REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 2, Issue 21, 1 March 1897, Page 5

REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS.

MISSION WORK. On being informed of my appointment, I immediately forwarded a circular letter to each Union in New Zealand, impressing upon them the advisability of taking up this branch, if they had not already done so. It wras suggested that Missionary Prayer Meetings should be held, mission literature circulated, and the cause forwarded in any other way that suggested itself to the minds of the members. I had a few replies to this letter. It gave me much pleasure to glean from one or two of these, and also from local reports in the White Ribbon, that two or more ot the Unions had initiated Missionary Prayer-Meetings. luimedi itely on receiving notice of the date of C mveutionl issued post-cards to all Uniousasking for reports of Missionary Work. lam sincerely sorry that the tiin-j has been much too short to enable me to receive answers from all. Replies have come to hand from Grey mouth, Hrunnerton, Hawera, Palmerston North, Oamaru Y’s, Ashburton, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, West Taieri, Stratford and Blenhe’in Of these eight report “ No Mission Work undertaken.” From Greymouth comes an encouraging report. Four Missionary Prayer meetings have been held—average attendance 14. 0. I. M, and L. M. S boxes have been on the table to receive donations, and s uue of the members subscrilK; to “ China’s Millions,” and other Missionary Magazines. Oam iru Y’s report having sent a large parcel to New Gainea during IS.Hr, and are preparing another. Wr st l aieri report that they help in sending box s to the Zonaua an 1 New Hebrides Missions, as w»*ll as bags for thj“Sulors’ Rest.” At the Mother** Weekly Prayer Meeting, part of the time is devote t to Prayer for Mis ion&ries. They also collect for the am. Children’s Mission Aid, and other Missiou*-. This 1 consider a very cheering repjrt, and some of‘ the other Unions woulJ do well to take » pat tern from West Taieri, iu this p irtioular branch at any rate. Inconnection with the Hokitikt Union, I have to report regular monthly Mis lonary Praycrmeetings, which are attended by outsiders as well as members. Extracts from Alissi >n Magazines are read, and prayer offered, while donations are received for theC. I. M. I am surprised at not receiving reports from Lyttleton ami Wellington, as I understood they had taken up this branch of work. Perhaps the delegates from these places will kindly give verl>al reports. MARION B. JACK., Superintendent.

PARLIAMENTARY REPORT. Your Superintendents record with regrei that several Hills of great importance to women, and rega ding which resolutions were forwarded to Wellington from last Convention, *er rejected by the Legislature of the Cclony during the year. The Hill dealing with the Equality of Cordi (ions oj Divorce f«>i men and women, passed the House of Representatives by 40 to 11, but was rejected by the Legislative Council by 29 to 11. TheC.D. Act Amendment Hill, which was reslly a Repeal of the C. !>. Act, was p<ss**d by the Hous * of Feprese tativee but on reiching the Legislative Council was thrown cut. Hoping that a further consideration of the subject would cause the Council to act differently, Mr S**dd<>n introduced the Bill in a slightly altered orm. The second Hill was also passed without hesitation by the I,ower House, out "as again rejected by the Council by 18 to 11. The di&tue of perpetuating this indignity to women clearly rests,not with the representatives of the people, but with a body of in of whose age and experience we might expect better things. Yo;ir Superintendents are glad to record that the Age of Consent (or “ Age of Protection,” as we now call it,) has been taised from 14 to 16 years, and hope that it will be raised

still further, many girls of 16 being men children, and ignorant of sex questions. They strongly urge that physiology should taught to young people, on the plan recom. mended by our English and American Medical White Ribbon Sisters. The Hill for tin removal of Women’i Disabilities was thrown out in Committee of the House of Represent dives by 24 to 17. The Hill for Women’s Admission to Parlia. ment was also rejected by that House, by 24 It 22. The Alcoholic Liquor» Sale Control BiU parsed through the House of Representatives, but waa thrown out by the Council. Your Superintendents gladly note that the hetnale Law Praciitioners hill, which leaves women free to pr ctise law in our oolcny, passed Muvessfuliy through both Houses. A Hill for the Supprettion of Juvenile Depravity was introduced by the Premier, and several of our Branches communicated with the Government and the M.H.R.’s of their respective districts, expressing satisfaction at the introduction of the Hill, and suggesting amendments thereto. This measure wu subsequently dropped in Committee. Our Branches sent resolutions of thanks to the Speakers of both Houses after the raising of the “ Age of Protection ” from 14 to 16, which was accomplished by the passage of the Criminal Code Amendment Act. Our Brunches also sent resolutions of thank* to the Government and the House of Representatives on their passing the Equality of Divorce and C.D. Act Amendment Hills, and expressions of disappointment and protest to the Legislative Council which voted against those measures. Your Superintendents would earnestly urge teni| eranee women to keep cl. ar of party politics. At the last General Parliamentary Elections some of our temperance women (not members of the W.C.T.U.) worked and voted for candidates who were nominees of the liquor tr uie, because they were run by a certain political party. Let us give our support to those who will give us the moral reform* we want, irrespective of which side of the House they are on. LOCAL OPTION POLL. Although not strictly belonging to the Parliamentary Report, a word or two may be said as to the result Gt the Local Option Poll. A return published in the Government Gazette gives the total votes of the licensing poll, from which it appeirs that votes were cast by 259,898 citizens. 0* these, 139,580 voted for continuance of lie ns< s, and 120,318 voted for reduction or prohibition. The Prohibition vote has immensely increased. The vote in 1894 was 48,993, and in 1896 it was 98,172. It is highly important that we should set ourselves to steeply persistent work for the next three years. We must organise and educate, laying » solid foundation ol wh ch we may agitate for this great reform. K. W. SHEPPARI), Christchurch, L. M. KIRK, Wellington, Superintendents.

