W.C.T.U.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10536, 12 March 1920, Page 3

W.C.T.U.

ANNUAL CONVENTION,

Tho thirty-fifth annual Convention of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was opened in the Wesley schoolroom, Taranaki street, yesterday morning. About 100 delegates attended, representing unions at Gisborne, Auckland, Woodville, Whangarei, Hamilton, Napier, Dannevirke, Hastings. Norsewood, Waipukurau, New Plymouth, Ngaire, Stratford, Ncrmanby, Wanganui, Palmerston, Turakina, Fedlding. Marton, Greytown, Masterton, Nelson. Richmond, Wakefield, Blenheim, Picton, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, Balclutha, Invercargill, Aromoho, and other places. Mrs Crabbe. vice-president of the union, was in the chair, and supporting her were Mrs Johnson Wright, president Wellington, District union. Mrs Peryman, editor of the "White Ribbon," Miss Henderson, Dominion secretary, and Mrs W. A. Evans, secretary of the Convention.

The acting-prosident welcomed the members and gave an interesting address to the delegates on the work that would be required during the next three years. Prayers followed and the Crusade hymn was sung, and the Crusade Psalm waa read hy Mrs Peryman, who gave a short (stirring address', urging all to more enthusiasm in the work. , After tho devotional part of the proceedings the business of the Convention began with the roll-call and appointment of proxies. After this Mrs W. A. Evans gave a report of the executive meeting held the previous day, which dealt with fho agenda for the Convention.

Committees wore then appointed. Mrs Helyer was appointed to attend to the mail; Mias Powell, letter writer; districts presidents to arrange for Press roSorts. One representative from each istrict was appointed to tho Resolutions Comrfiittee, to which all resolutions must be submitted.

Resolutions of sympathy were passed with Mrs White on tho death of the Rev. Alexander White,' who had been a great friend and worker for tho temperance cause; to Miss Hosking, Masterton, on the death of Mrs Hosting, who had been a worker for prohibition; to the family of the Rev. Mr Patterson, of Christchurch, on the death of Mrs Patterson. It was decided to send a letter from Convention, to Miss Sutherland, who had been treasurer for eleven years at Masterton, and was now unable to continue her work through illness.

. After the minutes of last year’s Convention had been read by Mr Evans, Miss Henderson crave the report of the year’s work. This showed that the year had been a record one in that there had been two licensing polls, which meant that the energies of the majority of members had been devoted to work in this direction, such as house te house canvassing, etc. As a result of the energy expended in these directions tho amount of work in other departments was not so much as usual, while the lateness of the last poll caused disorganisation as to meetings, etc., and fewer unions than usual have furnished reports. The union organisers were working under the i National Prohibition Council, and the Y. branches had joined forces with the Young Women’s Efficiency Leagues, and consequently some lost their own identity. Mrs Lee-Cowie was unfortunately ill for some time last year. Mrs Wheeler, who came over as a woman organiser, was allowed by the union executive to work under the National Prohibition Council, as it was thought she would do more effective work by addressing meetings of women who were not likely to 1)6 reached by the W.C T.U. Towards the end of last year the New Zealand Union was notified that the world’s W.C.T.U. Convention would be held in London, and in February Mrs Don (president) left for England, and other members also, so there will he several representatives. Tho union had also been asked to appoint fraternal delegates to the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance Congress, which would meet in Madrid in May. The secretary intimated to the alliance that the president and other members would be in England and might bo able to attend. During the rear correspondence had been received from the officers of the world’s W.C.T.U., tho president of the United States W'.C.T.TT., the Unions of South Africa, Australia, and West Australia, the British Association for Moral and Social Hygionce, and tho British Dominions Women Citizens’ Union. The union was represented at tho Townplanning Conference in May last by .the president and others, when Mrs Field contributed a short paper on the need for providing public means of recreation for the citizens of a town. Tho usual Provincial Conventions wore held aud all proved very successful. The report concludes •.—‘‘A survey of the reports emphasise what has long been felt to bo a matter of urgent importance, and that is the employment of several organisers in order to enable our existent unions to b« strengthened and new ones to be organised." Miss Henderson also gave a resume of the travelling organisers’ work. Miss Earnshaw arid Miss Weymouth were almost continuously engaged in organising efficiency leagues and under tho prohibition council, so that they had no report to present to th© union. Their work had been so hard that Miss Earnshaw had broken down in health and Miss Weymouth, who continued till tho last poll, had been obliged to take a year’s leave of absence. Mrs Crabbe, the acting-president, spoke some words of appreciation of the work clone bv the two organisers. Mrs Peryman said that Miss Ea.rusbaw since beginning work in January had worked so well for the "White Ribbon" in Southland that in a month she had got 163 new subscribers for the paper and cqllected .£SO. A vote of appreciation of the work done by Miss Earnshaw and Miss Weymouth was passed. Mrs Field moved:—That all Dominion suporintond'mits *>{ departments should, have a seat on the executive during, hut not between, Conventions. Tho motion was seconded bv Mrs Neal, who said that this was done by tho World’s Union, and was recommended by Frances Willard in her book "Do Everything.” Tho motion was carried, but will, not take effect till next Convention. The morning session concluded with prayers. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Convention was continued during the .afternoon, when tho acting-president delivered an address dealing comprehensively with tho work of tho union. Mrs Crabbo first expressed regret,at tho ab-

