THE WOMEN'S CRUSADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1155, 16 June 1911, Page 6

THE WOMEN'S CRUSADE.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. The "women's crusade," in the prohibition movement , , opened last evening at tlit* Town Hall Concert Chamber. The body of the hall was entirely filled with wumen, and a number of men occupied the gallery. Mr-. A. K. Atkinson pro>i(leil. aiid'spokc words of congratulation at the succsis of the inaugural meeting.

Miss Anderson Hughes gave the first address. She had au enthusiastic reception. She explained a similar movement in the North of'lreland, which she described as a remarkable success. The organisation was called ji "eatch-my-pal" movement; and each man who signed the pledge promised to obtain the signature of at least one friend. Tho movement progressed wonderfully, and the improvement in business ami society in tho districts affected was remarkable. The women started a branch called a "catch-my-gal" movement. Tho speaker had been sent over by the United Kingdom Alliance, to organise this branch. Miss Hughes made ait eloquent appeal to (he women of the Dominion to do their utmost to securc a victory at the polls nest November. A hymn was then sung—"Onward Temperance Workers." Mrs. Barton, of Glasgow, was greeted with ioud applause and the waving of handkerchiefs. She said they were together tinder the happiest auspices. Men usually blamed women when things went wrong; and she ventured to say that women would be blamed for the earthquake shock Now Zealand was going to get at the nest elections. "You will got three papers at the polls," she said. "One will be for n candidate. You can do as you like with that. (Laughter.) But you will get_ two others— one for local No-License and one for National Prohibition. In both these cases dear comrades, draw a stroke across the top line." (Loud applause.) Mis. Barton gave some of her experiences of tile effects of drink while a member of the Glasgow Parish Council, lit this land, if tho drink traffic was to be. abolished, it was tho women who would have to do it. (Applause.) It was a mighty privilege to have , the franchise and to be able to wipe out the blot of sin and consumption that existed. Some interesting reminiscences were given of tho part that women had played in history. She recalled also a recent advertisement in a pancr, "Wanted, a bartender. Must be a sober man.'' Nobody, she declared, wanted drinking men— (laughter)—and, therefore, the women were out to save tlicm. There was a .grand | future ahead of New Zealand. • Women j of Wales, Ireland, Scotland., and England were looking to New Zealand to see them use their vote in the right way, in order that their exanipio may be minted to. She appealed to .her audience not to disappoint the women across the seas. What they ought to do they meant to do, and, in God's name, they would do!

Greetings wero then read from a similar meeting in Dur.edin. A collection was taken up which yielded .£l3 Bs. . - Mrs. Atkinson then announced that a. register had-been drawn up to be iifne-1 by all "crusaders." The'badge wes o Crusader's cross, with the Crusader's motto: "Dens Yult." Mrs. Atkinson went on to say that they must do away with tho liquor traffic, if only for the sake of tho children. Jt was no ' i OWeT { ruc f] la £ young New Zeo.landers did not drink. As they (tho speaker and others) had left the Town Hall on Tuesday night, two young men, each wearing the King's uniform, had staggered across the road and had fallen on the steps of the Town Hall. One was helplessly drunk, and the other nearly so. It was for the sako of the children that they were fighting now. '\\e will see this thing Hirbush'." cried Airs. Atkinson, and she called on tho amlience to rise and reneat the words after her. each with (he riaht hand raised. Then she called on the'women to add the words, "and if the men won't the women will." (Loud applause.) Mrs. Kay moved a vote of thanks to th--> two sneakers, which was carried with great enthusiasm. The men in the gallery gave three ringing cheers for tho "Women Crusaders.