WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 55

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Tbe monthly meeting of tho Women's Christian Temperance Union was held on Wednesday afternoon in the Y.W.O.A. Rooms, and was well attended. Visitors were present from Oatnaru, Feilding, and Tasmania. Tbe following executive officers were also present :—: — President, Mrs Thomas Dick ; treiwurar, Mra A. C. Begg ; and secretary, Miss Nicol. Mt» Dick presided. Over 30 letters, telegrams, and postoards w^re received from the various unions in New Zealand. Tne major part of this correspondence dealt with the convention ltitely held by the New Zealand Union in Daneilin last month. The Secrktaby r«ad a letter from the bu*mer-s manager (Mis Smith) of the "White Ribbon," requesting aaeiataTico re tho dfebfc on the paper. Two pouuds was unanimously voted for that purpose. Twelve members gave in thsir names as willing to take copies of tbe " White Ribboa " number containing a full report of the New Zealand Union Convention, The secretary was directed to order three dozen copies of the "White Ribbon" these copie3 to be sold to msinbei s or anyone wishing a copy. Miss Kirk wrote thanking the union for the kind hospibality accorded the delegates at tha convention. An animated and unanimous disoustion was entered into by some of the members re the Bible in schools, after which a resolution to the effect that the Bible be read in its entirety in tho pubic schools was pasped. Miss Dalrymple (colonial superintended of the Bible-in-Schools A»soc?ation) also spoke. The union received with regreb inform iti on of the accident; which befell bhe president of the Chri&tchurch union after her return from the convention. The secretary was authorised to forward to Mra Bullantyne the sinosre sympathy ef the Dunedin union. A new member was enrolled. Consideration of the reports of the delegates to the Prohibition Convention and the New Zealand Union was deferred owing to the want of time. In connection with the convention of the W.C.T.U., held in Dunedin in April, the following "message" has been forwarded to tho president :—: — Madame Praaidenfc, — It is matter for deep regret to us all that in the great press af business at our late convention iv Dunedin the opportunity was let slip of expressing our gratitude towards Mrs Sheppard for her noble efforts to gain the franchise for the woman of New Zealand. How bravely she battled for this reform ; how, unsparingly she gave bime, thought, and personal exertion to the work, how ably and successfully she championed our cvusa is acknowledged by all with admiration. To her in large measure we owe it that New Zealand, first of all countries in Queen Victoria's dominions, burst the barriers of ancient prejudice, removed the unjust legal disabilities of women, and gave them freedom. The benefits arisiug from this achievement, though imperfectly realised as yet, will unfold themselves as time rolls on, new fields will open to tho public-spirited amongat us, and the women of the future will. discover more and more the value of legal freedom. For this privilege is not a passing good, but a great social revolution, whose effects will be beat knowu and appreciated by the ages to coma. It is a boon which women in other times longed for aud died without obtaining: a boon which women in other lands are still agitating for in vain. We would fain give voice to our high sense of what Mrs Sheppard hag done for New Zealand. We would gladly own our immense debt to her. We look upon her as the human instrument iv winniug a great victory. Her name ought to be handed down to our children's children, with the record of her servire3, and we trust she may be long spared in health to see much fruit coming in as the reault of her great and disinterested labours. April 11, 1896. (Signed by) A. J. Schnackenberg, New Zealand President W.U.T.U. D. Ballantynb, President Christchurch Union. E. M Widdowson, Corresponding Secretary Chrisfcchurch Union. E. M. Dick, President Dunediu Union. H. L. Nicol, Hon. Sec. Dunedin Union. Katherine Begg, Hon. Treasurer Dunedin Union. And many others.