The White Ribbon. “For God and Home, and Humanity.” WELLINGTON, NOV. 18, 1926. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK. HELP FOR BACKBLOCKS MOTHERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 376, 18 November 1926, Page 7

The White Ribbon. “For God and Home, and Humanity.” WELLINGTON, NOV. 18, 1926. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK. HELP FOR BACKBLOCKS MOTHERS.

Tht» Farmers’ Union are forming a Women’s Division. The platform. •» • t forth in their leaflets, is non i olitical, and it is to help better the conditions for women and children living on the land. They intend to work for improvement in the schooling, for hotter nursing and medical facilities, to secure domestic help on farms. They aim to provide Rest Homes for mothers. It is not to he a charitable institution, hut all arc to pay according to their ability. We wish them every success in the good work of making conditions of living easier for those in the bock country districts. U S A NATIONAL CONVENTION. Miss Pyle writes from I aw hgeles : “Mv sister und T are here having a most wonderful time in this wonderful

country, amongst all the splendid women of the W.C.T.U. 1 realise more than ever the importance of our White Ribbon. As you know, our Union in U.B.A. has gained during the year 53,500 new members, and 57,000 young people have signed the patriotic roll. On Monday my sister and I start our trip through the States returning home in the New Year. NEWS OP A NEW UNION. Canvastown! The name is so misleading. A relic of th* old days of the Wakamarina gold rush, when hundreds of canvas dwellings dotted the spot where now cow pastures are to be seen. Seven miles from Havelock, in the Pelorus Valley, near the junction of the Wakamarina and the Pelo-is rivers, lies the little spot called Chn vast own Past the little Post Office, which 1b closed from 1 p.m. on Saturday till 9 am on Monday, past the Ihihlicans’ Hall. i>ast the Anglican Church, past a general store, past the Pelorus Hotel, and you arrive at the Wakamarina Bridge. The Wakamarina Bridge! The grandstand of Canvastown! Several chains further on. along the main road to Nelson, you maj see the Canvastown School, the school house and the Debating Hall. A quarter of a mile up the Wakamarina, on its eastern bank, may be seen the Canvastown Cooperative Dairy Company’s factory, the manager’s residence and the Methodist Church. On the western bank a farm house, the residence of our President (but which is not in Canvas town). Such is Can vast own. Visitors have on more than one occasion stood on that bridge, gazed around, and asked. “Where is Canvastown?’ With few exceptions, our members are the wives, daughters, or sisters of far mers. and take their share of the milking etc., on the farm Our President, who is a farmer’s wife, is the nearest resident to our place of meeting. The Secretary' and her daughter are next — a mile apd a quarter distant. From two miles to six the rest of our members are scattered about in the Pelorus and Wakamarina Valleys As the farmers cannot often leave their work to drive their wives or sisters to meetings. we are thankful If even half our members appear. WHO SAID SO? The U S A Budget showed such a huge surplus that it is expected taxa-

tion will be reduced by from 30 per cent, to 50 per cent. Did I hear someone say ITohibition had ruined America? Senator Willis, of Florida. U-S.A.. says: “Snow will be 90 feet deep in Florida and Porto Rico have more icekberga than Spitzbergen tlie 18th Amendment will be repealed."