WORK AMONG THE MAORIS. Mrs Hewitt sends no report to Convention, although we have had interesting accounts from her during the year which have been published in the White Ribbon. Mrs Webb, from Dampier’s Bay, Lyttelton, reports tb«

they are doing good work among the Maoris there. She testifies to the excellent services of the schoolmaster, Mr Bone, who during his jp?en years’ residence in Dampier's Bay had be>*n an influence for good in promoting temperance among the natives. Mrs Rose, of Blenheim, reported a conversation with the • idow of the late Chief Kore. Pledge cards tod literature were given her, with which she va* highly pleased, and wished for more. Bore, when his people came home intoxicated from the neighbouring townships, would not dlow them to enter the pih, hut insisted upon 'h>ir spending the night upon the island near fey, no matter what the weather. The chiefs tid w gave the assurance that her son would Hofotve the same rule RELIEF WORK. In presenting the report of Relief Work, your Superintendent regrets not having a further one to submit to you, but Convention being held earlier than usual, has prevented many Unions sending in their reports in time. Those I have received represent good work done. My heart has l>een cheeted by know ing that wherever Unions exist they are centres for good, that of them it may be said, as Miss Willard puts it, “They are Christianity in motion." While in many Unions Relief Superintendents are appointed who visit and relieve cas.-s of sickness and distress, others find that the work is done in other ways by Dorca-j or Benevolent Societies, to wt.ich many of their members l*elong, and there is no need * hi* refore for them to take up the work in addition to these. Your Superintendent wrote to most of the Unions suggesting methods of work, and has received replies from Invercargill, West Taieri, Oamaru, Levin, Lyttelton, Timaru, Feilding, Greymouth, and Kaiapoi. ANNIE BLACKWELL, Superintendent, Kaiapoi. SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION.

The great need in this most important Department is the appointment of some p* rson in each district who would visit day-schools and Banda of Hope, and other young people’s locieties, for the purpos* of lecturing and giving addresses on the subject with diagrams or experiments. Several I’nions ask that Convention will formulate some pan of work in the Department for the year. 1 shall urge upon Convention the necessity for immediate action in this direction. No reports from Unions are to hand. Wellington l nion, lam told, is arranging for a seri* s of lectures, with diagrams to be given to all children anti young persons. Auckland has for some time teen favoured with the valuable help of Mr# Kerr, who visited the City schools at stated times. Ber addresses were much appreciated, hut our sister has been promoted, and the work is left to us to carry on. Juvenile classes have been started in I'on •onby on the lines of the Loyal Temperance Legion. We anticipate much good as the remit. I earnestly hope the work will lie taken up all through the colony. A. J. bCHNACKENBERG, Superintendent, Auckland. ORGANISATION. (New P.ymoutn Branch.) During the year I have been abie to visit Mid hold meetings in some thirteen towns and

villages:—Hawera, I'atea, Wanganui. Eltham. Ngaire. Stratford, M.dhirst, Toko, Inglewood, >k«to, I’ungarehu, Rihotu, and Opunake. At Wanganui a flourishing Branch existed till ibout four years ago, when it became disorganaed. Now they ha *e made a fresh start, with several new members The Branch at Inglewcoa was formed in N«>v IHfcj. with 12 members, bu’ through la k of someone to take ihe office of President aud bold meetings, has resolved •imply to work a* a Somerset Union, the indivilual mem tiers * ok‘ng by means of pledge books and literature. V similar state of things exist#, at Patea. Kit ham, Okato, and Rahotu. The Stratford Branch has over 4'j members, and is steadily working and growing, as also are the Breeches at Haw* ra, Midhirst, Toko, N»*gaire, and Pungarehu. It was feared at first, by the New Plymouth Union, that the expense would proven bar to attempting organising w< rk. However the cost has proved but trifling. The friends in the various districts not only entertained the visitor, but also arranged f>r her free conveyance from one place to another ; such vehicles as hsx wagg< ns, butter waggonß,expreßs«*B and grocers carts, being occasionally pressed into service. Though n>t always pleabant at the time, yet these journeying* will afford me many an amusing reminiscence, while I have also the ch**ering thought of the vast amount of work the yew memliers will be able to accomplish. MARY COLL IS, Organiser. RESCUE WORK. Early in the year I communicated with the local Superintendents in the different towns, and gathered that all the branches are in sympathy with the work. In some places, where there is a society already at work, the Union has been content to render assistance rather than see two weak organisations. In Auckland, special attention is being ]>aid to juveniles, and I thoroughly endorse the sentiment of the Superintendent, ** It is better to fence the precipice at the top to prevent the fall, tt.an to pick up the mangled remains at the bottom." Dunedin reports that sever il numbers are devoting themselves to individual cases. In Invercargill we have a Home for Friendless Girls in connection with the Union. Twelve girls have passed through our hands, and though some have disappointed us, others h*ve proved most encouraging cases. Other Unions are wishful to take up the work, but the labourers are few.

