WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 69

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

CONTENTION AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, March 12. At the business meeting- of the W.C.T.U., opened this morning, the president, Mrs T. j Cole, in a lengthy address, referred to the wonderful advance of Prohibition throughout the world, and expressed gratification at the results of the local option polls in . Australia. Reference was made to the • campaign against gambling in the Dominion, the Gaming Act of last session being regarded as a great advance on anything attempted before, though th licensing of bookmakers was regarded as a retrograde step. The desirability of more beinj? done in the way of temperance teaching in schools was urged, and the subject of infant life protection was dwelt on at some length. The report of the corresponding secretary (Miss Webb) was read, and showed 54- branches, with a membership of 1500, Napier heading the list with 122. AUCKLAND, Maroh 13 The treasurer's report shows a total expenditure by the New Zealand Union during the year of £68 12s 2d; receipts, £131 14s lid; balance, £63 2s 9d. The Exhibition Bay Committee reports receipts, £187 12s 7^d ; expenditure, £188 Us l^d; debit balance, 18s 6d. It is expected that this will be made up by sales of curios and photography. | The sum of the expenditure of the local unions and departments to hmd is: — Re-. ceipts, £1509 15s 5Ad; expenditure, £1129 15s lOd; balance, £379 19b 7£d. AUCKLAND, March 14. The morning session of the W.C.T.U. convention was devoted to the White Ribbon report. The balance sheet showed the finances of the paper to be in a satisfactory condi- j tion. The editor (Miss L. M. Smith, Chnstchurch) had resigned. Mrs Old- • ham (of Napier) was nominated for the position. Members of the convention were entertained by the Auckland Union at an excursion on the harbour this afternoon. At the evening session the following resolution was passed on the motion of Miss M'Carthy — "That this public meeting affirms the principle of equal pay for equal work, and that in seeking prefer-

ment women should be eligible for all positions for which they are fitted on equal terms with men, and that the time has come for the removal of all civil and political disabilities under which women labour." Miss Roberts dealt with the economio a.zi«l other <Jisa.l>ilrfcies -of xtaarrie^i "\voira«u, I and remarked that the laws as at present existing needed considerable alteration in the interests of both husband and wife. The legislation required the judgment and deliberation of competent men and women if the home was to be regulated and protected as it should be. - The following resolution was then carried on the motion of Miss Roberts — "That in the opinion of this meeting the legal recognition of the economic equality of hueband and wife is desirable for the attainment of justice and for the furtherance of a truer marriage relationship." A practically unanimous vote from the convention members and the public was then passed in favour of the motion. AUCKLAND, March 16. I At the W.C.T.U. Conference to-day a I resolution limiting the length of the term of office of the New Zealand officers was lost by a large majority. Mrs Gaskin (Greymouth) showed replies from most of the places in the Dominion where unions exist to questions sent out in regard to the use of unfermented wine in the Sacrament. Most of the Nonconformist churches use unfermented wine whilst most of the Anglican use fermented wine.