Report of the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union, held at Dunedin, April, 1896.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 April 1896, Page 6

Report of the Annual Convention of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union, held at Dunedin, April, 1896.

MEMBERS OF CONVENTION. Mrs. Sobnackenberg, Auckland, President; Mrs Kirkland, West Taieri, treasurer; Miss L. M. Kirk, Wellington, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Troy,Napier (Social Purity); Miss Dalrymple, Levin (Educational); Mrs. Litchfifld, Blenheim ; Mrs. Ballantyue, Mrs. W. S. Smith, Mrs Sheppard (Parliamentary), Christchurch; Mrs. Guilbert, Timaru; Mrs. Kiskins, Lyttelton; Mrs. (Sailors’ Rests), Mr?,. Dick, Miss Nicol, Mrs. Miller (Young Women’s Work), Dunedin; Mrs. Blackwell, Mrs. Soulby, Ka’apoi; Mrs. Widdowson, Ashburton:

Miss Johnson, Hokitika ; Mrs. Hodge. Tort Chalmers: Mrs. Chisholm, West Taieri ; Miss Filleul, Oamaru ; Mrs. Bringans, Mcsgiel; Mrs. Jones, Invercargill. Miss Sears was also pre ent as visiting delegate fr >m the C. E. Union. A reception meeting in conjunction v.iih the Otago Prohibition Council was held in the Choral Hall on Friday, April 3rd, at 7.30 p.m. The chair was taken by Mr. Jago, and addresses were delivered by Mrs. Dick, Mr A.S. Adams Mr. Greenwood, Miss Kirk, and Mr. Baxter. Selections of music were given and refreshments served during an interval. FIRST DAY. The first meeting was held in First Church Hall on 4, and commenced with a prayer meeting, led by Mrs. Schnackenberg. The president’s address was read, and was followed by a discussion as to the possibility of obtaining Mrs. Hoffman's services before the General Election. The question was deferred till later on in the session. Mrs Kirkland read the New Zealand T e sum's r port and balance-sheet, showing a balance in hand of .£l4 7*. 2d. The total of the cash balances h«M by the local Unions was given as 4*202 2s. I Id., and the turn-over fcr the year as £2017 7s. Id A disc ssion as to the possibility of augmenting the funds v>f the New Zealand Union fo lowed, and it was r< so ved—- “ That for next year the New’ Z« aland Treasurer live in the district where Convention is to be held, and that it be her duty to devise mea; s for # increasing the New Zealand fund.” Sirs. W. S. Smith read the report and balance-sheet of the Whit* Ribbon, showing a deficit of about £2l. A discussion ensued, which was adjourned to the next session. SECOND DAY. The Convention resumed its sitting on Monday, April 6. Greetings were received from Mrs. Nicholls, of South Australia, and a letter was received from Mrs Packe asking that Miss Slack, the World's Corresponding Secretary, be kept informed of the progress of the Union. The discussion on the White Ribbon report was resumed. It w «.p resolved that a vote of tbanks be given to Miss I». M Smith and Mrs. Venables for their services during the year. Officers we e elected as follow’s:—Editor, Mrs. K. W. Sheppard; Associate Editor, Miss L. M. Smith; Treasurer and Business Manager, Mrs. W. S. Smith; Distributing department, Mrs. Venables; Committee, the N< w Zealand Piesident and Corresponding Secretary, the Presidents of District Unions, Mrs. Wells and Miss L. M. Kirk. It was r. wolved that the reports be printed in the next ies te of the White Kibbon. and that the Convention uuinoer should be double ihe ordinary size. Bkunnerton Relief Fund.— lt was resolved to give £2 :ss. from the New Zealand Fun ', and a further sum of £3 3s. w’&s promised on behalf of the Chris f church Union. The report of the Superintendent of Unfermeuted Wine was read. The request of the Kaiapoi Union to be made a District Union, in order that it might he able to comp y with requests to form branches in the su:rounding country, was unanimously granted. The re|*>rt of Evangelistic Work was read by Mrs Kirkland Mrs Milbr pn. *nted the report of Young Women's Work, which was discussed. Ultimately it was resolv d that ;t l»e a “ Recommendation” that Unions form a Y. Department, admitting young women as members at a fee of Is; members to have full voting rights at locai meetings; an evening quarterly meeting to be held especially in the interests of such members, if desired.”

