W.C.T.U.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13857, 19 March 1909, Page 3

W.C.T.U.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 18. At the Women's Christian Temperance Union Convention, the corresponding secretary's report showed a considerable increase in the membership, which now stands, at about 180(1, including natives. Nine new Unions were organised. Part of this iac-roa.se is due to the work done among the Maoris. Several new Maori Unions have been formed. The Victoria Home for friendless girls (Inveruargill) is doing useful work. Efforts are being made to start a Maternity Homo. In connection with this work, Napier still leads in its paid-up membership; Dunedin has made the largest proportional, advance. Band of Jiope work is taken up by many Unions, Otautau leading with a membership of 160, with Bluff a good second. The cradle roll shows, a large increase. New branches have been formed at Napier, Otahuhu, Hastings and Onehunga. The Newtown Girls' Association carries on useful work. At the Denver (U.S.A.) Convention, at Miss Gordon's request, a boy representing New Zealand was dressed in a suit from the Kaiapoi factory. Miss Barton read the report of work among the Maoris, special mention being made of the mission at Whakapara, which has done excellent evangelistic and temperance work. The Auckland Union has" kept the work going in several native villages. A committee was set up to arrange for consolidation of ! the work among the Maoris. The Union passed a-resolution,-, urging the Government to immediately introduce a definite scheme of scientific temperance instruction into the State schools as a compulsory class subject. A resolution was also passed sympathising with the women who are fighting for votes in Britain.