Notes and Comments.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 4, 1 October 1895, Page 4

Notes and Comments.

We are again reminded of the scanty information possessed by English people generally anent N.Z. geography. By the last English mail we see that Auckland is supposed to embrace the whole of New Zealand. The Auckland Women’s Liberal League is magnified into the “ N.Z. Women s Liberal League.” A resolution in favour of the introduction of the C.D. Acts passed by a handful of women in one society of our northernmost city is regarded as the opinion, not only of all the women of Auckland, but also of the women throughout New Zealand, and is made the subject of a pathetic pamphlet by Mrs Josephine E. Butler. Surely a little enquiry would have made the matter clear. The very fact that a measure repealing the Acts was passed by the people’s representatives should be sufficient of itself to dispel any doubts as to the soundness of N. Z. women generally on the subject. Scripture Text Book. Mr G J. Smith, M.H.R., has been somewhat condemned in some quarters for moving in the matter of introducing a Scripture Text Book into the State Schools We are reminded that the tendency of the age is to make the State responsible, not only for the intellectual welfare of the child, but also for the physical, where the parents are unable to fulfil or neglectful of their duty in the matter. Is there absolutely no necessity for the State to interfere in the case of moral training? Has every child in the colony parents able and willing to supply moral culture ? Our Upper House.— lt has been averred by tht opponents of “ the woman’s age ” that halls of legislation are not fit places for the feet of women to tread—too impure, too sordid, too grovelling are they. At last we agree. Who among us would care even to sit in the presence of men who openly

avow their belief that prostitution should be licensed by the State ; that any girl over fifteen is fair prey for the grey-haired villain ; that opportunities for men and women to debase themselves below the beasts of the field by means of strong drink should not be curtailed ? And, horror of horrors, they have power to put their beliefs into practice ! And we pay them for so doing ! One hundred and fifty pounds per annum do we pay each member of our Upper House for barring the way to moral progress and reform ! Is our money well spent ? A whisper of collusion floats to our ears. So our “ honorables” weakly plead their “Adam” nature, do they ? “ The Eve (certain members of the Lower House ) tempted me and I did eat.” Poor “ dumb, driven cattle ! ” Ourselves. —The business manager informs us that the district which promised the least in the way of circulation has done the most. At the Convention, when the possibility of publishing was discussed, the Christchurch delegate refused to undertake the responsibility of guaranteeing a certain number of subscribers, seeing that the bulk of the work connected with the publication would be done by Christchurch members, bo far, however, Canterbury heads the list by a very long way, Westland coming second. Well done, Westland ! A considerable portion of our space is devoted to a report on the land settlement question—a most important matter truly, involving the pauper question. Any movement that will make our poor independent and self-reliant, compelling them to work for that which they receive, is heartily welcomed. When shall we see the initiation of a scheme for the compulsory employment of the idle rich ? We must apologise for the non-appearance of our usual serial instalment. It has been unavoidably crowded out. As Others See Us.—The following extract is from a private letter sent to the Christchurch Superintendent of Literature:—“Miss Forsaith desires me also to thank you for the 4 White Ribbon.’ She is pleased to have it, and thinks that a very good article which treated of the C.D. Acts. It is a nice little paper.” Miss Forsaith, as many of our readers are probably aware, is secretary to the British, Continental, and General Federation for the Abolition of the State Regulation of Vice.