W.C.T.U. CONGRESS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16492, 6 March 1914, Page 9

W.C.T.U. CONGRESS.

TOPICS OF THE DAY. [Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, Alarch 5. The AYomen's Christian Temperance Union opened this morning. The presidential address, delivered, by Airs Don, of Dunedin, referred to the growth in the membership and activity of tho organisation. Airs Don dealt with many topical subjects, wages, amusements and pleasure, and shoved that the increasing tendency towards tho week-end trips threatened to become a serious menace to the sanctity of the Lord’s Day. The Stajo should make provision for the detention of mental defectives. It was appalling to think that abnormal girls, who should be under: restraint, were mothers of children. _ - ■ 111 ono case brought- under her notice last year a defective was the mother of eight children, and was now supported bv the State. The. President also urged that the conference should continue to endeavour to eradicate the gambling evil. THE AYORK OF THE YEAR,

In a report reviewing tho work of tho Unions during the year the corresponding secretary, Aliss Henderson, said one was’alternately cheered and discouraged; cheered by the evidence that most of the Unions were active in tlic promotion of the principles of the great organisation.A discouraged because too many- seemed to 1 ack the energy and eiitlrusiiisin Accessary for tho currying out- of. tlieir work, and wore disposed to complain of the fewness of their numbers and their lack of opportunities. The prospects of the poll at the end of the present year might prove .to: have a regenerating .and- revivifying- influence on tlio weaker Unions. There were eighty - seven adult Unions, four less than in 1912, though during tho year six new Uniofis- had -been organised an-. 1. one old one reorganised. There were nine “Y” Unions in active work. Aliss AYoodhoad, the Alaoi-i organiser, hnd been doing splendid work for the last few months, and there were now seventy-four Maori \j nions oil tho list* with a total of 800. The weak link in the chain of the work was tlio “ Y’’ Union, and the most'popular department was the “Cradle Roll,” a Union which had succeeded in _ bringing_ a number of young mothers in touch with its work i it was doing a splendid st-r ■

vico to the nation. This year they had hoped for great things, but. they should need to put all their energy'into fighting a reduction of the handicap which would make the carrying of national prohibition a possibility. “God has ordained,” she said. “ that right shall triumph, but he accomplishes bis purpose through men and women. Afay it be given to us to carry the AA’hito Ribbon banner in a .triumphal procession of victory in the-year 1(114.” AIL* Henderson stated that tlie membership was 2893.. . : .

Tlie treasurer’s report showed a credit balance of £BS 2s 2d'. ORGANISER’S REPORT.

The dominion organiser, Aliss Powell, reported that after tho Nelson Con-, • vontion she spent six months and a ha if ' in organising for the dominion AYonten’s Christian Temperance Union,.... during which time she travelled by. .. steamer or on wheels'about 3009 miles.cycled 150 miles, wrote 161 letters,;.;-, fifty-two letter-cards and ,1007 posttte cards, slept in forty-six different bedsfi-.-and paid over 60Q calls. A. Slio also/w visited fourteen Unions, organised / seven new ones, and visited eight place® /' with a view to organising, but failed to - do so, gave forty-seven addresses-and organised three Bands of Hope. She. secured 131 new members and ninetyeight AYhito Ribbon subscribers. Aliss Powell then detailed her tour. All the reports wero adopted.