WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15706, 7 March 1913, Page 6

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

ANNUAL CONVENTION. . PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. (Per Units:) Pi:ess Association.) •NELSON, March 6. Mre Cole, president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, in the course of her presidential address dealt at very considerable length with tho aims and objects of tl>3 organisation and tho progress made during the yeaj\ Referring to the liquor traffic, she said that the philanthropist, the politician, and to some extent the churches seemed satisfied to apply a lotion here and apoultico there when the nntion was suffering from a malignant growth that required the surgeon's knife. Members were urged to support the pledge and fight foj the bare majority. Unions were assisting temperance teaching in the schools by offering prizes, etc. The union was satisfied .that no system would be effective in stopping the terrible results of the liquor trade but i absolute prohibition itself. She urged members to frustrate the efforts of the racing fraternity to increase the totalisator permits and to publish dividends. The fact that women were unable to take part in making laws or take a seat in the legislative halls was disadvantageous. The crimes against women were too lightly dealt with, and in the courts and gaols women were governed by men. The difference in wages was looked upon as an injustice. Censorship of- picture films was badly needed. Some were harmless and others were educational, but some appealed to the lowest passions of human nature. The manner in which the Barmaids' Registration Act was evaded was deplored. Dealing with woman suffrage, she remarked that whether they believed in militancy or not, all would sympathise with the women who, through the Speaker's ruling, had had their, hopes dashed to the ground. Satisfaction was expressed at the suppression of the \Vhite slave traffic. She stated that the world's convention would be held at Brooklyn this year. In conclusion, M/s Cole remarked: "We fight to protect all nearest and dearest to us, and defy any man, be he publican or brewer, to dare say a mother has 110 right to fight for her own." • The secretary's report showed that there were 135 branches in the dominion with a membership 'of 3144.

■ Miss Hodge, a member of the Constitutional Suffrage Society, and Miss Newcomb, secretary of the Women's Voters' Association, addressed tho convention, urging support of the women of England and other countries in their efforts to gain the vote. The speakers pictured the dreadful sufferings of the women and' children at Home through unjust laws.

The treasurer's report showed the receipts to be £243 18s 7d and the expenditure £143 18s 7d.

Tho banner presented by the New Zealand Union for the greatest proportionate increase in membership was won this year by Oxford.