REPORT OF THE Thirteenth Annual Convention of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 33, 1 March 1898, Page 2

REPORT OF THE Thirteenth Annual Convention of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

Held in St. Pai l’s Schoolroom, Napier, Fkbiuaky 28. Members or Convention. Mrs Schnaekenl»erg, Auckland, President ; Miss Powell, ComfMw.rxlintf Secretary, Auckland ; Mine L. M. Kirk, Recording Secretary. Wellington ; .Mrs Hill, Treasurer, Napier; Mrs Hewitt, Whaksr-warew.i Ngaruawahia, Maori Work; Miss Dairy m pic, Peace and Arbitration; Mrs Cole, Press Work, Christ church ; Mrs Webb, Social Purity, GisUirne ; Mrs Kirk, Wellington ; Miss Mincbin, Feilding ; Miss Maunder, Haw* ra ; Mrs Foley, Awahou and Te Puke; Mrs Mitchell, M uret; Mere IVka, TeNgae ; Atarvta K itema, 01-in* uiutu ; Mrs Smith, Wanganui ; Miss Scott, Brunnerton ; Mrs Hurroughet, Pahiatua ; Miss W. odcock, F->xt»»n ; Mis Plummer Auk land ; Mrs Hanson, Gr<?ymouth; Mi*s Patterson, Ormondvillc ; Mrs K setae, Tauranga ; Mrs Reeve, Palmerston North ; Mrs Kiddell, LyttelU n ; Mrs Patterson, Kai.ijn»i ; Mrs Wilkie, Leeston. A short Executive Meeting was hold in the afternoon of Feb 29th, to arrange the programme. Mornino Session, March 1. The Session opened with a prater meet in/, condu t d by Mrs Schmickenberg. Formal Committees amt Repot ter s to the Press having been up]H>int*d, the Presd mt’s Address was read, discussed, and adopted with thanks and acclamation, The Treasurer’s report and b-*l incp-shwt were read. There is an incr. as- of twelve in the number of Uni *ns paying capitation. I he N Z. balance--he* t ihows a balance in hand ot JK2I Is (4d, whilst every local Union showed a i alance in hand. Afternoon Skssi in, March 1. A telegram of greeting was received from the Kaia.|x»i Union. The Corresponding Secretary’s report was then read, dis ussed with much interest, and adopt’d. Mrs Cole cave a very helpful account ol the Cant> rhur District Conv* ntion. The lolloping resolutions were unanimous'y carried to be submitted to the National Council of Women : 1. Thct the National C- uncil of Women approach the Minister of Education witn a

view to having scientific temperance instruction made a compulsory pass subject in the schools, and included in examinations for teachers certificates. 2. That the N itional Council of Women urge upon the* Government a stricter enf»rcem-rt of the laws for the regulation of the liquor traffic. 3. Whereas the liqti r traffic is declared on undisputed authority to b • th«* c ause of inuc'i misery, much vice, and much crime, therefor? this National Conn ll of Women pledges itself on humanitarian groun’s to do all in its power to discountenance the importation manufacture, and sale of alcoholic liquors. Res lived : That Mrs Ostler, »f Levin, be the delegate to the National Council of Women. After discussion it was r-solved that the full Maori capitation fee shall 1-e 3d per member, of which, pi shall be paid to the World’s Fun is.

Moknino Session, M\r<-h 2. Prayer meeting led by Mrs Kirk, of Wellington. Res >lved that Grevmouth I >e rosed to the rank of a District Ui i< n. The reports of Evangelistic, Di a wing-room, Juvenile, M tor-Wo-k, Missionary, Unferment-d Wine, and E bicational Departments were read. The hour of noontide prayer was observed by the singing of a hymn by the Maori delegates, and prayer. Re-olved :That the Departments of Drawingroom aid Cottage Meet ngs be merged, and in future called Home Meetiri: s. Apternoon Session, March 2. Res lv- d : That a letter « n the subject of the alb g- d d*ath of AUss Willard be sent by the N./i. officers to tie- American S cretan-s. Mrs \V%bb then read her p-per on “ The Responsibility s <-f Women as Moth *rs,” which Was much appreciated and discussed. K *s« lv»d : That Mis Webb’s pap-r l*e publisli d in th»* Whits Hibson, as space p*-r-------111 ts and that if |H>s-i le copies to the auioiint gu 1 ranted by Unions l*e struck otf iu leaflet foitii. Toe Social Purity report was then read by Mis Webb, and fully discussed. Literature report w ;is ♦h-n read. Mornino Session, March 3. A prayer meeting at 9 90 was led by Miss Minchin. The toll was called at 10 o’clock, 17 mem-U-rs answering t<> Mi* ir names. Parliaiut ntary, Sapors' K *sts, Pr ss work, and Hygiene and Fo*»d Kefo.*m departiu-uts ware read, and all the reports v.ere received. A telegram of greeting was received from Wesleyan Conference, and reciprocated. The report of the Wh.te Ribbon Committee was read, par’ly discussed, and adjourned till aft r Miss Ki-k’a address. Some questions from the Grey.u -uth Union as to sal - of drinb in public schools were discussed. R -solved : That names an<l nddress-s of X. Z. Orti-ers I-- a standing advertisement in the White Ribbon. Noontide prsye. was observed by the singing of a hymn and piayer by Rev T. Wills. Miss Po* ell de-ired to draw the attention of all delegates to the necessity of hoi ling annu « meet ngs in D. c tn>er. R t-olv-d • 1 hat a 111 1 cont-st department be formed separate frou Juvenile work. J.j.arnoon Session, March J. This w-as opened by the singing of a hymn

