W.C.T.U., CAPE PROVINCE.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 288, 18 June 1919, Page 5

W.C.T.U., CAPE PROVINCE.

(To the Editor.) I>t ai Editor,—A promise made to the Executive of our Cain* Province | U.C.T.U. constrains me to send you this letter. I was asked to send to vour pajier a report of the twenty-ninth Convention, which was held in Cape Town during the month of October, i,iiS. Before the business sessions were over many of the delegates were laid low by the terrible epidemic of Spanish influenza, and in less than a fortnight the dread disease had spread all over the Union. I did not reac h my home in Port Elizabeth, a distance' of over six hundred miles, for three weeks, owing to the difficulties of travelling, and then found many duties in nursing relatives and friends. So time passed, and 1 f;lt that through the columns of our own “White Ribbon’’ you would have learnt much of the Convention doings, and that it wa> not necessary to repeat these. i may just say the Convention was felt by all to be a time of mutual encouragement and blessing, and an education to many of the delegates who attended for the first time. The deputation appointed to wait upon the Superintendent-(»eneral of Education to urge the teaching of Hygiene and Scientific Temperance in schools met with a cordial and sympathetic reception, and a promise' that these subjects should be introduced into the teachers training courses. It was pointed out th it unless teache rs were qualified to undertake this instruction it would be of little use placing it upon the school curriculum. Our Parliament, which is now sitting, has under discussion the recommendation of the Ko *th Com mittee. This Committee was ap pointed by the (iovernment last year to consider the Transvaal liquor law« especially in re gard to the illict nquor traffic along the Witwater*rand. The proposal to establish (iovernment can teens, w hejre. native's can be served with beer and natural wines of 10 i>ei rent. alcoholic s.rength, has raised a storm of opposition from all parts of the* country. It is hoped that the measure will be thrown out of the Mouse, and it may not come to a vote. It ha» the strong sup|>oit of the wine farmers o f the western portion of the Province, who are eager for further Burkcts. 1 he Public Health Hill, which is be mg d« bated in Parliament, is also giving great dissatisfaction; protests are being made by many prominent men

and women against certain clauses, which not only involve but extend the principles of Part i of the C.I). Act, the repeal of whith the W.C.T.U. has for years worked strenuously. A meeting of women’s societies has been called by Mrs John Brown, Superin tendent of Purity and Moral Education. W .C.T.U., to call the attention of the Ministers and Legislators to these objectionable clauses, and to protest against their inclusion in the Health let

The movement for Woman’s Suf frage is slowly gaining ground in our Parliament. A Parliamentary Committee, composed of members of all politKnl parties, has been formed in the House, and it is hojK'd we rnay see the enfranchisement of women ere long. Though South Africa seems to be* the most backward of all the British Dominions in the matter of liquor reform, still one is cheered to find that a temperance sentiment is growing up that used not to exist. The children are being taught m our Junior Branches, and through prize essays in connection with the* Scientific Temperance Department, that alcohol is a poison and not a food, they are passing this thought on to their parents, who realise that it is necessary to abstain from intoxicants if they wish to enjoy good health. My husband and I arc now on holiday on what some twelve years ago was a large wine and brandy farm. The present owner, on purchasing the property rooted out 153,000 vines, which covered about 40 acres of ground, replanting it with wheat and lucerne seed, putting in currant and sultana vines, and many kinds o fruit trees, s*» that a iarge fruit industry has been built up. The distillery (the buiiding) is now used for the making of vinegar. Ostriches and cattle roam in thf lucerne “lands,” as they are called here, and prosperity has come to the owner, who has given a practical lesson to his ne ighbours of good management and good living. It is saiJ. by the way, that the wine farmer seldom grows rich. I fear this letter will be too lengthy for insertion in your paper, if I do not stop! I feel I must say how we rejoice in the prohibition sentiment in Xew Zealand that has closed all bars at 6 p m., and 1 h«>|>c that prohibition of the liquor trathe will soon be enforced in your country. With greetings to all White Ribbon comrades. —I remain, yours in the cause wt hold dear,

A. L. HEARD