W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15059, 30 April 1919, Page 2

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

The opening reception of the W.C.T.U. Convention in Napier was very largely attended, and was one of exceptional interest, both from the matter of the speeches, and from the spirit and ton© of tne meeting. Hope and enthusiasm predominated all through,, without a single note of despair from beginning to end, in spite of the natural disappointment at the failure to win the prohibition campaign which had been so strenuously contested during the preceding months.

It was no gathering of weary disappointed workers, but of earnest devoted men and women, ready to take up the fight once more, and win on to the victory which they knew must come. .Mrs Venables, president of the localunion, welcomed.the delegates on its behalf, addresses of welcome being also given by the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Napier, Rev. Mr Hodge, on behalf of Ihe Ministers' Association, by the President of the Alliance, and tho the secretary of the Rechabites.

The addresses were replied to by.Mrs Don, President of the New Zealand Union, in a 'brilliant speech, which brought down the house. Mrs Don gave as a watchword for the year, "Pray on march on, carry on, till the great victory which we know is coming." And this was the dominant note of all the* speakers: "Be not weary, in well-doing," •'Keep on, and victory will come," "Go on t truth can never be defeated." A point of special intrest was the reading of a letter from Mrs Leavitt, dated April Sth, 1885, during her New Zealand organising tour, making arrangements tor her first visit to Napier. This letter was presented at the opening session of the Convention to the. New Zealand President, and will be one of the Union1 s most valued possessions. Mrs Don also told how as a little girl, she had stood on a form and .ginned on the white bows of those who joined the Union at Mrs Leavitt's meetings. Convention proper was opened on ™c flowing morning by Mrs Don, when b4 delegates were present, of whom 37 were attending; Convention for the first time. Mrs Kineton Pa'rkes, now well known in the Dominion as a lecturer was also received as fraternal delegate.' After the appointment of committees and other preKminaries, the Corresponding^ Secretary read her annual report. She spoke of the year as having been one of the most strenuous work, and well sustained. The number of members could not be given, as, owing to irregularities caused-by the epidemic' the returns received by the secretary di.i not represent the real strength of tho Union. Amongst the many interesting details of work touched on in the report, special mention should be made of the fact that Miss Ruth Atkinson, president of the Nelson District Union, and formerly vice-president of the New Zealand Union, who was appointed to represent the "Dnion at "the Conference of British Suffrage Societies' last year, was one of the delegation sent to Paris in order to press for the representation of women at the Peace Conference.

It was resolved to send a cable of congratulation to Miss Atkinson; also that a resolution be drafted in appreciation of the support given to the delegation by the New Zealand Premier.—Communicated.