NOTES FROM THE EDITORS DESK.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 379, 18 February 1927, Page 6

NOTES FROM THE EDITORS DESK.

WHAT DO YOU EAT? Sir Arbuthnot Lane has been making very drastic statements. He says people have no more right to be ill than to be criminal. True w r ords, but in advance of the times. He is luckily for himself, not a poor unknown professional, so he can speak out and fear not the B.M.A. SCHOOL DOCTORS. This leads us to ask, are w r e doing the right thing in examining our children in schools and creating around them an atmosphere of dread. Phsycologically this is wrong. Watch children carefully, give physical training, but teach the child that health, not disease, is its natural condition. Then wp shall not have nervous girls, carefully feeling their throats and asking, “Mother, do you think I have goitre? School Doctor felt my throat very carefully.’’ We realise the value of school doctors, but we strongly object to the children being frightened and taught to expect to be ill, and to have all manner of diseases. MARRIED TEACHERS. Once again this old question has cropped up. The Nelson Board has failed in its duty to the children, and particularly to backward children. They turned down a teacher of special qualifications because she was married. So the children got the second best because the lady was single. Most people would think a married woman more suitable, especially for backward children. Why turn away highly qualified teachers because they are married? Is it a crime for a woman to marry? Is it good for the State to penalise marriage and motherhood? Two members of the Board realised their duty and voted to secure to the children a “teacher of outstanding ability, whether married or single.” MARRIAGE A DISABILITY. There is yet another aspect of this question. Do Education Boards think that w'omen who have been earning £250 a year, will sacrifice this position to become an unpaid household servant, just legally entitled to food and clothing. It may suit a Board of Males to think

women should be content with food and clothing, and even for that have to humbly ask her lord and master. When motherhood is considered worthy of a payment, it will be time to talk of debarring married women from earning. We note that Male Boards are not at all anxious to dismiss married charwomen and washerwomen, though presumably these cannot make such suitable arrangements for care of their family as professional women can do. SAD SCENE. A Domestic before Christchurch Court w’as sentenced for the 188th time in 8 years. The Magistrate thought gaol was the best place for her. She objected to doing the six month’s hard ordered her, and it took 3or 4 policemen to remove her. In gaol she gets no drink, why not make the country as dry as the gaol, and then these poor victims would be as safe outside gaol as inside it. DON’T ARREST A DRUNK. Some time ago Constable Macartney of Dunedin arrested a drunken man, and ever since has been maliciously persecuted and prosecuted. The charge against the man was dismissed. He then proceeded against the Constable for wrongful arrest. Two Constables and the Keeper of the Watchhouse swore the man was drunk, yet a wise jury gave a verdict for damages against the Constable. Then the Constable w r as prosecuted for perjury, and very rarely does a New Zealand Magistrate express himself as strongly as Mr Bundle, S.M., of Dunedin, did w r hen referring to the evidence in this case. He dismissed both charges, saying “that the evidence for the prosecution was almost wholly biased,” impregnated with falsehood and flavoured with malice.” The witnesses should consider t vt n.selves fortunate that they were no* made to change places with the accused. Si rely now, this man will have to stand his trial for perjury for the protection of Constables who are fearlessly doing their duty.