by the M aori deleg ites and prayer by Mrs Troy. 2<» m-mbers present* Resolved : That a letter be written by the Re ording Secretary, and signed by the N. Z. Officers, and Mrs Hewitt on behalf of natives, on the subj ct of the natives being allowed to fish in Ijak j Rotorua without license, and forwarded by Parliamentary Superintendents to the pr per quarter. K solved : That the junior parliamentary superintend -nt make inquiries as to the law re the width of the tires cart wheel*, to ** if any relief can be afforded to the poorer nativ«s, an<l communicate with Mrs Foley. Th naMv. 8 having brought the question of t ie erection of another p und near Ohint mutu b fore the Convention, they were recommended to bring the matter bef re the Towq Boar-1. M ss L. M. Kirk gave an address on *• Methods of Work,” emphasising the ne dof work amongst the young, and (minting out m- ans of inaugurating, and carrying it on. 1 he following resolutions were carried : 1. 1 hat this Union requests the Pr-mier to again introduce the Bill tor th-* Repeal of the C.D. Acts. 2. I hat the Government be urged to apply such sections of the Corrupt Practices Act to the lx cal Option Poll as can apply, such sections to be spe-ifi. d. 3. That the Premier be urged to introduce a Bill raisit g the age of protection to 21 years. 1. That this Convention urges upon all women, in toe interests of shop assistants, to discourage late shopping on Saturday night. 5. That Convention urgee that a Bill hf iutroduce l into Parliament to equalise the conditions of divorce for men and women. fi. That an amendment I** inserted in the Alcoholic Liquors Sal** Control Act. prohibiting the employment of oaruiaids. 7. That the Minister of Justice be urged to se apart in each of our large towns a suitable p ace of detention for persons supjx sed to be insane, and awaiting ex imination, that th -y may not Ik* confined in the otdiuarv police cede. From Auckland Union. That in view of the great success that has attended the efforts of the Hagey Institute in d-aling with the drink disease, the Government be approached with a view to ;rovide for the treatment by the Hagey method of indigent persons suffering fiotu Alcoholism. (Withdrawn, pending fuller in formation •• to the Duke’s cure advocau-d by the Kev F. W. Isit 1 Mornino Sessdn, March 4. The prayer meeting at 9.30 was led by Mrs f«kb The Roll w.ts called at 10 o’clock, 18 members answering to their names. Minuted of previous uu-etmg were read and confirmed. ihe adj turned discussion oa the IV hits Ribbon was resumed. Resolved, on tbs motion of Mrs Webb, that the hearty thank* of this Convention are hereby teudered to tbs editors, busiuess manager, aud distributing agent t f the pajter, together with sincere sympathy with th ui in the difficulties sod hard work involved in carrying on the j-apor. I he delegates here a s-tuhled, pledge themselves to u»e every effort to raise the Lumlef of suhs- rit*ers to Resolve'! : That the travelling expenses U> Convention of the business manager, or b*r

representative (she being a member of the itaff of the paper) be a charge on the N\ Z. Fund. Kesolved : That the Officers and Committee be re-elected. Resolved: That the sum of £H lie voted to the Whi k Ribbon towards the expense of the Convention nuiul**r. Resolved : That Mrs Sheppard t>e ask**d to r.*ad a paper *t next Convention on " Tlie Responsil iliti> s of Women as Mothers/'and that Mrs Newten ask* dto give an nddre-s or pa|**r on “ The Clan of Campaign for the Local Option Coll.** Resolved : That next Convention be held in Wellington and Auckland also invited. From Wellington Union : That considering the confusion that has been caus'd by a wrong interpretation of the word •• pr hihition,” the words, “ Local and National Option” should be substituted, and we request the proprietor of the Prohitntionist to alter the name to that of “ Local Option Advocate.” Resolved that Convention make no recommendation on this subject. The Rev G. D. Cox lei the noontide lo ur of prayer. Flection of N. Z Officers and Superintendents was then proce«*d«d with. Afternoon Session, March A. Flection ol N. Z. Superintendents was completed. Resolved : That a petition on the subject of cigarette smoking by boys under tbe age of 14 be prepaied by tbe Parliamentary su|**rintendents, and signed by N. Z. * officers and Presidents of District Unions and presented to the House. Grants to Departments: —Literature, £o j Social Purity, Ji\ ; Juvenile work, ill ; a d 5s pistage to each of the others, were passed. From Gisl*)rno Union : That the pledge of the N.Z. W.C.T.U. be amended by the insertion of the words " as beverages, ” so as to read ; “ 1 hereby solemnly promise, God helping rue, to abstain from aL dia'illed, ferment* d, and malt liquor*, including wines, beer, and cider (as l*ev* ra.es ), and to employ all proper means to discourage the use of, and traffic in the same.” Taken as notice of motion for next Convents n. Res »lved : That Mrs Boxall represent the N.Z. W.C.T.U. on the N.Z. Alliance for the Corning year. Resolved : That anew department be formed, to be called “ Educational Meetings/’ Mrs Kinige, of Marton, to Ik* asked to take the Superintei dency. Resolved: 'ihat the number of members I e prnted by name of Union in tbe Convention number. Resolved: That Mrs Troy have charge of the fund to be spent in Maori work. Miss Dairy tuple read a short pap r on Li le hr Schools. Votes of thanks were passed to the minister *nd managers of St. Paul’s church, th • Press, our hosts and hostesses, and the Napier l ni« n. Conv* ntion was closed by singing Mary Lath bury’s hymn, “ The Lord I** with tlui* in Ihe flush of morn. ” L. M KIRK, N. Z. Recording SecreUiy.