GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 267, 18 September 1917, Page 5

GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

When attending tin* Convention at Auckland this year, 1 found that some of the delegates who had not been so busy in the* work had not a very clear idea of what the* Good Citizenship Department is, and 1 then undertook to write something upon the subject for the “White Ribbon.’’ Pressure of work has until now prevented the fulfilment of this promise; but though rather late in the day, 1 wish now to tr\ and make a few suggestions with regard to it, One of the pamphlets issued by the American Department has for its motto the words, “Study to show thyself approved and worthy of citizenship in a great country." This *eems to express something of the meaning and object of the department. This object is twofold: the education of women in the duties of citizenship, and their organisation for the purpose of practical work. Good Citizenship is, first of all, the recognition of the solidarity of the community and the realisation of the duties which the members owe to the whole ; and secondly, the voluntary subordination of personal advantage to the welfare of the whole. These are the principles which lie at the root of Good Citizenship, and the good citizen is the one who endeavours to live in accordance with them. Possessing, as we do in New Zealand, the rights and privileges of

citizenship, it becomes our duty to make ourselves lit to exercise them ii the best possible way. Education is in this, as in everything else, the most important factor; die education of ourselves, as individuals and as a community, in the understanding of the problems of the day and of the efforts that are being made to cope with them, whether social, national, or international. For (loud Citizenship includes all these three aspects of life; and just as the individual should subordinate himself to the community, and the community to the nation, so should the nation, in its turn, subordinate itself to the community of nations. This education of ourselves is no easy task, and it i s perhaps only the few who can carry it out to its fullest extent, but all can take the first steps towards it, even if only b> individual study. There are many opportunities now open to those who can avail themselves of them, in the way of studycircles of one kind and another. In some of the New Zealand towns adult schools have been begun, and the Workers' Educational Institute arranges for instruction to be given in various subjects wherever a sufficient number make applu ati >n Where these cannot be taken advantage of, it is always possible for two or three to meet together for the study and discission of subjects of common interest; or occasional lectures can be arranged for from some one who is known as an authority upon, or familiar with, any special subject. Many of our Unions have for years Carried on work under this department, but I am writing for those younger ones who are not so familiar w ith the work of the Union as a whole, and who are feeling perhaps a little uncertain as to how to be. u». I may suggest three general Imc 'i) To see that the affairs of the c nmunity or the Country are placed in the hands of capable persons; (2) to take notice of insanitary conditions of living, or such as are otherwise not conducive to the welfare of the community and to work for their improvement; (3) work of any kind, social or educational, which will promote the welfare of the children. I would lay special stress upon this, because, as is now generally admitted, the training of the children, who will become the citizens

of the future, is one of the most important factors in the building up of the civic life of the future. This would seem to cover a very wide area, and indeed everything which tends to improve and elevate the conditions of social and civic life comes under the head of (iood Citizenship; but there are many other departments in the Union working in the same direction, as, for example, Moral Hygiene, Legal and Parliamentary, Cradle Roll, and many others; and 1 have usually defined the work of this department as taking in everything of this nature which is not covered by any other. The first of these three lines of work is the one that has been mo>t generally regarded as the special work of this department. It is certainly an imi>ortant work, though in reality rather the means to an end than the end itself; for if civic and municipal affairs are to be rightly managed, it is important that they should be in the hands of the most suitable individuals, and one of the first duties of citizens is to do everything possible to ensure that this shall he the case. It should be the business of every local Superintendent of this department to ascertain the date of any election that is coming on, and the names of candidates likely to come forward, whether for Parliament, City Council, School Committee, Licensing Committee, or any other local body; and then to arouse* as much interest as possible amongst women electors, and to work along lines that seem best and most feasible, to secure that the women’s support should be given to those most likely to keep in view the best interests of the community; having also due regard for the best p >sxible representation of women upon all bodies to which they are eligible. Pub'ic meetings may be arranged for this purpose, or Home Meetings have b en found very successful, and private work amongst individuals will often do perhaps more than anything else. With regard to the two other lines of work mentioned, it is not easy to put forward any definite programme. The most that can be done is to bring forward a few suggestions, work being taken up by any L’nion, according to the conditions and requirements of the particular locality. In the U S A. report in the “World’s White Ribbon Bulletin*’ for March is the following paragraph: “The

W.C.T.U. has placed hundreds of pictures of Frances Willard and other temperance leaders in schools and libraries; furnished teachers with copies ot temp ranee papers; worked for public parks and playgrounds; decreased the sale of bad postal cards; secured the elimination of liquor advertisements from many leading papers and magazines; and has done away with many improper shows, and replaced them with moral uplifting ones.” To this might be added such work as endeavouring to ensure purity of food and sanitary conditions of its sale, proper ventilation and healthful conditions generally in the schools, cleanliness in the streets and other public places, and any other similar points that may suggest themselves, drawing the attention of the authorities to anything not satisfactory in these matters. AH this comes within the scope of our department, and plenty of such work is usually to be found by any who are willing to undertake it. There is one thing I would specially mention, which every Union might with advantage pay some attention to, and that is the character of the films shown at the picture theatres, and also the exhibition of objectionable posters on hoardings and o'her places, more especially in reference to their effect upon children. Much has already been done in this matter, through the work of the censor, but much still remains to be done in the way of making picture shows an educational medium, and eliminating everything which tends to produce an unhealthy state 0 fmind in young p ople. One reason for specially mentioning this is that a letter was recently sent by the Minister for Internal Affairs to City Councils, asking for their co-operation in the suppression of such objectionable posters, so that it would seem a fitting time to take action. I would suggest that every Union should appoint one or two of its members to take this in hand, and report everything of an objectionable nature that might be exhibited. There are many other lines of work that might be taken up under this department, but I trust these few suggestions may be sufficient to show something of its scope, and may be a help to some of our Unions who wish to take up its work MARION JUDSON, N.Z. Superintendent.