W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 March 1936, Page 3

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

TEMPERANCE WORK DOMINION GATHERING AT AUCKLAND A DELAYED VICTORY It had been said, said Mrs 11. Kasper, president of the Auckland •district branch of tlfe W.C.T.U., at the first annual Dominion Convention at Auckland recently that the W.C.T.U. was attempting the impossible, but in her opinion the members of the. union saw in every unsuccessful encounter not failure but a delayed victory. During the 50 years of its existence in New Zealand there had been great changes in the progress of the Union. Other women’s organisations had been formed, and in their way were doing fine work in supporting the war against the liquor traffic.

“The work of the union,” said Mrs t-Tiett, of Dunedin, Dominion president, in responding to greetings, “is based on aCSpiritual foundation. All members work as one regardless of denomination.” Mrs Hiett. pointed out that theirs was a campaign against all that was destructive to'mankind. Through the present convention it was hoped that weaknesses in the machinery of the union would he discovered, and that a plan of education among young people and children would he prepared. The convention’s business consisted of the appointment of committees, consideration of certain resolutions, and the presentation of the corresponding secretary's report and the treasurer’s report and balance-sheet. “We have gathered together after tbe battle,” said the Dominion_ president, in the course of her presidential address, “to take counsel with one another; but hot to mourn over our depleted vote or to lower our* banners . It is ours to go forward with confidence, knowing that science, goodness and truth are our bulwarks.”

Mrs IHelt' referred to the necessity for education among the young. “If we want our chilcken to stand four-square in temptation we must give them a strong and firm conviction that liquor drinking is detrimental, and we must develop our work among the youth,” she said Tribute was paid to the Young People’s Union and the excellent results of its work. In referring to the union’s future campaign she strongly urged a free use of posters and suggested that the Government be approached for perm’ssioh to use films. In Sweden the Government was behind the temperance movement, assisting every educational enterprise to instruct 'the young. _ The menace of the road and of the air had made the temperance question a national one. It was women’s duty, Mrs Hiett considered, to be the heralds of purity and peace to the youth of the land, and she appealed for unity in this direction. An appeal .was also made by the Dominion president for the support of all members towards peace among nations. Every nation, she said, was .seething with unrest. Rapid changes were in the air and it was only through a. Christian spirit that success could he attained. Another task of the W.C.T.U. was to see" that ’ the Scriptures were taught to every boy and girl. Indeed, all reforms must be based on spiritual teaching or failure would be the result. Mrs W. 11. Hiett made reference to the loss the’union had sustained in the deaths of several of its staunch supporters, mentioning in particular Mrs Kate Evans, M.A., >vho was New Zealand recording secretary for' many years, and her sister, Mrs Judson, Mis McCombs, M.P., wlfo was for several veers the Dominion treasurer and m the Wider field of political life used her gifts for the furtherance of the ideals of the union, and lastly Mrs _ Lovell Smith, who edited the ‘White Ribbon for many years. In presenting the annual report Miss C. K. Henderson, Dominion corresponding secretary, said there was a noticeable increase of interest in the movement among the Maori population ol New Zealand; Six Maori Y brandies, comprising young people over the age of 16 years had been formed in audition to one adult Maori branch at Raetihi and four in North Auckland. The white ribbon department now hac a steadily increasing, membership of 10,876 members, although she thought 'that more effort should be made to reach the older children. At present only 62 unions were taking an active part ip, this, direction. Forty-three unions 1 maintained 45 bands of hope and 19 unions possessed a loyal temperance legion, most of the latter being in the Auckland district. In connection with temperance work abroad, Miss Henderson said there was a growing activity in all directions. Arising from the work of the Intelnational Bureafi against Alcoholism an International Temperance League had been formed with a powerful British section. At the' invitation of Dr. Courtenay Weeks, secretary of the league, the W.C.T.U. in New Zealand had affiliated, and as the World’s W.C.I.L. was affiliated with the international league the New Zealand movement was doubly affiliated, . The following resolution was carried: “This convention reaffirms its conviction that the liquor traffic is «v menace to the best interests and welfare of the people of New Zealand, and that its abolition would be beneficial to the individual, the home and the nation. It therefore urges every Christian congregation t.o unite ,in a inoral crusade of education in order to create a na - ional conscience that will render continuance of the liquor traffic nnposBefore moving the resolution. Mrs Hiett. said in her address that she did not think that moderate methods such as State . Control would be very effeclive Complete abolition was the goal of the W.C.T.IT. The last national vote on the question was not a credit to New Zealand. She considered that ‘many people in New Zealand had been influenced by .the repeal of prohibition in the United States, taking that as a guarantee of the failure of prohibition. Recent happenings, however, had convinced her that, people m the United States were now realising the advantages of their former years of prolubiThe recent licensing poll in New Zealand had, in Mrs Ilictt’s opinion, proved a lack of moral conscience, and was a challenge to all members of the W.C. T.TJ. There was an urgent need for educating children in temperance work ar.d training them to realise that honor was definitely opposed to the perfect functioning of body, brain and business. This education could most effect 1 vo.v he carried out bv home meetings and hv teaching in both dev and Sunday schools. She thought that films would .fie an ideal avenue for the education in temperance of vonng | __ 1 I