The report of Juvenile Work was road by the President, as was also the report of the Literature Department. Mrs Schnackenberg read several letters from the Moral Reform Union and kindred Societies, and the Social Purity Report was read by Mrs Troy. It was resolved that resolutions be drafted for presentation to the Premier and the Legislative Council. It was resolved to ask that the age of consent be raised to 18 years. In compliance with an invitation from the N.Z. Alliance, it was r. so ved that Mrs Ostler be asked to act as the W.C.T.U. delegate to the Convention in June. It was also resolved that Miss L. M. Kirk represent the N.Z. W.C.T.U. on the Alliance Executive during the coming year, and that Mrs Schnackenberg and Mrs \\ iddowson be our representatives at the Con ent ion to be held in Christchurch to form a Nati nal C »uncil of \V omen. Mrs Litchfield gave an interesting acount of the work of the Blenheim Union. The Parliainentaay Report was read by Mrs Sheppard. THIRD DAY. Owing to the First Church Hall being otherwise occupidl, the Convention met in the Hall of the Congregational Church. After a discussion on Mr MacGregor’s Divorce Bill, it waa resolved “ That, iu the opinion of this Convention, the condition of divorce should be equal for both sexes. Greetings w< re read from the L nion atul the Otago Prohibition Council. Dr. Emily Ryder was received by the Convention, aad gave a short address. The report of the Superintendent of Cottage meetings was read by Mrs Kirkland, and that of Scientific Temperance Instruction by Mrs Sohnaekenbeig. By invitation of the President Miss made some interesting remarks on the subject. Miss Filleul gave an account of work among the boys and girls in Oainaru. On the motion of Mrs Sheppard, it was resolved this convention thanks Dr Newman, for his action in introducing the Political Disabilities of \\ omen Bill, and trusts that he will re-introduce it during next ses.-ion.” It was also resolved— “ That this Convention, deplores the terrible prevalence of gambling in this colony, and earnestly requests the Government to suppress the totalisator, and thus remove the disgrace of deriving revenue from the vices of the people.” FOURTH DAY. At the m rning session of April 8, the Report of Maori work was read with much interest, and a letter of apology from the superintendent, Mrs Hewitt for non-atten iance. The following resolutions were cirried :—” That the Repeal of the C. D. Acts being necessary in tho interests of Hygiene, Social Purity, and ordinary decency, this Convention expresses its regret at the action of the Legislative Council in throwing out the Repeal Bill passed by the Lower House.” “ That this Convention urges the members of the Legislative Council to make themselves acquainted with the most recent information as to the uselessness of the C.D. Acts, and unites with the House of Representatives in removing these infamous blots on our Statute Book ” * That this Convention thanks the Premier for his action re the C D. Acts in the House of Representatives, and earnestly requests that the Repeal Bill of 18*35 for the removal of these Acts be re-introduced.’ “ That the Convention of the W.C.T.U., now sitting in Dunedin, tender a heirty vote of thanks to the Presbytery of Dunedin for their action re their app. al for the removal of the C.D. Acts from the Statute Book of the Colony.”

Miss Dslrymple pronged “ That a letter be gent to the Minister of Education, expressing dissatisfaction with the language nnd style of tlie New Z< aland Reader.” She oonsidered that much of the book was slangy and vulgar, and that the sentiments expressed in not a few of its pages were Buch as to lead to cruelty of disposition and conduct, and to awaken and strengthen feelings of indifference as to the sufferings of others. It was arranged that a Sub-Committee be forme 1, consisting of Mrs Schnackenberg, Mrs Widdowgon, and Miss Diirymple, to enquire into the matter, and draw up a letter of protest to be sent to the Minister of r. due at ion. The Convention appointed Mrs Sheppard to write, asking Mrs Hoffman to come t<> New Zealand not later than the ond of July, and to request that she should cable her reply. It was resolved that “ Any woman signing the Constitution, and pacing her dues, may bee >me a member of any W.C.T.U., aud may be elected to any office in the Union. ’ A question a-ked by Mrs Hiskins, of Lyttelton, as to the opinion ot the local Unions as to the introduction of the Irish Scripture Text-book, was relegated to local T -nions. l’he following recommendations were made to local Unions: —1. If any officer fails to be presuit at three consecutive meetings without a reason, the Union can accept, another shall be elected in her place. 2. If any Superintendent fails to report work for three consecutive meetings without a reason which the Union can accept, another can be elected in her place. Votes of thanks were passed to the Dunedin Union, to Mrs Hislop for hospitality, to Mrs Downie Stewart for photograph'ng Convention, to the Press, and to the First Church and Congregational Church authorities for their kindness in lending a loom. The invitation of Christchurch Union to hold Convention of 181*7 in that city was accepted with thanks. A giaut of £1 was voted to the White Ribbon Fund. it was resolved that Convention urge every member of every local Union to use every effort to increase the subscription list and forward the interests of the N' hiie Ribbon. Unions were also requested to resjx rid as liberally as their means peirnit to the Business Manager’s statement o* the debt that must be paid before the end of June. It was decided that Convention number be sold to Unions at threepence. A tel ‘gram from Miss Powell was received dating that she had resuscitated the Unioo at Feilding. It was resolved that the matter of giants to Departments be left to tho Treasurer and President. Convention was closed by singing, “ Blest be the tie that binds/’