TEMPERANCE WORKER WELCOMED.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15310, 25 February 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

TEMPERANCE WORKER WELCOMED.

j : ♦ _ } SOCIAL TO MISS ATKINSON.

(From "The Colonist/ Feb. ISth.-). There w.asa large attendance of members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and friends at thewelcome social on Tuesday afternoon to Miss Atkinson, president of the union, who. has reUirned to Nelson from England, where she has. represented the union and various other women's organisations' during three years of war. After Scripture reading by Sirs Diekson, and prayer by the HevrE D i a atchott, a bouquet of flowers was pre^ sented to Miss Atkinson by Master Cyril Brown. Mesdames Watson, Field Knapp, Brown, Hill, Carlisle, HoloV away and White all expressed the pleasure they felt in welcoming Miss Atkinson back to Nelson, and stated how much the union had missed her during; her absence. Mrs. Cropp, representing the Richmond Union, also welcomed Miss Atkinson. Mr. Pettit, on behalf of temperance organisations other than the W.C.T.U., welcomed Miss Atkinson, and stated the appreciation felt by them for the work done by her both in our own city and in other'fields of labour. Mr. Pettit also thanked her for the- interest . taken and help given to our soliiier boys in England. In replying, Miss Atkinson, after \ thanking those present for the hearty welcome given, gave a short acseount of a few experiences taken from her strenuous three years' work. In connection with the prohibition campaign, a committee of which Miss Atkinson pvas secretary met in offices lent by Mr. | Johnson in Fleet street, and acco.miplished some very important work. Miss Atkinson was New Zealand's

Miss Atkinson was New Zealand's representative at two conferences. One was the British Women's Citizens' Union, which keeps in touch with every -women's society all over the world, * and to which rej^resentatives were sent from every dominion. Miss Atkinson was chosen to aocompany Mrs. W. Fawcett to the Peace Conference, where one evening they had' the honour of being.received by President Wilson, who listened' very attentively, and took great interest in a.U subjects discussed. Among other renowned politicians with whom tliev were granted an interview was M. Venizelos. Miss Atkinson gave a short description of the memorial service at Westminster Abbey, and also of the gathering of people in Trafalgar Square on Armistice Day, to carry out the kihdlr thought of the King for two minutes'' silence in honour of the dead. She said "it was a great tribute from a great people to the glorious dead." In speaking of our New Zealand boys, Miss Atkinson said "they had made a name that would never die." All with, whom she had spoken concerning them had said the same. She heard nothing but praise of them, and was proud that =he belonged to the same Dominion. In conclusion, she stated that if the children of to-day are taught, first the love of homo, then the love of their own country, and then the love of their I Mother Country, we will have all things to hope for and nothing to fear. ! Mrs. Knapp read the corresponding secretary's annual report, after which afternoon tea was dispensed. Musical items were rendered during the afternoon by Mesdames Kidson, Patchett, Ivp?m>p and others. Mrs. Watson mentioned the loss the temperance oattse had suffered in tho death of Mr. L. Gubb, and also referred' to the death of Messrs. Hampson and McMorland, and as a mark of respect to theso three those present stood with heads bowed for some seconds. The meeting closed with the i>ro~ nnuncing of the Benediction by Mrs.. Dickson.