STRENGTH OF THE NATION MOVEMENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 267, 18 September 1917, Page 10

STRENGTH OF THE NATION MOVEMENT.

MRS LEE-COWTE, ORGANISER. “B2 not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.” When God said “Let there be light, there was light.” When our God speaks through a million human hearts and voices, and bids the Liquor Traffic depart, it shall be done. We have had a month of mu< h journeying, many meetings, and great blessing. Since Convention we have had 12G0 names handed in for membership. These include young people and honorary members. Our finances stand at: Receipts from all sources, £99 14s 6d; Expenses, icys. These figures do not induce 6000 “Defeats,” 100,000 “The Cry of the Mothers,” 10,000 “Women’s Hour,” and 10,000 “The Call to Arms.” 1 found it impossible to keep tally of the quantities of these sold or given away, so have decided to pay for the whole out of my own pocket, and use them in every possible way, to keep the temperance sentiment stirred up. The first two Manifestos are included in above expenditure, and were sent post free to every Hranch in New Zealand. Now we should be glad if Branches, when ordering the later literature, would remember they are iod per 100, post free. Scatter them broadcast, spare nothing, for the great day is near. It is likely the whole Dominion will be awakened soon for a great poll. God grant the victory.

Dear Sisters, —Before this appears in print Parliament will, in all probability, have dealt w ith the question of early closing. Whatever that decision is, our Unions cannot accept it as final, for our goal is complete prohibition, and, now that we have the recommendations of the Efficiency Board to support us, we can go forward with greater hope than ever before. Every White Ribboner has doubtless read the splendid finding of the Efficiency Board, and has thanked God that our annual Convention was led to decide on a straight-out campaign for prohibition. When we made that decision we had not the least doubt that we were right, and we have even less doubt now, but there is one thing which some of us

seem to overlook, and that is that this fight is ours; we entered upon it, and we must maintain it. In Mrs Lee-Cow le we have a splendid leader, but she cannot do everything. She is giving her time, her energies, her best thought to the work, and it surely is not too much to ask that our Unions shall help with the financial part of the fight. Up to the end of August only five Unions had forwarded donations. Will our sisters please bear this matter in mind, and send help quickly. in White Ribbon Bonds, C. HENDERSON, Hon. Corresponding Secretary.