WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 5

WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE UNION

SIXTEEENTH CONVENTION. Tire morning session commenced yes- ! terday at 9.30, with the usual prayermeeting. The roll-call was answered by twenty-six delegates. Mrs Schnackeni berg presided. The reports of the superintendetnts of | departments were read : —Evangelistic,' / home meetings, hygiene and food reform i and Alaori mission. The report of press work was followed by the reading of the report and balancesheet of the official organ “The White Ribbon.” The discussion which followed was animated and interesting. Mrlsitt was introduced to the convention, as he wished to ask the ladies to consider the advisability of inviting Aliss Florence Balgaruie to visit New Zealand. , ; The afternoon session was occupied with considering the report of the literature superintendent, which was satisfactory financially and otherwise, j The Resolutions Committee brought forward the following resolutions: —That Parliament be requested (1) to introduce i legislation forbidding the sale of tobacco I and cigarettes to children; (2) to remove j the C.D. Acts from tho statute book; 1 (3) to raise the age of protection to | twenty-one years; (4) to pass a law for j the protection of the' children in our ’ streets. Resolutions were also passed expressing the appreciation of tne convention of (1) the action of her Alajesty Queen Alexandra in omitting alcohol at the banquet given by her to the troops^ (2) of the stand Lord Roberts has taken against the use of alcohol in the army: (3) of the proposal to establish a Alaori Girls’ School in memory of our late bej loved Queen, and promising to assist financially; (4) expressing regret at the action of the Government in supplying : alcohol to the Imperial troops in Wellington and Auckland, contrary to the de- | cision of the local committees; (6) affirming the desirability of celebrating tho dawn of the new century by a crusade to secure 1000 new pledges. Airs Sheppard, of Christchurch, read a paper on the "Public Health Act.” Mrs Allan, ALA., LL.B., read a forcible paper upon “Some ludirect Methods of Temperance Reform.”. Both papers were warmly received and discussed. The session -will-be resumed this morn-

A public meeting, under the auspices of the Convention, was held last night, in the Baptist Church, Vivian street. Airs Schnackenberg, president of the New Zealand branch of the union, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of tho public. The President, in her opening remarks, said that every portion of the colony had been visited .by the union’s organisers', and, its literature distributed -as far as possible. Aliss Roberts explained the meaning of State control—a solution of tho liquor problem, as its advocate claimed. Aliss Powell also addressed the audience. She said that one thing she appreciated in England was tho responsive character of the audiences. Shei used to pity English women, for they spoke with such fearfulness of the franchise and of their apprehensions that if it were granted the mein would lose their chivalry . Soon, she predicted, woman would stand by man’s side in the work of regenerating tho world. She appealed forcibly to the women and! girls present, who were not members, to join the rmion and use their influence! over the other sex to its ennoblement. Airs Sheppard spoke on the removal of all political and civil disabilities of women. Equality of opportunity, irrespective of sox, and liberty to work out her own destiny, was what women wanted tef-day. * Airs Atkinson asked to bo allowed to add her appeal to Miss Powell’s, that they should all do their best in the cause for the sake of the children. A dialogue, “A Congress of Nations,” was spokeni with- marked elocutionary intelligence by Aliss Alay Harvey and a number of clever young lady assistants during an interval in the addresses. A sacred solo was also sung by Air Whytton. On tho motion of the RaV F. Isitt, a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Harvey, her assistants, and 1 Mr Whytton, was passed with acclamation.