Notes and Comments.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 May 1895, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

Will the Unions please note the address of the business manager and send on names and addresses of intending subscribers (with the year's subscription—2s 6d) at as early a date as possible. All literary communications should be addressed to “ Editors, Box 114, Christchurch.” We hope each Union will appoint some one to send not only concise reports of business done at the various meetings, but also notes of events transpiring in the district likely to prove of interest to women.

World’s W.C.T.U. —The third bi-ennial Convention is to be held in London in June, following and in connection with the annual National Council of the B.W.T.A. Miss Willard will preside at the World’s Convention on June 19, and also at the World’s Executive Committee* meetings on June 15 and 21. 111 the public demonstrations leading temperance speakers from England and America will take part, and distinguished W.C.T.U. leaders from Canada, Australasia, South Africa, India, China, Japan, and many European countries will be present. May 18 and 19 have been set apart as days for special prayer, Temperance mass meetings or Temperance sermons all over the world. Will our N.Z. Unions make a note of, and act upon, this latter suggestion ? Worthy of Imitation. —As the outcome of readings given and discussions held on sweating and kindred topics at various meetings, we believe the members of the Napier Union have resolved to abjure the ready-made garment, and pay a liberal price for needlework, rather than be the means of driving some under-paid girl to resort to an evil life in order to eke out a living. The “ Role of the Amateur Barmaid,” mentioned in the Review of Reviews for March, suggests work for our New Zealand women. Even in our colonial towns and villages there are scores of lads who become a scourge to society in later life simply through having no suitable place in which to spend their evenings. They wish for companionship, for bright, iively surroundings, and where else, in very many cases, are these to be had but in the drinkshop ? Surely side by side with every attempt to close a public house should be an effort to open some room or hall where the lads may meet, chat, sing, read, have games, and interest themselves generally. If possible, an arrangement should be made whereby light refreshments may be had at a trifling cost. The schoolrooms of our various churches could be put to no better use during the week; more particularly during the winter months are such rooms needed. Who will take up this work for the lads ? A mother says “ All our drunkards and bad men are somebody's boys, and many have graduated in the streets.”

“ Where doctors differ! " The champion lady cyclist of Great Britain declares cycling in a skirt to be absolutely dangerous, and says that though at one time greatly prejudiced against the bifurcated garment, she was compelled to adopt it in order to avoid a recurrence of accidents. On the other hand, Mrs Maddock, the lady record-breaker

of Australia, declares cycling in a skirt to be easy, and says a bifurcated dress is by no means a necessity. Recent mails bring us the good news that both in Delaware and in New Hampshire (U.S) the age of consent has been raised to eigh\ ;n years.