W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10852, 18 March 1921, Page 9

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

OFFICERS FOR COMING YEAR. PBtt \T ,r, V ASHBURTON, March 17. The W.C-T.U. Convention elected the following: officers for the ensuing year:— President, Mrs W. R. Don (Dunedin): corresponding secretary, Miss Henderson (Christchurch); recording 6eeretary, Mrs A. R. Atkinson (Wellington); treasurer, Miss Bendeley (Auckland). It was decided to hold next year's Convention at Hamilton. The following resolutions were passed by the W.C.T.U. Convention as Ashburton : That this convention learns with pleasure that at the recent conference of educational authorities the question of education on sex hygiene in our public schools was given serious consideration, and further that the convention urges the Education Department to adopt the suggestions made by Dr. Wilkin. .Medical Director of Schools. That convention respectfully urge the Minister for Justice to devise an effective scheme whereby prisoners and persistent defaulters in the matter of maintenance may be employed upon compulsory reproductive work, and that the money so earned be devoted to 'the support of their dependants. That as ignorance on matters relating to sex relations on the part of many young people is the cause of much of the social evil that exists among us, convention suggests that, if possible, a lady possessing the neoessary quolificai tions 'should be appointed to travel throughout New Zealand to give addresses and interviews on the subject. Where,i« there is. so far as we know, no evidence that any compulsory measures have ever been found effective in the treatment or stay of V.D., and whereas on the contrary all forms, of compulsion have been, or are being given up Ity nations that have used them whereas tho principle of arrest on susi picion and compulsory examination con--1 tained in the proposed Social Hygiene Bill embodies tho worst features of the old C.D. Acts. Resolved: That this convention respectfully urge the Minister for Public Health, before attempting any such enactment, to extend as quick- I iy as possible facilities for free treatment. of all patients voluntarily presenting themselves by opening clinics at convenient places and. hours, and to carryon with vigour and persistence the campaign of education in sex hygiene in every suitable way and to improve wherever possible the provision for public cleanliness and decency. It was resolved that an invitation be givon Lo Miss Anna Gorclan, world's ©uperintendeTit for the Royal Temperance Lpgion and life-long- friend of Francis Willard, to be present at the New Zealand W.C.T.U. Convention, 1922. Mrs Armor, of America, is to be invited to tour New Zealand. Mrs Don says in all her travels she had never met a woman who could rock an audience like Mrs Arnior.