WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24417, 1 October 1940, Page 10

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

The annual district convention of the W.C.T.U. was held on Thursday last. Mrs J. Sanders, district president, was in the chair. The Rev. T. G. Bycroft, on behalf of the local Ministers’ Association. welcomed the delegates and conveyed the best wishes of his fraaternal for a successful convention and for a realisation of the aims expressed in the union's motto —“For God, Home and Humanity." Reports from the secretary. treasurer and the superintendents of departments showed steady progress. Several periods were devoted to intercession on behalf of the Empire in its struggles for freedom and justice and prayer that a new world might emerge from the present chaos. The sum of £5 was given to the Soldiers’ Christmas Parcel Fund. It was decided that the W.C.T.U. would heartily support the petition sponsored by the New Zealand Alliance in, which certain reforms of the liquor trade are requested. In the course of an address Mrs J. Hiett. Dominion president, said that the W.C.T.U. had a challenge to set up the standard of the Lord against the powers of evil. Resolutions were passed endorsing any movement seeking total abstinence among the, troops, advocating the closing of “ wet canteens ” in military camps, and requesting the Government to reduce drastically the manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor in the Dominion. It was also resolved to urge upon the Government the necessity of more stringent enforcement of the law. especially as regards afterhour trading, and another resolution condemned “ the orgy of raffles and art unions that is being carried on in New Zealand at the present time in the name of patriotic efforts.” Finally it was urged that scientific temperance instruction should be made compulsory in schools. The following officers were elected:— President. Mrs J. Sanders; vice-presi-dent. Mrs Parker (Oamaru); secretary. Miss M. Gray: treasurer, Miss Ford; Young People’s superintendent, Mrs P. Gardner: white ribbon. Miss Ford: cradle roll. Mrs Flett.