W. C. T. U.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 March 1929, Page 10

W. C. T. U.

ANNUAL CONVENTION. .1 ,Ai(GE KJCi'ItESENTATiON . .ii i tie forty-seioml annual convention oi me .sew Aetna ncl Womens t/imstnin '.temperance union at iVeiliugton on Thursday morning. Mrs. T. Hi. Taylor, Dominion president, was m the cnair. Mrs. Rutter, a member ot the union in England, was present, and extended greetings and good wishes from unions in (Treat Britain. Miss Henderson (corresponding secretary) presented the annual report, which showed an increase of 17 adult and 10 Y branches. There were 181 adult and 38 Y branches in the union, including Maori branches. The cradle roll showed 6499, an increase of 753 on the previous year. Band of hope work was carried on in the majority of the unions, but the problem of how to employ the energies of young members had to be considered. There were 7444 financial members, hut. this did not include all on the roll. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. The afternoon session was devoted largely to the presidential address. Mrs Taylor first said that the union rejoiced with the Queen and othe'r members of the Royal Family in the recovery of His Majesty the King, and hoped that his progress towards health would continue.

It was difficult to strike an optimistic note, said Mrs. Taylor. The first impression after last year was one of failure —failure in the supreme end of purpose of the society, and failure to hold fast to what had been gained. To some that failure had meant almost a complete lapse of faith in human possibilities, but to others the result of last year’s poll came as a. challenge—a necessary one. She invited her hearers to look at what the world generally was thinking and doing on this and other questions for the well-being of the human race. They were living in a new age, a scientific age, one of co-operation among nations, and the promise of a new understanding. Last year had seen more international gatherings than ever before in one year, and it was of great significance that women’s contribution was recognised equally with that of men. They played a eonspicious part in the intellectual life of the community. At the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations, Miss Helen Knn, a Korean woman .had contributed a research paper on her own country. Women were found in the League of Nations Secretariat, labour office, and several permanent commissions, but no woman had yet been appointed a full delegate. Women were doing great tilings, and setting us in New Zealand a high standard of possibilities. In many countries women had shown they placed no limit to their aspirations in the service of humanity. England had had as many as eight women in its Parliament, and an increasing number of women Mayors. Justices, and police. Women in the Homeland were slowly but surely making a place for themselves in public life. In republican Germany there were 30 to 40 women deputies, and in spite of opposition women there had contributed largely to the constitution of their country. That record should make women in New Zealand open their eyes and ask where they were trending, said the speaker. Women had attended many conferences, the big missionary conference in Jerusalem, the International Congress on Alcoholism, the W.C.T.U. Conference at Lausanne and lastly, the Pan-Pacific Women’s Conference, and it might be asked whether they were of lasting use to any but those who attended. That depended largely on those sent, and her hearers should see that on their return they had every opportunity to pass on their message. New Zealand 1 might be said to have reached the higli-water mark of women’s achievements in 1926. when a mother was made equally a guardian with the father of her child, women Justices were appointed, and family allowances given. Since then, except for the Mental Defectives Act of last year, little that affected women greatly had been accomplished in the Legislature.

No women bad been elected to Parliament. Sbe asked what liad they done with their 35 years of franchise? The women were not influencing the big things of the nation, and when face to face with that of other countries their record was not imposing. Women had university privileges many years ago. but were playing no ambitious part in university life. Airs. Taylor urged that only a spiritual vision could bring forth a life of high endeavour. Nevertheless, they must not be utterly pessimistic. “Though our work had not stood the test we must go forward with renewed courage and effort to face the future.” she said, and minted Hausman: “Great causes must face and number their defeats: this is how they come to victory.” They must take the whole world in review and realise their part. The women had the means in the Y branches. their evangelistic work, cradle roll, and must make faithful u-so of all of them. In America, the women who started the fight believed themselves called and chosen to do the work, and by that faith they had succeeded. As Lady As tor had once said : “I don’t snv women will change the world, luit T do say they can if they want to.”