W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10542, 19 March 1920, Page 8

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

CLOSING SESSION. The final meeting of the W.C.T.U. Couve.iuion :was lueW ofehto-r day. Crabbe presiding. As two of tho Maori delegates were in the room m the morning the president said a tew words further of farewell, and Mrs Noda bnefli responded. „ . , The election of officers was proceeded with, and all the Dominion officers were unanimously re-elected. I resident, Mrs Don; chief vice-president, Mrs Crabbe; corresponding secretary, -'U-r Renderson; recording secretary, Mrs Evans; treasurer, Mrs Bendcly. VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS. The following recommendations were brought forward by the executive and passed by tho Convention (1) That anti-gambling be made a. department in itself separate from legal and Parliamentary; (2) that the Department of Military Camps be dropped; (3) that the suggestion of making a separate department to deal with soldiers wives be not adopted. It was desirable that soldiers wives should become as quickly as possible civilians’wives, and work in connection with these newcomers to New Zealand can be done under the Department of Relief Work and Flower Mission. Mi»i Henderson moved the following as superintendents lor the departments named ;—Evangelistic Home and_ mothers’ meetings, Mrs Johnson Bright; Maori, Mrs Walkersocial and moral hygiene. Miss A. Webb; literature, Mrs MowtemC Cork nm'lng Mrs Nemino; L.T.L. Cradle Roll and Band of Mercy, Mrs Neal; Y r . branches. Mrs Perrett; sceintifie temperance instruction, Miss Holyer; prison and reformatory work, Sister Moody Bell: acting superintendent, adjutant Gordon: good citizenship, Mrs Phillips: legal and Parliamentary, Miss Henderson; home science, etc., Mrs McDonald; Bible in schools and Sabbath observance, Mrs Weston; relief work land,flower mission, Airs Doreen; rest and refreshment booths, Mrs Upton. The departments of anti-gambling and peace and arbitration were left to be filled up by the executive. On the nomination of Miss Henderson Mrs Field was appointed Domionion librarian. Invitations for the 1921 Convention were received from Ashburton and Dunedin, and that of Ashburton was accepted. JUVENILE CRIME. The following resolutions were passed: —"X'hat in view of the fact that the ‘Lancet’ is calling attention to the alarming increase of juvenile crimes, strongly advises parents to prevent tueir children reading exciting books, or feeing exciting pictures, and also that certain magistrates in this Dominion in dealing with young boys convicted of serious offences, -prohibits their attendance at pictures during the term of their probation, this Convention urges unions to use every endeavour to arouse parents to the serious danger involved in children attending promiscuous picture shows. Further that tho unions be urged to induce picture proprietors to provide specially selected programmes for children on Saturday afternoons.” It was also decided to direct the attention of Parliament to the facts above detailed, also that magistrates when placing offenders on probation prohibit their attendance at picture shows, and asking Government to regulate tho attendance of children at such shows. “This Convention views with dissatisfafction the delay there has been in getting returned- men on to suitable land, and urges the' Government to at once throw open more and better land tor these men who have fought for their country. The Convention is also of opinion that owing to the delay which it creates the present system of the ballot is unsatisfactory.” MATERNITY NURSING. Airs T. El Taylor, on behalf of the Christchurch Union, moved “That Convolition review tbe question of district nursing as at present it is almost entirely carried on by nurses in training at St. Helens Hospitals, and who are not fully qualified for the work. Members wish to point out that a very great risk is run by patients who have to be nursed' by inexperienced women or girls who are undergoing training, and who at the same time cannot he under the direct supervision of the matron while engaged in this important and highly responsible work away from the hospital iteelf; that is in the district where the matron can onlv occasionally visit. We would suggest that for important work of this nature the Health Department should appoint properly trained and certificated women as district maternity nurses to take charge of all district cases. If necessary St. Helens probationers could work 'under the direct supervision of such qualified women. Maternity district nurses have already been appointed in Ashburton and other places with most satisfactory results.” . FINAL RESOLUTION.

The final resolution dealt with was the following—“ That . the AVomen> Christian Temperance Union now. sitting in Wellington appeals to all organisations that aim at the uplifting of humanity lo give an active support for the sake ot tho children to the cause of prohibition, in order that the work of the next campaign moy bo placed on the broadest possible basis, and may include the active sympathy- of all who, however widely, differing in points of opinion, polity, or belief, are yot united in. the desire to sweep the liquor traffic from this Dominion.” PRESENTATION OF BANNERS. After the afternoon tea adjournment, the president presented banners to tho Hastings branch, who had mi increase of 173 per cent, in membership during the year; tho Invercargill Y branch, who nad 145 now members, ami who also gained a special banner for the A branches. The delegates from these branches responded. Heartv votes of thanks were passed to the ‘Central Alission Band, tho Mayoress for her welcome, the secretary and matron of the Y’.Af.C.A. and Y r .W.C A. for lunch and use of rest-room. the trustees of Wesley Church for the use of the hall for meetings, and the care, taker, the Rev. .Mr Burridge for the Convention sermon, the ladies and gentlemen who entertained, delegates and gave lectures, the ladies providing afternoon tea, the Press, the rooms committee, the hosts and hostesses who extended hospitality, to delegates, and the entertaining unions. The Convention then closed.

Box 1211.