Notes and Comments.

White Ribbon, Issue 1, 1 July 1895, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

I'm. awful crimes committed at Wintou have roused discussion <>n two matters : The rirhteousnessand wisdom of abolishing capital puoishment, and the argent need for establishing Foundling Hoi

Thi Bills ol special import to women at pn re the House arc: Repeal of the CD. A one to enable women to pi the profession of the law, and one to remove all disabilities of women.

Tm- Woodville Examiner report! on Miss Kirk's spece 'i at the Palmerston North Convention as follows: M Miss Kiik's address was a telling one, and she astonished her audience by delving into history and ihowing the origin of the liquor and In ensing system. It appeared that in the time of Queen Elizabeth t 1 fanners and laboui were so well oil that the aristocracy were afraid of them. Lord Burleigh suggested that a means should be devised of robbing thtm of their money, and so destroying their independence, and augg< Bted that the best course Would be to establish liquor shops all over the country, so that farmers SOd labourers might be induced to spend their money in them, and so lose their independence. The proposition was adopted, and hence the drink traffic of the present day, which had so will can it d out the weak it was originally intended to do."

What are our Branches doing with regard to the 20,000 new pledges which Rev L. If. Isitt asks his followers to obtain during his absence ? The Wellington Union has rulopted the following plan : Having purchased several pledge-books, they k« ep then moving around all the time. Any member of the I'nion can take one, and, after doing what she Can herself, pass it on to a friend, who, after a short interval, returns it to her. Young people in shops or work-rooms are often able to obtair several signatures, and any organisation inch ;ij the Christian Endeavour should be enlisted in this work. There is no time to lose ; let all begin at once. We shall be glad to hear what plan any Branch is adopting. It has been Stated thai the W.C.T.U. has undertaken to raise half the above-mentioned number. We are not aware that any such promise has been given, but these is no reason why w«- should not set 10,000 before us as our aim. Now then, friends, set to work without delay I Mr Isiit also asked members of the I'nion to feel themselves responsible for arranging pledgetables whenever a temperance meeting is being held. Such tables should be placed near the door, so that those who leave early may have an opportunity to sign.

We shall be glad to establish a Query and Answer column should our readers be so minded. Questions may relate to Union, social, political, or home affairs, and for the present must be addressed to the Kditors.