MARGARET JONES, Superintendent. HYGIENE, AND Y’s WORK. My time hut winter was fully occupied in giving practical lessons on Domestic Economy and Hygiene under various school committees and organisati >ns, therefore special lectures under the auspices of the W.C.T.U. were not necessarv. Through the efforts of the delegate from Blenheim at last year's Convention, 1 was asked by the Marlborough Education Board to give a course of lecture* to the public schoolgirls. The Board provided everything, and the lectures were free to the teachers, aud to the girls of the upper standards in town and country schools. I bring this mutter specially before you as a good way of benefitting young people in smaller towns. Our temperance work may also be advanced by inducing some of our women, who have platform ability, to

up this useful branch of work. Homely as it i«, one may through it influence many people who could not be otherwise reached. While in Blenheim I bad the privilege of addressing a meeting tinier the auspices of the Union on “ T e Rights of Worn *n," th ir right to educate themselves, and train up their daughters in all things holy, ; ure, an l useful. After leaving Blenheim I went on to Napier, when, as unny *>f you know, sorrow’s hand was laid upon tne, and 1 was |»rev- uted from fufilliivr my engagements in Wtllington, Christchurch, ami Kaiapoi. I think special meetings for y -un' w men in connection with the parent Uni ns would meet present requirements, l»oth with regard to Loctl Option Poll matters, and also Hygiene. These meetiugs could be followed up later with Y Unions, when suitable lealers had been found—consecrated young women, who meant to k**ep to the work under all difficulties. Special efforts should be made to get girls in domestic service to attend these meetings. They will usually wiilingly do so if their mistresses *'an be induced to allow them time for the purpose without interfering with the usual evening out. Last year Mrs Barnes, the energetic Superintendent of the American Y’s, requested me, as N.Z. Superintendent of Y’s, to send texts for each day for one month, with Helps for opposite page, and also photograph, to put in their Y Almanac for 1H97. I had much pleasure in complying with her wish, and have or lered one dozen. The price of the almanac is 15 cents, and it contains port nits of the Y leaders in different lands. With regard to Hygiene, special attention has been paid this year to the value of wholemeal bread and fruits—apples especially, I have also t>een exhibiting to my pupils hygienic clothing, and coloured plates showing the misplacement of the internal organs through corset- wearing. E. B. MILLER.

JUVENILE WORK. I regret that I hare very lit’le to report in connection with Juvenile Work, as very few Unions have sent me the necessary information. I have had a cosid- rable amount of corre-pon-dence during tne year, but unny, though anxious to un lert ike it, find great difficulty in securing suitable leaders for any kind of Juvenile Work. 1 his is greatly to be regretted, as the results of last election seem to prove that if the liquor tra le is to be driven out of the col ny, it must l>e by the votes of those will attain their majority during the next few years. In many towns, Binds of Hope do their work so well, that but little room is left for our Unions to work in ths direction, but I think something might be done by offering prizes to scholars for the best essays on different aspects of the temperance question, by encouraging them to quilify them** Ires for an examination on soui • Temperance Text Book. I regret that owing to a mistake, literature that I ordered from America did not arrive, but several Unions appeired to appreciate what little I was able to send them. I am sorry to seed such a meagre report, as I know work has been done, and 1 irust that next Convention will show a better record. MRS BROWN, Superintendent, Inverc irgill. LITERATURE. Reports to hand only from Naseby and Christchurch. The inland portion of the Waihem<> Elec to-

rate is the neat of the operation* of the Naseby Union. Eighteen copies of the Prohibitionist are circulate!, and during the latter part of IBt<6 4000 leaflets were distributed throughout the Mani<>to Plains. Christchurch printel and published 40,500 leaflets specially adapted for distribution before tbe late elections. Copies of lending Temperance journals from England and America are still taken for the use of members. C. Venables, • Superintendent