W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13322, 6 March 1914, Page 4

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

2 MEMORIAL SERVICE. *_"* The meetings m. connection witli. the -~ W.C.T.U'. Convention were ..continued *;. last night, when a memorial service foi -- Mrs Cole, the late national', president* *£ was held. Mrs Don, presided. "CX God. •*- our lyelij m Ages Past" was sung a? ™ the opening hymn, and devotions were _-led by Mrs A. R. Atkinson. The serr" vice was 6fc an impressive, nature, Mrs ~- Don, Miss. Powell 1 , and Misß Roberta .J being the speakers. They paid, liigh to the deceased lady's self-.-sacrificing-, work, , refming to her won_;derful capacity, for work, her wisdom, and her perfect "".womanliness, her intellectual an<| cul- . tured' capacity, her brave and cheerful hopefulness and trust m God. Madame Gleave sang with much feeling, '„' •There is a Green Hill Ear — Away" and •'Crossing, the, Bar." ~ TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS, •'■; At .8,30. this morning the Maori Work ... Comriiittee metj and formulated some .*"" suggestions, which will be considered. Thß: Convention -. resumed at . 9. 30y ' the ; devotional service being -led -by Miss , Powell. • TO-DAY'S REPORTS. The reports laid before to-day's sessions were . as follows : -:-„< Unfermented „ «W ine (Mrs Gaskin); : There is not-much; to' report, except to say -that Uterature Miag. . been sent to District Unions* Several Unions report all /churches, except Arighcan, use urnfermented wine at Holy' Communion,' and we, ar_ -hopeful, that presently- ! theyi too, mhtf- fall, into. line. . Last -year- a deputation^ waited upon. Grape,, the' Archbishop of York to v m*g^! the advisability of making the use 6f unfermerited grape juice opuonal-in tlievadimnistrafion of Holy . Communion,. Narcotics (Mrs Wright^ : I received a letter from the Worlds Superintendent, Dr. Levi Salttiansj -in.' which. she states: "Improve your opportunities to enthuse others, especially the teachers of. -yoJng boys. ..'-. Not only, must, we .fight tpbaccp, but also patent medicines^-ano; drugs that have such a harmful effect upon ( us. •Many patent medicines defend upon' the narcotics- which they contain to' -induce'* people to buy them-" Alsos' "That the W.C.T.U. of ■; New Zealand,,Khouldr^record, its thanks to Almighty ,God^for f the action of the Imperial Goveriiment m abolishing,; at great financial -1055,,, the traffic m .pph_n<- between. . India andChina, Tljis. has occasioned much trouble between the nafioris concerned, and for many years Christians and philanthropic agencies i of all kinds protested against it as a, blot "upon British administration." The report, then detailed the, doings, m this departriient. at various towns m New Zealand. Meetings had been held and literature distributed dealing- with tobacco smoking. Literature, (Mrs E. S. Dearlove) : This report, outlined; the activities m this department, shoeing, that an.. immense., quantity of, literature' of many kinds had been distributed and* various institutions supplied- , :" -■••"''' Work : Akinpng Seamen (Mrs rWliitby) :' "I have written .many letters to the seaport Unions, and m most cases h4ve received courteous answers, and all aie interested m the work, though at present ;spme are not able to report. We would like to express our gratitude to. those inland Uniops who have helped the seaports with comfort bags. I need hardly/ say hbw. much their help is appreciated. Truly we may say, 'Hitherto hath ,the Lord helped us.' " Regarding, Dunedin, the report stiitesj "Twenty,-, eight years ago Dunedin . Sailors',' Rest was. opened for the service of God, that He might use ; it; for,. the spiritual' ah df temporal; blessing of se^imep.' • Mftnythousands have/ coriie m and out its doors during that period. The seed Qf jGod's : has :been. scattered over many thouisiirid hearts, and m many a life it has sprurig. up bearing most blessed fruit. . Thousandß freauent the: Rest during the year, . As- might be expected, deep-sea sailors ei)joy,most of- the. comfoits it has to offer. There is aU. ' ways^all open door for all who care to rest awhile, to read or write letters. A debt of gratitude is due to the workers for their unselfish and wholly- voluntary labors, who, m all weathers, come down to the Rest to, speak a kind^ word, and show hospitality to our sailor friends ; also to the. many friends for sending to the Rest donations of- books.,; magazines, illustrated- papers,, writing map,erials> supply of flowers, etc., an'd^ to those kind friends whose yearly subscriptions make ife possible, for- the work- to- be car-, ried. on at all." At the Timaru Sailors!Rest they had had 800 visitors, and over iOOO visits* paid at Greyniou"^!} and Westport. The Rest had been fairly well attended vup to the time that they were closed-en account of. the strike. ■ Now that the strike is: Over, they a-re looking* forward to liappy, usefpl v^pyk. Gogd ) work had been- done at Lyttelton, dis.tributing 150 comfort bac-fl at Christmas time. . Comfprt bags had been made at

