WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5794, 23 March 1909, Page 4

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Tho annual convention of the Women's Christian Temperance Union is now being held- at Wellington. Mrs Boxall, president of tho Wellington branch, who presided, welcomed tho visiting delegates and spoko of the good work the Union was doing. She read extracts from letters thank, ing the Union for its successful efforts in reclaiming young men and.women. The Hon. T. W. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington, in thc absence of Mrs Hislop through illness, the Rev. F. W r . Isit't, on behalf of the Temperance Alliance, the Rev. W. J. Williams, president of the Council of Churches, Mr A. It. Atkinson and Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.. spoke in support of the work of tho Union.

Mrs> Cole, >of Christchurch, president of tho New Zealand Union, in returning thanks, congratulated the temperance party '' upon tho success which had attended its efforts at the last local option poll. The delegates had almost hojxxl to see tho bars already closed in Wellington, but they were confident this was chiefly a question of time. ' The Union had tried long enough to get rid of barmaids. Now they were endeavouring to get rid of the bars themselves. March IS.

At the W.C.T/U. Convention to-day a report was presented showing that the present membership was 1855. Gratification was expressed at the 'splendid advance made by the local option poll voto for No-liccnse in the dominion, which had been steadily growing, and last poll gave a magnificent majority of 33,331 votes over op. ponents. "We believe," says the report, "that members of the W.C.T.U. will 'give all possible help to the agitation for the removal of the threo-irfths disability, from the temperance section of the cimmunity. In the opinion of the union, it is much to be regretted that any No-license voter 'does not ferf bound to k/oto reduction as well as No-license, as in the country districts reduction would mean prohibition over a large area. Consequently the temptations to drink would bo less numerous, and the result would be lessened drunkenness. • Now that the No-license party is gaining in numbers and influence, it is time to claim from Parliament the right o'f dominion option by a bare majority.'

The Union condemns the establishment of canteens at military camps and in some of the orderly rooms, and it also makes a protest against drinking on trains and the placarding of liquor advertisements at railway stations.

Referring to the Cabinet's ' reconstruction, the report snys that, ''to say that the new appointments are satisfactory to the Progressives or to the party of reform, would be far from the truth ; in fact, Sir Joseph Ward seems to have, gone out of his way to show contempt for those who stand for the defence of all that is best in the national life."

Tin 1 .Union passed a resolution, uryiiiir (lie (iovernment to immcdiaHy introduce i\ definite scheme of scientific temperance instruction into the- Stat" schools- as a compulsory class subject, A. resolution was also passed sympathisiiiLr witli the -women who are liiditinir for votes in Hrituiiv.