W.C.T.U.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 137227, 30 April 1917, Page 7

W.C.T.U.

RESOLUTIONS AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual convention of the Now Zealand W.C.T.U. was held at Auckland from March 21 to 29, the delegates including Mrs Crabb (district president), Mrs Clausen (district secretary), and Mesdamos Lumley and Robbing (Palmerston North), Mrs Hancock (Woodville), Miss Jordan (Feilding), and Mrs Scott (Marton). The following resolutions were carried:— r l '.

"That our tendercst sympathy be convoyed personally by our delegates, or by letter, to mothers and friends of fallen soldiers whorever they can be reached; that this resolution of our whole Convention be conveyed in such a manner as to show our love to those who have suffered for <jur safety, and to draw them to our ranks." That the time has arrived when, in order to check tho spread of venereal diseases, all men and women should produce a clean certificate of health in this matter from a doctor before a marriage certificate can be issued. Whereas women have, during the present war, proved their capacity to fill every position to which they have been appointed, and whereas the right to elect logically carries with it the right to be elected, that this meeting earnestly urges the Government to take, without delay, steps to remove the obstacles in the way of women entering Parliament; and also to clear the way to their serving as Magistrates, Justices of the Peace, and jurors. That this meeting urges the Government to yield, without further delay, to the widespread and frequent pressed demand for the appointment of women patrols, in order that the young people in our community may share in the proved advantages of the protection so afforded in many parts of the Empire and in other countries.

That where 'the same or equal work is being done by men and women, in the opinion of this Convention there should be no differentiation of payment on account of the sex of the worker. That at this time, when heroic efforts are being made by the Allies to bring the war to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion, the Government of New Zealand should be urged to take steps to husband the resources of the nation, and as the liquor traffic is the most fruitful source of economic and industrial Avaste, and its existence therefore a national disgrace, the Government is urged to tally prohibit tnis traffic during the period of the war, and for at least six months thereafter. That the Crimes Act should be amended in the direction of raising the age of consent to 21 years. That men convicted of sexual offences against children of tender years be imprisoned for life. That men convicted of more than one offence against women or girls have more adequate punishment inflicted •upon them. In view of the fact that so many persons of both sexes, who are beyond the age of reformatories, are convicted of moral offences, this Convention cooporate with other organisations in asking legislation for the purpose of providing institutions of the nature of a farm colony, where such people can be detained for an indeterminate time, these institutions to be under the control of an elective board composed of equal numbers of men and women. Eecognising the evil influence which may be developed by pictures of a suggestive nature, the W.C.T.U. appeals to Government to appoint a member of the Union as a censor, to represent the mothers of New Zealand. That the time has axived when local authorities should be asked to prohibit objectionable posters from being shown in the streets of their towns, That the Minister for Education be approached by a deputation as possible and urged to make scientific temperance a compulsory subject for examination in all primary and secondary schools.

That in view of the unnecessary indignity inflicted on women -when being tried in our public courts for sexual offences, this Convention urges the Minister for Justice to direct that in such cases all men shall be excluded from Courts, except those whose business makes it necessary for them to be present. That this Convention of the W.C.T.U. emphatically protests against the dangerous element of gambling introduced into patriotic work, as being harmful to the morals of the people of the Dominion, and respectfully asks the Government to collect all necessary monies by taxation and subscriptions. Whereas there has never been a time when economy and reproductive industry were so emphatically a patriotic duty, and whereas the time and money s*pent in racing and gambling are admittedly almost entirely wasted, and whereas the betting in last Christmas and New Year holidays alone shows the great increase of £G7,S7I over last year's receipts, therefore the Convention of the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union earnestly urges the Cabinet to refuse all racing and totalisator permits during the period of the war. That this Convention urges that parents, guardians and doctors be protected by Act of Parliament in seeking or giving information re venereal diseases on the part of any man or woman desiring to marry,