Hamilton. v.Thp Nelson -branch took part m the Entertainment of the sailors of H.M.S. tfew Zealand. Cradle Roll and t.T.L, (Mrs Neal) *. This was a comprehensive report,'dealing with the activities of the department m 60 .towns.. Many babies. < were on the. Cradle roll (37 unions, having 2223 metnbers),; and Band of Hope work prombted. The balance-sheet show* a balance of £5 ss, Qdiz 120, letters- and, 220 postcards have been written, for this, department, and; s6 parcels se,nt out." ' Domestic Science -(Mi's McCombs) : Inter -alia, this report -, states : — ' 'Slow ■ but steady progress is- being juade, throughout the Dominion m"" tho.. advancement of ;: this ' mos.t important branch of- tofcodern ; science. Public opinion is/i, gradually, coining -:to demand; fuller opportunities, for edupation m this direction, l and throughout the country Education Boards and School Comnpttees are endeavoring. :ln.' some' measure to meet tlie demand. *We have already a Chair of Domestic Instruction yinv m con; nection with the University of New Zealand, so.- that the importance of the subject is established beyond question, but it still remains to us ; tp see that the practical, importance of the subject is nuiderstood' and recognised by a much ■wider circle than that formed by those already interested m it. The responsibility for bringing pur country into line rests wfth us all as ; individual* members, of th'e : community, and such progress as New Zealand has already made m the application. Of the principle of com-mon-sense training for' the. housewife and mother of .the future; lias been-ac-complished- as the result' of- persistent agitation and discussion by, a comparatively small body of public-spirited individuals: It . is, obviously- certain, therefore, that what is needed during the next few years is an active campaign for increased opportunities for the education of', our girls m domestic science. The Education Cqmmissiou has recommended, •'That there should be. a greater differentiation of work between boys and ynrls, .with more prominence for the latter to-/ -the. 'domestic science course." In. conclusion, I. would mafee an earnest appeal to the members of our Union to interest themselves m .this deppi'tment. We cannot over-estimate the importance of this branch of our work. We have recognised, with: pr,ide the opportunities provided for woman s education m connection with other professions, but F would' point- out that this is -the traditional profession ctf women, and. .}w\e cannot afford to be less than wholehearted about, it if we wish, itHo take its place at^the head of all professions fOT women." tires* Report (Mrs/ J. McKenzie).: The tpue o£ the Press, generally is sympathetic towards our wm%, and our- options liaye frequently been the subject for leading articles and paragraphs. The proceedings of tljs 1913 Convention weregiven special , prominence.; '.Local reports and resolutions, are' gladly; inserted, as well as any. articles., dpjaling, with, swiaJ; reform. I liaye. written articles for both British and American papers combating erroneous assertions regarding tho.-work-ing, ol- the . franchise as it relates to, women, iwwi also on iriatters m relation to'the drink question and tlie working of ; the LdcaJ* Option Poll m this part of the world- -Our unions generally report to the ."White Ribbon," and' are highly appreci^ive ofiits ivprjbh." D^tail^ofiwhat has >bfcen done iv, different, towns wercthetf;. giveflu •Kpgard t ing Gisboijne the; report stated •-^•'Gisborne have good report's'in the local papers throughout tire „„,! fi,„l ..M^i-I orn :'inrl s"qff fricildlv