senco of Mrs Don, the president, hut all rejoiced that she was able to attend; the Worlds Conference, anti she urged that the Contention must make plans to turn tho temperance defeat of the last two polls into -a sweeping victory in the next throe years. The temperance party had three years to educate the young people, who would then vote for the first time and who would bo, a great factor at the poll. The union was to blame that so little instruction, in this matter was given the voung. The largo vote in America for prohibition was due to the scientific temperance instruction given in the schools there, and the W.C.T.U. must demand that such teaching bo introduced into out schools, primary and secondary, and the subject be made a test one at examinations. The union was to blame for the loss at the last poll for not seeing better instruction, was given to the young. New Zealand had hoped to lead the way in temperance reform, but that honour lav with America. Moreover, there the union was iiot resting, but was organising a million dollar fund, and a. large membership campaign, with a view to making the whole world "dnr” by 1930. Mrs Crabbo mentioned reforms and restrictions in 'tlie sale of liquor which were being introduced in all countries in the world, and said the dream of a "dry” world was not such a very remote possibility. Speaking of social and moral* hygiene and the suppression of venereal disease the speaker told of what was still done in Malta, where the old C.D. Acts were In force and in some other places such as Hongkong, etc., where segregation still held. But the public was gradually waking to the evils of these so-called restrictions, which only meant a lack of public decency, and were demanding in some places that the keeping of brothels be made a punishable offence. But even this did not cure the evil. In. New Zealand tho women were glad to note that the authorities recognised that both sexes were responsible (the objection to notification hud been that previously it only affected women and men were free to spread disease). A clean life for two should be the aim of all social workers in tho future. The only cure lav in the hearts of the people and every child had a right to be born healthy. The union was sorry that its repeated requests for policewomen for prevention of wrong-doing among young people were still ignored by the Government. With the increasing freedom for young peopie, who, on leaving school earned wages which made them independent of s their parents or guardians, such appointments were very necessary. ' Speaking of emigration of women, from the Old Country for work on farms, etc., Mrs Crabbe said that If English women could do such work why not New Zealand girls also. The union should ask •'the Government to provide the necessary means of instruction for them.

Gambling was touched upon, by the speaker, who deprecated the gambling for patriotic purposes during the war against, which the union had protested. The speaker congratulated the women of New Zealand on having won the full measure of the. franchise. A broader life wns opening before women and they must prepare for it. The W.C.TV'U. had twenty-four departments, and thfese gave unlimited scope for the interests of all; moreover, the.ir motto, "For God, homo, and humanity/' embraced thoweifafo of all. During the afternoon Airs Orabbe extended a special welcome to those Ataori members who are attending the conference, and also to those who were there for the first time, those numbering thirty-eight. The Eev. J. Dawson attended the conference and addressed the members. He spoke of meeting Anna. A. Gordon, the president of the AmericanW.C.T.tT. He also referred to the Prances Willard statue at the Capitol, the only woman there represented. Illinois, which includes Chicago, had sent this temperance reformer's statue to Washington ■before the State was dry. He was amazed to find that although she had been dead two years hers was one of the three great names in America, the others being Abraham Lincoln and Jloosovolt. .Mr Dawson said that the W.C.T.U. in America paid great attention to education. -Sciientififo .temperance instruction was compulsory for teachers and pupils, and he urged the union to mako.it so in New Zealand. The women in Now Zealand were as well organised ns tire Americans, but the latter "bent ns hollow" in education. Speaking of tho liquor polls, Air Dawson said the women, voted bettor than the men. He urged a great educational campaign as there would be many emigrants coming to New Zealand and they must be educated in temperance reform. After the speeches Afrs Walker, superintendent of work among the Alaoris, road the report for the year and two of the Alaori delegates spoke briefly. The Convention will sit again this morning, when reports of the Y. brandies will 1)0 given.