W.C.T.U.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 8

W.C.T.U.

DISTRICT CONVENTION. _ , About a hundred delegates tiS sembled at the opening of the district convention, of the W.C.T.U. which took place in the Trinity Methodist/' Church schoolroom last night. Repre t sentatives of other temperance organisations, the Ministers’ Association and the Salvation Army were present Mrs. Goody presided, the meeting opening with devotional exercises. Mr Frances gave an acceptaole rendering of “My Task” as a solo, and other well-rendered items in tne pro gramme were: piana solo by Mrs. Cardwell; recitation, Mrs. Anderson; and a solo by Miss Loveridge. The Rev. Vcrco spoke on behalf of the Ministers’ Association, and testified to the obligation the ministers felt under to the W.C.T.U. for the splendid service rendered by its members. Commandant Middlemiss, of the Salvation Army, gave assurance of the sympathy of the Army for the women who had set themselves the task of seeking to sweep the liquor traffic out of New Zealand. He spoke of th« serious difficulties in the way, but ex pressed his nfidencc in victory being ultimately theirs. Mr. E. F. Liffiton welcomed <l7? delegates on behalf of vne fecal branch of the New Zealand AllianceMr. Leo Wilson, representing the Sons of Temperance, in his remarks stressed the point that they did not want New Zealand to become like Ih< Old Country so far as the liquor evi wh concerned. Mr. Clark, on behalf of the Rcchabites, contributed to the welcome, and expressed recognition of the splendid work done by the W.C.T.U. Mr. Malton Murray, assistant secretary of the New Zealand Alliance anc editor of the Vanguard, said he felt it a privilege to be present. The liquoi traffic had said the Alliance was dead Actually the Alliance was never m well organised as now, and it had cm barked on anteducative campaign tha> would continue no matter what the re suit of the next poll might be. H| hoped to tell them something abdfr “Corporate Control” to-morrow nigh; at Wanganui East. Mrs. Duxficld, president of the Wit ganui W.C.T.U. suitably responded in acknowledgement of the represents lives’ remarks and pointed out hovt the Prohibition fvote had. grown fromjless than 49,000 to 300,000, and how ab though the population had doubled, there were 300 odd licenses less than when the Prohibition fight first began. The singing of the Doxology brought an inspiring meeting to a close. The convention continues to-day and a public meeting will be held in St. Alban’s, Wanganui East, at which Mr Murray will speak.