MRS PERYMAN ATTACKS DRINK TRAFFIC

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1937, Page 3

MRS PERYMAN ATTACKS DRINK TRAFFIC

The Northland Convention of ih«. W.C.T.U. was continued on Saturcku afternoon, when further reports weir

received from die Pukc-huia and Wha iiParc i branches Mi;. Oondail ore

scaled the Maori repovi. The editress and bit; mess manager of “The White Ribbon." official organ of the union, Mrs Peryman, was then introduced by Mrs W. J. Roberts, who presided. Mrs Peryman delivered a long address. It was a great pleasure. Mrs Peryman said, to be in Whangarei and she praised Mrs Roberts and Miss Edrned, president and secretary respectively, who had held fast through difficult times.

The union was fighting the drink traffic, she said; if that could be swept away, a great many other troubles would go with it.

Mrs Peryman had read of the part the W.C.T.U. had taken in the protest against drinking at dances here. They had worked well. The dinrici war, served by a wonderful paper, Mrs Peryman said, and commented most favourably upon the report of the protest meeting and the manner in which it was set ud.

In Wellington, the speaker said, the council had received two deputations concerning drinking at dances—one from the W.C.T.U. and another from a

combined meeting of women’s societies.

Drink Among Young People

The representative nature of this, Mrs Peryman said, showed that others took interest in the work because of the problem of drink among young people. This alone had secured much backing for the W.C.T.U. She spoke of the evils of the liquor traffic. When taken to dance halls it led to unspeakable things, she alleged. Girls, Mrs Peryman continued.

often could remember no more

than being taken to a car—-many

could not name the father of their pitiful little unwanted children.

In Christchurch regulations were enforced to prevent dance patrons parking cars within a considerable radius of dance halls, and in requesting the Wellington City Council to consider similar measures, the deputation had received a good hearing.

The Mayor had remarked that these women had every right to ask the council to keep the dance halls clean. W.C.T.U. members had been condemned as fanatics in the past, Mrs Peryman said. “But now the nonfanatics are talking." she declared. “Educate our voters so they will know we can’t get rid of the evils of the liquor trade without getting rid of liquor itself.” she said. “That is one of the main jobs of the W.C.T.U. “If you can't mend it you must end it.” she said in reminding her audience that, if Mr Savage's promise was kept, an election would be held next year. Church And Liquor Trade. “The liquor trade would end the Church if it could, and the Church could end the liquor trade if it would,” the speaker remarked. It, tor one election. Christian women would swing their whole weight, they could sweep the liquor trade from New Zealand. She indicated that people saw the evils of the liquor trade but did not see their own responsibilities. Only one-third of the votes had been cast at the election which gave the United States its liquor trade again. Mrs Peryman staled. America had slipped back because of indifference, but the people were waking up now. She stressed the joy of working for the cause and impressed upon her hearers the necessity for everyone to pull their weight. “Cant”’ had been the keynote of prodepi’ession conferences, but at the last big convention Mrs Peryman had attended, there had been “no can’ts."

Likening God's power to electricity, the speaker made a clover analogy and said members should not be storage batteries, but real live wires. They must be in partnership with God to clean,«e the country of these evils. “We will banish strong drink if

we have the faith,” declared Mrs

pci-yir.au. “Wo have got to believe in victory,” They had been told they were trying to do the impossible. An American had remarked that you could hire a man to do -any possible task; only faith

could accomplish the impossible

“There is not more immorality now than in the past." the speaker said, “but it is being brought out into the limelight." “The time has come when the drink traffic has got to go; we have got to got rid of it. Wo can do it with the help of our great Commander,” concluded Mr? Peryman. Election of Officers.

An adjournment was then taken for afternoon tea, after which Mrs. Speer, of Whangarei. sang before business was continued.

Election of officers resulted;—President, Mrs W. J. Roberts (re-elected); vice-presidents. Mrs Vyle (Whangarei). Mrs F. Wordsworth (Dargaville). and Mrs Hill Taylor (Te Kopuru), (reelected); correspondence secretary. Miss Edmed (Dargaville) ire-elected); recording secretary, Miss M. I. McLeod (Hikurangi) (re-elected); treasurer, Mrs W. T. Weir cTauraroa) (reelected).

Miss Edmed < Dargavillei. moved votes of thanks to the Whangarci branch lor the splendid treatment visiting members had received, and to the press, whilst Mrs W. J. Roberts moved a vote of thanks to the Salvation Army for the use of the building for the convention. Tribute was paid to Ihe .splendid work of Mrs Roberts and to her husband, who is to receive a special letter of thanks from the convention. Miss Goodall brought the business sax ion to a close with an appropriate prayer.