W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

Evening Star, Issue 17033, 2 May 1919, Page 7

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. The Dominion president (Mrs W. R. Don) delivered an address before the W.C.T.U. Convention, now meeting in Napier. In the course of her remarks, Mrs Don said:— The year just passed has been one of the most eventful and full of ceaseless activity. Our first effort was the preparation of and presenting to Parliament a petition containing 242,000 signatures, asking for an immediate referendum on the Efficiency Board’s proposal of prohibition with Compensation, to be decided on a bare majority vote. At the same time our anions and some churches started a season of definite prayer in the home and at special meetings, and in answer to our supplications the desired poll was granted to ns, and 6 o’clock closing, which had been given only as a war measure, made permanent by Act of Parliament. -But before we could muster our forces to consider plans of campaign there came the glad proclamation of victorious peace; the tour years of dreadful war had ended in glorious victory —the scourge of war was the history of the world had come to an snd; hut while the songs of rejoicing were vet on our tongues the scourge of war was followed by the scourge of disease, and the events of the’ great war sunk into partial insignificance under the shade of pneumonic influenza, which swept through, the ■world, levying toll upon human life and health. All classes of the community, including White Ribboners, in everv centre did what they could to minister to the sick and dying about them, and were the full story told we should doubtless hear of heroism and self-sacrifice on the part of Christian women equal to anything witnessed in recent years upon the battlefield. With the tragedy of pestilence resting heavily upon us,* we plunged into the liquor'campaign. Never have we put up such a fight, never had we such a number of speakers came from near and far, including politicians, professors, doctors, ministers, and lavmen, returned soldiers, representatives of l*abor, and women. We had the Bishop of Christchurch and Father Cronin advocating pur cause; we had the whole weight of the Nonconformist Church; we had the heart and brain of the Labor party; we had the Acting Prime Minister’s voice as first citizen, and we had the co-operation of the Efficiency League. In many cases the Press were more sympathetic than heretofore. Then we had the influence of the children, who appealed for votes by songs, processions, and.spectacular demonstrations, and, more important- than all, the members in our union who individually and collectively gave themselves to unceasing prayer. Yet we have not won the hoped-for victory. How have we lost? By the soldiers’ vote that polled such a big majority for Continuance, and many who were opposed to compensation tor fear of taxation. But whatever the reason, the fact remains we are not on the wining side. We did not obtain our objective, so we must work on until we do.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. At- the W.C.T.U. Convention yesterday the following resolutions were passed : That, as it is now being recognised that the State should provide for the maintenance of children who are deprived of their fathers, this convention, while resolutely standing for individual purity of life and the absolute sacredness of tiie marriage tie, would ask that the claims of the children of the unmarried mother may be recognised. This is asked (1) in the interests of the children, who, coming into the world with a stigma attached to their birth, have a claim on the State so that they may be enabled to become useful citizens; and (2) in the interests of the mother, that, in the struggle to regain her self-respect, she may not be handicapped by the difficulty of providing for herself and her child. That the Women’s Christian Temperance Unions of the Dominion, press resolutely for the appointment of women police by sending resolutions to the Prime Minister and! the Minister of the Police Department, also by deputations as their legal and parliamentary ?t.porintendent may advise ; and, further, that every union be instructed to ask all parliamentary candidates lor their electrorates at the coming election, whether they support this demand. The following officers were elected : President, Mrs W. P% Don (Dunedin); hon. secretary. Miss S-enderson (Christchurch) ; rec. secretary, Mrs W. A. Evans (Wellington) j measurer, Mrs Bendely (Auckland). *