISHOP. (We have submitted tne above letter to our Literature Superintendent for an explanation. On August 13th, Miss Bishop wrote ordering HO tie pins and 30 brooches and 5 dozen Hymnals, and some literature. The letter reached Wellington on the 17th. On the 20th, Mrs Mowlem posted brooches, tiepins, and literature, sent one songster, and explained that she was oui of Hymnals.)

Y. Membership Cards were ordered through Mrs Macartney, and Mrs Mowlem informed them that she had no Y. Cards, and wrote to Miss Henderson to find out where Y. Pledge Cards could be obtained. After some delay, owing to absence, Miss Henderson replied that there were no cards in stock, and authorising some to be printed. This was done, and they were posted to Pleasant Point on September 10th.

The Hymnals were held up first by the strike, next, because no invoice or Bill of Lading had been received. Mrs Mowlem waited for two mails, but still no invoice, and only got the books when a large carrying firm went surety for her. They took her to the Customs Officials, and were allowed to hand over the case on condition it was opened by the company, and a sample of the contents sent to the Customs. The hymn books were posted to Miss Bishop on October 6th. We deeply sympathise with Unions whose work is held up, but it simply emphasises the need for a Headquarters, where all literature can be kept, and where a responsible person shall give their whole time to the work. Our work has grown so much, and we want it to enlarge still more. Literature is a most important part of the work, the need for it to be kept in one place, and easily accessible Is urgent. Therefore, Local Unions should help our Dominion W.C.T.U. to owr their own Headquarters. (The delay re Hymnals cost the Literature Superintendent much time and anxiety, and was owing to some failure in overseas delivery, as the missing invoice is not yet to hand. — Ed. “White Ribbon.”) To the Editor, White Ribbon, — I have been much interested in the colmun in the September White Ribbon, dealing with the need for women doctors in remote country' districts. In the course of my work, I reach such homes as are described, and while I cannot give any suggestions with regard to a woman doctor who might take the district mentioned, it may be appropriate to refer to another problem of the Back-Blocks, closely allied to the doctor. It seems to be an utter impossibility, even with so loud a cry about vnemployment, to get a capable woman to go into these homes i.nd give a little help, or take charge when the mother is obliged to leave home, either at the time of child-birth, or in case of sickness. It is not for lack of pay or uncertainty about payment. Many of these families could and would pay well, but no one can be found who is willing to go “outback.”

I have appealed to organisations in Auckland, and women have apparently consented to come; they have written to say they are hard up and will welcome any employment, but when they hear tliat the pLace is five or more miles from a town, they say they would rather be buried than go there. Incidentally, it would not l* a bad idea if some of them were buried, as they seem to be of little use, except to augment the cry of hard times and H.C.L. Details of some of the cases 1 see would wring your hearts. Unless the husband is particularly kind and thoughtful, the life of some BackBlock women is little short of slavery, and their pathetic attempts to make the best of things and put on a brave face to the visitor, shows us that the pioneer spirit, however, for distinct from the brainless pleasure-chasers of the towns, still lives in the heart of many a little woman in the shabby bush home. It is safe to say that in my district I could keep a woman at remunerative employment the whole year through, if she had a little capability, adaptability, and common sense.

I saw in the press recently, that the Women’s branch of the Farmer’s Union in Hawke’s Bay or Wairarapa, was moving in the direction of providing help for mothers in different places. All women must wish them every success, but could our Union not find a woman who, for the love of God. Home and Humanity would take up. even for a few years, such work as has been outlined? The right woman would have such a welcome and such an influence as any city worker might envy. Yours, etc., NOMAD.