FROM DAY TO DAY “There's a Chiel' Among You Takin' Notes.”

White Ribbon, Volume 49, Issue 4, 18 May 1943, Page 1

FROM DAY TO DAY “There's a Chiel' Among You Takin' Notes.”

A Golden Jubilee.

On September 19th, 1943, we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Women’s Franchise being granted. Representatives of the following organisations met at the invitation of the N.Z. Women’s Christian Temperance Union on Friday, 30th April, ISM 3, at Pioneer Club Room, Wellington, to consider proposals for celebrating this Golden Jubilee. Mrs. Grigg and Miss Elsie Andrews were appointed to represent the W.C.T.U., and the following organisations sent representatives:— Dominion Federated Townswomen’s Guilds, Co-operative Women’s Guilds, National Council of Women, Y.W.C.A., Women Teachers’ Association. Women’s Institutes, Federation of University Women, Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union. The Women’s International Zionist Organisation sent an apology* for unavoidable absence. The President of each national society is to be asked to form one of the Council to sponsor fitting celebrations, and that their delegates at this meeting form a working executive with power to add to their numbers. As the Jubilee falls upon a Sunday a thanksgiving service was suggested. Several resolutions w’ere suggested, to be submitted on this occasion. Local branches of Dominion organisations are asked to arrange in their centres in accordance with plans of National Committee. Killing No Murder. One % is very surprised to read in the locai papers that a Supreme Court Judge in opening a session spoke of the case where a prisoner had killed tw’O men, and gave this as his interpretation of the law’. If the prisoner can prove he w’as so drunk that he did not know what he was doing, then he was in the same position as a man of unsound mind and could not be found guilty of murder. Is this a sound interpretation of our law’ If so it is abundantly clear that the law needs speedy alteration. If a prisoner is pronounced of unsound mind the Court declares that he must

be put in an institution for men ot unsound mind. But a man is verydrunk, and before he can even appear before a Court he is quite sane. Is this sane man to be sent to a mental hospital ? Or is he to be set at large, to get drunk again and take the lives of other persons, and still be innocent of murder because he was drunk? If this interpretation of the law is to stand, then the only remedy is to banish from the Dominion every ouuo of alcohol and so make sure that no man can get drunk and kill citizens and be innocent of a charge of murder. Party versus Principle. We may suori’v be face to face with a Parliamentary Flection, and the different parties are already beginning to state their platforms. VVe believe that at a time of crisis like the present a National Government is the best solution of party differences. But it seems that New Zealand politicians cannot rise to that level, i.e., cannot set aside party shibboleths and support broad national aims, objects and ideals. While not opposing Party Government (there must be a common cause to bind Governments), we advise all electors to vote for candidates who are pledged to principles, not to parties. We were very pleased to note that Miss Mabel Howard, M.P., said at a Christchurch meeting that there was no party among women members, but that they were united to work for whatever was for the good of women and children. Let candidates go in pledged to principles, and let them honour those pledges by their votes in the House. But on other matters they should be free to vote according to their consciences. There should be an end of the situation so tersely put some time ago by a M.P.: “I was returned as a party candidate, I can speak as conscience dictates in the Party Caucus, hut in the House I must vote with my Party’.” Isn’t it time we ceased returning politicians to our House of Parliament, who in the well known words of one of them, “Always voted at my Party’s call and never thought of thinking for myself at all.’’

Electors—choose men and women who believe in principles, and are not ashamed to vote for them.

Khaki and Liquor

Lord Kitchener said, “Give me a teetotal army and I’ll lead it anywhere.” Apparently there are Civic authorities in our Dominion who do not agree w'ith Lord Kitchener, and when, after a strenuous fight, all hotel bars are to be closed at 6 p.m., they are agitating for bars to be open from 7to 11 p.m. for men in khaki Apart from the abuse of the law which this would lead to (for who believes that only men in khaki would be served!), why give the poison alcohol to men in khaki? V ill it make them better soldiers* the event of a hostile raid upon our shores, what use would soldiers under the influence of liquor be to defend us? It is quite time that alcohol was placed among its sister poisons upon the chemist’s shelves. It is listed as a poison in the British Pharmacopia, and no tane nation would allow its unrestricted sale during certain hours from licensed bars. Magistrate Stout this week speaking from the bench said. “The only way to stop sly-grog selling was to make it unprofitable.” Legal sale of liquor is evidently so profitable that it bribes the consciences and blinds the eyes of liquor sellers, shareholders in breweries and all making money by the trade to the awful enormity they are committing in educating our youth to drink the poison which destroys them, and will destroy the race if not speedily arrested. Raising School Age. VVe note that the Minister of Education says that the school leaving age is to be raised to 15 years, and later to 16 years. This is good for the young folk, but if it is necessary to raise the leaving age, why allow permits to be granted for girls to work in factories far below that age? Lately there have been comments in Courts about one of 14 years, and another of 12 years, working in factories. The issue of these permits should certainly be stopped.