WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMERANCE UNION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 11

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMERANCE UNION

On Sunday, March 17, a most inspiring and convincing convention sermon was preached in St. John's church, Wellington, by the Rev. BlancharcT, delegates to the number of over one hundred being prosent. The banners of the various unions attending the convention wcro displayed in the church. On Monday, convention was resumed In giving a report of the Young Pco pie’s branch of the work, Miss A. Me lay stated thero wore 31 branches non existing. It was decided that a dis tinctivo badge be procured and tha this take the form of a small "Y” ii silver. Dr. Mildred Stanley, who recently visited America, addressed a large audience, telling of her observations whiTc in that country as to the results of prohibition. She said: "We are seeing that war and disease, drink and crime are infectious diseases, and it behoves us to put a stop to them." She had been told by Dr. McMillen, head of an educational department, ‘•that it was now rare to see a child going dirty and ragged to school." The following statistics wore given by Dr. Stanley: — Decreaso in commitments to prison for crime, 37 per cent., in 1927-28; for drunkenness 55 per cent.; alcoholic insanity (first admissions) reduced 66 per cent.; juvenile courts (under 21), about 90 per cent reduction of cases due to drink; general drug addicts reduced 73 per cent. The Attorney-General reported tho closing down of 1005 prisons, homes for vagrants, etc. School attendance had almost doubled in tho years 1919-26. The results of the election of Dominion officers were as- follow: President, Mrs. T. E. Taylor; vicepresident, Mrs. Hult; corresponding secretary, Miss Henderson; recording secretary, Mrs. Evans; treasurer, Miss Lovcll-Smith; White Ribbon editor, Mrs. Peryman. Several important remits and resolutions, affecting many spheres of jmblic and social work, were considered aDd passed. A visit was paid by delegates to the j property already practically acquired asj headquarters, and the advisability of j retaining this was brought forward and j very fully discussed, the outcome of j which was that the convention dccid-j ed to go forward with tthc scheme, and j members pledged themselves to make every effort for the success of the projeet.