WORK FOR TEMPERANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 2

WORK FOR TEMPERANCE

; ANNUAL CONVENTION OF W.C.T.U. . DELEGATES GATHER AT WAITARA, • The annual district convention of th® ! W.C.T.U., which was held at Waitara this year, concluded its session yesterJ day. The work of the movement dur- , ing its existence and particularly dur- ; ing the past year was reported upon by ! the'officers and addresses were given to ’ the members. The delegates at the opening of the conference were welcomed in the Presbyterian Church. The Rev. A. L. Dixon presided, and after an opening hymn and prayer he said he hoped that the gathering would fulfil all expectations and result in great inspiration and profit for the work to which the. members of the W.C.T.U. had set themselves. Anyone having a knowledge of the great driving force and tremendous influence of the organisation, as well as others similiarly constituted, would know, that those engaged in any undertaking to'obtain social justice and with a desire for righteousness would achieve their ends. Mrs. Phillips, district president, spoke of her first visit to Waitara nearly 40 years ago. She thanked the local branch members • and others for the reception and said the members were glad of any encouragement, for they sometimes, felt they were hot getting the assistance they should, and that they were further from their ideals than in past days. Sometimes the difficulties semed to be growing greater. In the older days of the prohibition movement in New Zealand the opposition turned out as well as their supporters, and the result was a spirited meeting. Those were the grand old times, and the more opposition to prohibition people encountered from the

section interested in the trade the greater the progress. The union members’ job was to save the young people, for if the young people did not drink the liquor trade was doomed. The speaker thought the mothers were somewhat careless in this matter, and in conclusion the president iirged all who gave , a care to moral reform to assist the W.C.T.U. The Rev. H. S. Fussell believed that temperance reform was. a movement of much importance. He referred to th® furore when the remarks were published in New Plymouth of drink at dancing halls, and said he believed the speakers knew what they were talking about. The mothers could do much to check the evil, and he hoped there would be a swing of the pendulum that way. Mrs. Perryman, a prominent member of the W.C.T.U., gave an interesting address on the origin of the W.C.T.U. and on the spread of its activities. • During the evening a vocal duet was sung by Salavation Army officers and a solo by Miss Rowe, and Mrs. Cuming contributed a recitation.

A devotional address by Mrs. Phillips, district president, was given yesterday on the words: “They left all and followed Him.”

It was resolved that letters of sympahty be sent to Mrs. "T. E. Taylor (Dominion president), Mrs. Hiett (a vicepresident), Mrs. Clough, Inglewood, and Mr. Chatterton, New Plymouth. ' At roll call 34 delegates answered. Reports were received from the following unions: Waitara, membership 27; New Plymouth, 120; Inglewood, 26; Stratford, 30, Eltham, 21; Ngaere, 14; Hawera, 45; Inglewood (Y.S.), 38.

Mrs. McCallum reported that papers and literature generally had been sent to the backblocks, sawmills and railway camps. Mr. Mackinder reported on notable days kept by unions with special meetings or garden parties. Mrs. Read reported on work done by literature, circulars and meetings with the object of counteracting the evils of gambling; Mrs. Hobbs reported on home meetings held by various unions. The treasurer submitted a financial statement. The afternoon session opened with devotions led by Miss Graham, who recently returned from China. A discussion followed on plans of work and members agreed upon a great forward movement. Song service badges were presented to Mrs. Phillips (Stratford) and to Mrs. Taunt and Mrs. Jemison (New Plymouth).

Officers for the ensuing term were elected as follows: President, Mrs. Phillips; vice-president, Mrs. Exley; record secretary, Mrs. Hayward; Corresponding secretary, Miss Drew; treasurer, ‘Mrs. Tarrant; backblock work, Mrs. McCallum; Maori work, Mrs. Tuffery; antigambling, Mrs. Read; home meetings, Mrs. Hobbs; notable days, Mrs. Mackinder; white ribbon superintendent, Mrs. Lawrence (Waitara); evangelistic, Mrs. Arthur (Inglewood).

The Inglewood delegates invited the union to hold its next annual conference at Inglewood.