Page 4 Advertisements Column 5

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1015, 7 October 1903, Page 4

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« Friday overling, so far as our Executive was concerned, was an “ off ” evening. Mrs Atkinson, Miss Henderson and myself wero asked to speak at the NoLicense Loaguo mooting (Mr Bottle m the chair). There was a large attendance. Mrs Atkiuson was in her happiest vein and made a splendid speech, bristling with fun, on the threadbare Btory of Newtown and its election woes, “On Saturday evening Miss Sberntt Bain read a paper on 1 Peace and Arbitration.’ A lively discussion ensued. Mr Frazer moved a veto of thanks, and, as the newspapers say, the New Plymouth sessions wore brought to a close with the usual formalities. _ _ . “ One morning was occupied, by invitation, at the public school, where the much respected headmaster, Mr Dempsey, had all the children, some 700, turned out to drill in their fino playground for our pleasuro ; aDd one at tho gaol, a substantial, cold, sanitary building, where we wero asked to havo impressions of the thumb and fingers of the right hand taken prisoner fashion- Mrs Atkinson complied, and proudly possessed herself of tho memento. In something like two million impressions no two are alike, so wo wero told. An intelligent attendant of experience here informed me that not drink, but immorality, was, in bis opinion, tho chief source of insanity. “ I went alone, also by invitation, to the Hospital, where Miss Browne, formerly nurso in Gisborne Hospital, reigns as its popular matron. She took me all over the building, beautifully situated on too top of a considerable rise, and overlooking tho sea with its curious sugar-loaf islands. I also had a long chat with Dr Leitham, the kindly humanitarian medical superintendent, who, ponding improvement in the presont imperfect polico and hospital management law, manages to pioviae temporarily for lunacy cases, which, otherwise, would bo pitched into prison, or, in cases of venereal disease (female) would be regarded as • unsuitable ’ and treated with criminal unconcern. “Each afternoon the Executive hold business meetings for the discussion of national and international correspondence, etc. On Friday, however, I was asked to read a paper on 1 Illegitimacy,’ out of which resulted tho following resolutions. On these resolutions a writer in the Lyttelton Times comments as follows 1 Wo hear something nowadays of failing supplies of kauri gum, also of a failing birthrate. Tho State is taking steps to secure its gumfields i but the care it has hitherto taken of its illegitimates—the waste material of citizenship, as one may say—may be gauged by the shocking cases of child neglect now before the country., -ho State needs well-trained young citizens, they are worth more than many gumfields ; why let them go to worso than waste ? This point, howovor, though extremely logical, is on a lower piano than the real gist of tho Council's resolutions, which tend to punish the wrong-doers, and not tho innocent child, as at present. “No thinking person can deny that tho existing legal troatmont of illegitimates is founded, not on equity or Christianity, but on rotton fragments of old Pagan law, and on tho vilest remnants of privilege. To insist that parentage, legal or illegal, involves tho same material responsibility till tho child’s majority, at least, is the plain duty of a Christian State. Very far is this from a condoning of sin or a weakening of moral safeguards. In any ease, the child must suffer mentally. What end is possibly served by penalising it physically as well ? That this barbarous idea of vicarious punishment has provailod so long is a disgrace to civilization. Tho whole quostion must soon be considered from a Christian standpoint The first step is one already advocated by many earnest men and women, the registration of all children in the father’s namo.” Only yesterday what a truly revolting story came to us from Sydney. Tho “Times'’ had a superscription “ A Heartless Woman,” but to mo there must havo been many heartless women and men engaged in that tragedy. Where was tho father ? Whore wore the people with whom the mother lived ? Where were the neighbors while all this was going on ? God only knows —perhaps when he asked, the world-old reply was forthcoming, “ Am I my brother’s keeper?” One other matter I would like to allude to- before. I close. In a local paper the other day, I noticed a quotation from an anonymous contemporary to the effect that the diminution of the family and the weakening of the marriage tie is the outcome of new and’up-to-date ideas, and.coupling such ideas with the would-be offensive epithet, “ New Woman.” I would like to send this contemporary ” a copy of a rhyme of tho Times I saw somewhere lately Oh, misused, name of party strife Whop wordy arguments are rife, ■You should be put to nobler use Than as a term of mere abuse.

If healthy minds and love of right To you may seem a novel sight ; If lofty purpose, strength of will, To cleanse the world from every ill Be just a little “ New,” dear sir, ’Tis right that we should make a stir. .For God, and Home, and Land we fight, And God alone defends the right. In this and every question grave Which calls for loyal help and brave. We’ll ever try the world to mend, And he “ New Women ” to the. end. The new woman doubtless believes that if the marriage tie is an unmitigated sham it should be annulled but under no other circumstances. She also questions the right of man to be the sole guardian of the birthrate, and claims that her views on this subject, too, may turn out to be based on a somewhat higher plane than those which have hitherto obtained. Hear Dr Alice Vickery the other day in London : 1 All children Lorn should be regafclcd as precious treasures and future citizens, whose lives and well-being should receive the greatest care and attention ; and for whom due provision should be made, primarily by the parents, and secondarily by the State.”

We aro strongly of opinion that the existing rates of insurance are too high in many instances, but the adjustment of the tariff is a matter requiring caroful consideration ; it would bo unwise and impolitic for the Stato to enter into a cutting competition. —To A.roha News. It seems to us that in this country there is more to fear from combinations of labor than from capital. New Plymouth Herald. Whoever would bo “ Cock o' the Walk ” Must open his mouth and crow loud, Por whispen and mutters are plainly not

We Jate” special care that we may be heard, Our knowledge we cannot immure— For bad coughs and cold the stuff that’s pre' ferred WOODS 7 GREAT PEPPERMINT CURE,