BRITISH DOMINIONS WOMAN SUFFRAGE UNION.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 235, 18 January 1915, Page 2

BRITISH DOMINIONS WOMAN SUFFRAGE UNION.

LETTER TO THE FRIENDS OF THE UNION IN NEW ZEALAND. Dear Friends, —I have just read with the* deepest interest the Special Franchise Number of the* “White Ribbon” (August, 1914). Almost every article in this paper is of help in England, giving not only knowledge* concerning ih«* status of women in New Zealand but what is even more valuable, a clear idea of the aims of these* women for the future. ( nee more the thought comes with renewed force: To how many centres in the other Dominions overseas does this illuminating and helpful paper find, its way? I have ventured to write to the Editor of the "White Ribbon” on th’s point. At the present terrible crisis in the history of our people it behoves us women more than ever to draw closely together, and thus prepare the way tor united endeavour in the future. May I beg you to remember that the first essential is that we shall each know what the other is doing? In each Dominion we must make every effort to extend the sale of the woman's paper of th.it Dominion. We must encourage* each society in each Dominion to take in, for the benefit of its members, the women’s papers of the other Dominions:— The “Woman Voter,” Melbourne, Australia. T he “Liberal Woman,” Sydney, Australia. The “Woman’s Century,” Toronto, Canada. The “Woman’s Outlook,” Fort Elizabeth, S. Africa. As I take in and read carefully every one of these papers, 1 can speak from experience of their value*. Specimen copies can be h.id on application to the Editors. Further, I am sending you from the London offices a specimen copy of each of the English Suffrage papers in turn. Each of these papers gives a different view oT the great woman’s movement in Britain and all over the world. Will you compare these papers and decide for yourself which you prefer? If possible, order it through your own local news agent, but if this gives any difficulty, please write to me, and it shall be sent you from London. I beg you not to feel impatient if I press on your attention again and again the importance of women’s

paper:). The horror and desolation ol the present upheaval in Kurope will undoubtedly be followed by an extra ordinary period of reconstruction. It will depend on women, even more than on men, that this supreme opportunity shall be turned to the highest advantage of the race. The sacred duty lies on each one of us. Will you please do all you can to make the subject of this letter known, and lend the papers sent you to as many people as possible? Yours in the cause, HARRIET C. NEWCOMB, Hon. Sec. B.D.W.S.U. October Jist, 1914. Care International Women’s Franchise Club, 9, Grafton Street, London, W. (Any one wishing to borrow English Suffrage papers can have same b\ sending |d stamp for postage.- - Ed. “W.R.”) As in the Plymouth Town Council the question has been raised of the advisability in the present emergency of some measure on the lines of the C.l). Acts, the Hon. Secretary of the British Dominions Woman Suffrage Cnion has written to the Premier (Mr Asquith), the Secretary of State for War, and the Town Clerk of Plymouth, protesting against the possible granting by Parliament of special powers in the way of police regulations. The B.D.W.S.U. is acting in this matter in concert with the Women’s Freedom League and the other Suffrage societies. The women forming the Suffrage Societies and the Women’s Political Associations Overseas, many of them the actual mothers of the young soldiers now arriving for the defence of the Knvoire, are unanimous in condemning any attempt to legalise vice.