NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12618, 23 March 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

THE ANNUAL CONVENTION. Second Day. The New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance- Union's Convention continued its sesaon on March 12 in the hall occupied tho chair. Tho first day's proceedings was devoted mainly to the address of the president, who dealt at length with tire results of the local option polls, etc. TREASURER'S IIKPORT AND 31AIASCK SUEKT. Mr 3 Hill (Napier), treasurer, submitted a statement of accounts for the past year, which sot forth the receipts of tho New Zealand Union to have been £7+ 16e 7d and the expenditure to £40 4s 6d, leaving a balance of £3! 12s Id. The returns of local balance sheets gave total receipts for tho colony at £931 18s 2d, the expenditure at £ESO o.< 9Jd, and leaving a balance of £131 17s 4J>d. Capitation was received from 47 unions, representing 1040 members, in 1902, and 1022 during !lu> present year. Reports were submitted and adopted dealling with purity and rescue work, educational work, evangelistic services, Maori missions, mothers' meetings, scientific temperance instruction, and the gambling evil prevalent throughout the colony. The annual convention of the New Zealand W.C.T.U. was continued on March 13. , • Reports were read on tin subjects of sailors' rests and the distribution of literature. Mrs Slieppard (Cliristchurch), in response to a request from ths President, took the platform to read her paper on "The Disabilities of Women," and moved tho following resolutions, which wore parried after discussion:—" That this convention, reprosentinpf 47 unions of women in the colony, is of opinion (1) that in a free community the laws should be in ihe direction of giving each of its members equality of opportunity; (21 that in the best interests of the State every human being should be free to enter upon euch duties and honourable occupations as may be suited to his or he-r acquired capacity; (3) that only by such freedom can the State obtain tho fullest economic value of its citizens; (4) that the legal restraints now placed upon tho frocdom of women exclusively imply a sens© of inferiority, and are dishonouring to the womanhood of the community; (5) that the removal of the civil, and political disabilities of women is a logical sequence- to the extension of the franchise to them; (6) that in all cases where men and women are engaged in the same work, either in the emplyoment of Government or of private individuals, equal wage should ho paid for equal work; (7) that the delegates hero assembled therefore plodsjn their unions to increasing agitation for the removal of the civil and political disabilities of women." The annual Convention of the New Zealand W.C.T.U. was continued on March 14. The following resolutions were passed :- "That this convention deplores the fact that gambling is increasing among young people. It believes that the legislation of the totalisator has done much to foster tho gambling evil upon the colony. It therefore recommends' the unions to bring the matter of the abolition of the totalisator before their union?, and before the members for their respective districts." "That a letter be signed by all members of the convention and forwarded to the Minister of Justice protesting against the disgracefully inadequate sentences inflicted on men for criminal assault on girls of tender years." " That the convention again urge the passage of a bill providing for tho protection of young persons, by arranging for the finding of guardians whose children are found in the streets after an hour to be fixed by law." "Tliafc hospital accommodation be provided for those suffering from certain diseases who ehall voluntarily present themselves for treatment." "That this convention protest strongly against the employment of barmaids in houses licensed for the sale of drink, a practice fraught with evil to the young women themselves and to thoso frequenting the houses." " That the system of party government in New Zealand has many evils connected with it, and is entirely unsuited to the circumstances of the colony." "That the Houes of • Representatives should elect the membere of the Cabinet, who shall thus he made individually and directly responsible to and be removable by

the House;. tliatW'.i member of the House should he free to act according to the dictate, .of lib epnsMoneo, and iiot be a mere, slave , of parly." A report.on the.Bible-in-scliools question J hayiiis .botir -adopted, resolutions wrro passed again urging the repeal of the CD. Act, and that the nge of protection he raised to' 21 years. = . The following ofP.ec-bEarora wore elected for file ensuing yas 1 :—President, Mib A. H. ' Atkinson (Wellington); vice-president, Mrs Schnoickenberg (Auckland): coiTesponding • secretary,' Miss Xf. S. Powell (Christchwch); recording, secretary,,. Miss Maunder (Hawera); treasurer, .Alls H. Hill (Napier); assistant corresponding secretary,' Miss D. E. .Twwnlow. (Urniedin). Superiiitondents of the .various departments were: appointed as follows:—Evange.liflic, Mrs Ritchie (Kaiapoi) {) home meetings, Mrs Crump (Nelson)'; educational meetings, Mrs Powell (Christehureh); Sabbath observance, Mi<;s Alinehin '(Inkling); Maori work, Mrs Sclmackenbcrf; (Auckland) ; modal contesb, Mrs Mazengarb (Dunoclin); work .11110113; young people, Mr* Hill (Napier); • scientific temperance instruction, Miss Maunder (Man-era); unfermented wine, Mrs Plmnmor (Auckland); press work, Mr.? Cole (Christchnroh);.purity and rescue, work, Mrs Webb (Ormomlvi'lle); mothers' meetings, Mrs Gaslcin (Breymoutli); Bible-in-schools,' Mrs Dowav (Auckland); narcotics, ■ • Miss Kirk (Wellington); work among sea-: men, Mrs. Whitting (Lyttelton); literature, Mrs Hughes (Auckland); relief work, Mr.? : Corlett (Auckland);' legal and parliament;, ary, Mrs Shenpard (Christchnrch); antigambling, Mr.s Mtcalister (Invcrcargill): peace. and arbitration. Miss Dalrymple (I.evi)i). . The following resolutions were passed niiamously:—(l) "That I hi? conventions affirms the great democratic principle of govern- , ment by a bare majority on all questions"; 1 (2) " that this convention believes that the ■ clauses in the Factory Act which give privileges to women in the direction of shorter hours of work, and forbids their working overtime without special permit have the effect of not only lessening their chances of employment, bill also of assigning to them the inferior branches of work in the industries. It is therefore of opinion that all so-called firivilcges should bo done away with, and the aeia amended so as to apply to men and -yonicn indiscriminately " ; (,3) " that all men and women entitled to exercise the parliamentary franchise shall also he entitled to exercise tho local franchise": (4) "lhat it is deniable that .women should occupy seats on all local bodies." . 1

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