and obliging. Any important meeting or special: business, report is always inserted m its, entirety,.'' :.-.. -..':■ v. Scientific Teiriperahce (Miss Maunder) : f* 'Again, I have the pleasure, of reporting 'of some wprjc being done among the •young on the scientific aspects or Temperance. It is with much satisfaction I find! several Unions have interested themselves m Utilising the temperance wall sheets hung m the public schools, and sincerely hope that others will take Up tlip ; work.'*- 'The' report concludes: "I santi some teachers' literature to the Wellington Teachers' College, the- headmaster promising to place it m the hands of> the. students/, I. hope to receive a fresh supply from America for the other colleges. We Vant to arouse m the teachers .an* interest m the scientific* faefe regarding: alcohol."Medical Temperance (Mrs Neal) : -Thi& department has distributed literature) arid at different centres addresses by .medical gentlemen had .been given. Fiftiy letters, and 200' post-cards, have been written for this department; 27 1 parcels sent out. Have purchased 40^ hoojvlets and 3600 leaflets." Have distributed free, to various Temperance workers, at meetings, and to new "unions, 50. booklets and 600 leaflets. Tlie year's operations ended : with a balance in'hand of 12s 7d. ' Purity- and. Moral- Education (Dr E. Duiin) yt fiind that the: prominent' note m all the jeportssentto me^iSi an awakenedinterest, a realisation that this ; ig a, branch of education, which cannot be ignored' without danger to all. A number j oft -women refuse to. accept the timeworn axiom that their safety from the fear^ of sexual assault is owing to the fact that^ there are prostitiit.es. m their midst, ready to meet what' has been considered" for' *ages a -necessary demand ; they attribute "their safety to quite another cause. If- all women would definitely study the subject as it applies to. themselves and their children, arid teach their children' the' r truths: , they have grasped^' we- -should not have so many unenlightened young men* and; ; maidens ready to please, themselves, heedless of the consequences to "others. The, sale of literature has 'b^CnJ greater ■ this . year owing to. the splendid* -work- done by Misp PowelL; Cash-received byysale, of books £17 3s 3d; cash m hand to meet book or,der sent gut this,. mpnj>h, £6 4s Id. " Details of. this department's;. work at 13 towns were .given. I'"'.';1 '"'.'; Prison' and; Reform Work (Sister Moody Bell) : "' * Airiorig our -many depart ments - of '-the W-CTjIJ', -Ii fear; this one. lias not yet. received- full, recognition, if p may_ judge by. the/ n>ftagre^ response to myjrecrujist? foi; reports, of work ; done during thY year. |The scope of actiori is necessarily- very limited, m our Doming ion,; buj> whatever can be; done to help our prisoners, should, be taken up. heartily. The present Minister of Justice (Mr. Herdman) has ruled- that no: woman shall be allowed inside these prisons for men. though- we could wish- that suitable Christian women were allowed to Use a motherly and helpful influence among them. Still we can supply maga--ilies, religious ;' papers, arid books for the libraries, also Christmas cards *^as personal gifts (where: permitted by,: the local authority.) Perhaps assistance,, financial and otherwise, might be give^i through the visiting; 'chaplains and-' tlie Prisoners' Aid Society. The Invercargill Reformatory lias been specially effective m assisting: these young riien to a better life and reformed character. Good testimony is forthcoming m many places to benefit received tlu-ough the introduction of special modern methods of reformative treatment. Women prisoners have of late been drafted from other parts ; to the AddingEonJWomeri's Gaol., Ghristchurch. This centralisation plan adnuts of many advantageous arrangements, whereby effectivei and helpful influences on special lilies suitable, for women "can be secured. Sisters, let my re,member our -responsibility towards those: w^ are less favored tjhari ourselves, liopirig, for. the revival of all that is- the best m them." Dr. E; Dunn, of 'Wariganui, arrived this, morning,, and other names not appearing m our last issue were : — Mrs Mitchell, Dominion recording secretary; Mi's; Peryman, editor '"White Ribbon" ; delegates, Miss Nellie Cole, Ohristchuifch; Mrs Hunt,; Manaiaj Mrs Cook, Kaikoura.* •',■"'.' 'The suggestions from the Maori Work Committee 'were considered, and it was decided? to send the organiser to the East) Coast as soon as possibje. / Some interesting- discussion took place 3ii the Cradle ..Roll and L.T.L; report, , which- was considered one. of the best reports yet received. Consideration of the report on the Dohiestic Science department was held: over, until. this afternoon, m order that the AJ*\yor; aris \Mr E. J. Rowley, who are, particularly interested m that work, micrht bo present. The morning' session concluded with the delegates being* photographed, m front °i the Scottish ha,!!)