W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 67, 21 March 1939, Page 9

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

SPEECH COMPETITION PAPERS DISCUSSED On Saturday evening in St. John's Hall the members of the "V" branch of the W.C.T.U. held their annual competition for the "Oratory" shield. Under the chairmanship of Mrs. Hiett, a most enjoyable evening was spent. Prepared speeches on the subject ''How I would set about winning the firsttime voter" were given by several young men and women of the "V's", and showed a good deal of ability :n public speaking, as well as thoughtful, consideration of the subject. The judges, Mrs. Peryman and Miss Henderson, awarded marks for subject : matter, arrangement, voice and diction, and for deportment in this part of: the || competition. , . ~..-.-,:/. & • ■ i The same competitors entered f 6t an § impromptu speech, the subject yeing |; "How I would choose a life mate." This was very amusing, and provided good entertainment. The shield winner was Miss Jean Comyns (Oxford), with a total of 78 per cent.' of marks; A banner, presented to the "JJT" branch having the largest percentage of gain ' in membership during the year, was won by Invercargill North, where the gain was 27 per cent. The "Maori" . banner, awarded for greatest increase in numbers, was gained by Turakina (Maori Girls' College) where the membership had increased from forty to forty-seven. During the evening items were contributed by a band quartet, Messrs. ?;;| Francis, Rimmer, Beale, and Stein, and Iby Mrs. Cahill and Mr. N. Sly. Mrs. I Hiett enrolled two new "V" members I at the close of the programme. !■'."' CHURCH PARADE. | The "Church Parade" of1 the conven- | tion took place on Sunday evening, I when about one hundred and twenty I delegates, led by Mesdames. Hiett and ;f Paterson, walked in procession from | Tory Street to Taranaki Street Methoi dist Church-. I The Rev. Percy Paris conducted the I service. 1 An anthem, "O Ye That Love the | Lord," and a solo, "There is a Love" I (Lowell), by Mrs. F. H. Gardner, "were I sung. ■ . 7 "• I "WHITE RIBBON" DISCUSSED. | The monthly paper edited by Mrs. I Peryman, of Johnsonville, and known | as "The White Ribbon," was the chief I subject discussed yesterday morning ' I at the W.C.T.U. Convention. It was I emphasised that it was the official £ organ of the W.C.T.U., and; as such, provided information of great value to all social workers and workers among women and children. During the day's proceedings short papers dealing with' expenditure involved by the liquor traffic were read. Expenditure in cash (Miss Henderson), in life (Miss Drew), in health (Mrs. Paterson), and in self-respect (Miss Kirk, J.P.) were the aspects considered. Musical numbers were contributed by Mesdames Williams and Cook. Various reports of departments were adopted, outstanding among these being Miss McLay's report of work among Maoris in North Auckland.