LITERATURE REPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 May 1895, Page 7

LITERATURE REPORT.

Only five Unions report their work in this department this year. Invercargill has worked vigorously. Tracts have been supplied for district distribution, and for filling railway and hotel boxes; also Purity Leaflets for cottage meetings. The members themselves are instructed in temperance and in politics by the circulation of the “ Union Signal,’’ “The Church and the Liquor Traffic,’ “ Medical Pioneer,” and “ Hansard.” Timaru has also worked well; thousands of Leaflets distributed, and the “ Woman's'Signal " taken for members. Dunedin has distributed ioo “Prohibitionists” fortnightly, ar.d sent parcels of temperance literature all over Otago, for which expressions of gratitude have come fror.. many quarters. Christchurch has added several new books to its library, notably—“ Badger’s Statute Books.” Mrs. May has kindly sent many valuable books on dress reform, Hygiene, &c., from England. A careful selection of pamphlets, &c., was made for distribution at the Temperance Tent on the Show Grounds. I he page in the “ Prohibitionist” is still continued, also the distribution of that paper by members. Copies of the “ Union Signal ” and “ Woman’s Signal ” are circulated among the

members. June numbers of the “ Medical Pioneer are also subscribed for by the Union each month. One copy is sent to one of the local medical doctors. Napier distributes Social Purity leaflets and the “ Medical Pioneer.' Educational meetings are held monthly, and papers read from the “ Wo man's Signal.” “ Union Signal,” and the “ Nineteenth Century ” magazine. At one of these meetings the subject taken was, “ A Living Wage,” the practical outcome of which was a resolve on the part of members to be prepared to pay a liberal price for needlework, rather than be the means of driving some underpaid girls to resort vo an impure life to eke out their living. This report closes with a quotation from an American writer, who says: “ To do effective work, the rank and file must do it intelligently. Our organisation will never attain to the height we are striving to gain until intelligent, systematic, persistent work in our local Unions is the rule We all need more education of heart and mind to grapple successfully with the difficulties in our path.” We heartily endorse these sentiments, and wish it were possible to have a free distribution of literature to those Unions which are perishing for lack of knowledge. For years past it has been felt that a paper of our own would meet a much-felt want, We have objects and aims that need ventilating in an independent organ that will educate women up to their privileges socially and politically; aid woman’s work in all departments, and especially serve as a means of higher education in Temperance and Social Purity. And now’ our hopes are in part realised, and we send our little “ White Biblion ” abroad with the prayer that it may be owned of God and blest to “ Home and Humanity.” C. Venables.