Triennial Convention of the W.C.T.U. of Australasia.

White Ribbon, Volume 9, Issue 97, 1 June 1903, Page 1

Triennial Convention of the W.C.T.U. of Australasia.

The fifth Triennial Convention of the W.C.T.U. of Australasia opened in the Independent Church, Collins-street, Melbourne, on April 28, Mrs Nicholls (Australasian President) presiding. A 1 together 150 delegates, representing all the states of the Common* wealth, as well as New Zealand, were present.

Owing (says the Melbourne Argus) to the business-like manner in which the proceedings were conducted a great deal of work was accomplished, and as each of the speakers was compelled to adhere rigidly to the time limit of 10 minutes allotted them the programme for the day was concluded. The morning was devoted almost entirely to the conduct of formal business incidental to a gathering of the kind, such as the appointment of officers and committees. In addition, a short memorial service was held, when tributes to the memory of Mrs Love, Mrs Barber, Mrs Thomas, and Mrs Lyall were paid by Mrs Phillips and Lady Holder. Mrs Elliott and Mrs Hansen (Western Australia), Mrs Cole (Queensland), Mrs Harrison Lee (New’South Wales), and Mrs Pettifer (Victoria) were appointed delegates to represent the

reports dealing with the young women’s work, juvenile work, organisation, heredity and hygiene, scientific temperance instruction, anti-opium and narcotics, Sunday-school work, literature, the press, medal contests, systematic giving, Christian citizenship, world’s

missionary fund, and evangelistic and cottage meetings were read, and the presidential address was delivered by Mrs Nicholls.

vity in the world of Tern? "‘ranee. The second World’s Temperauce Congress, held in London in 1900, brought together 1000 delegates, nearly every country and nearly every phase of temperance work being represented. Following on that, legislative enactment for the more satisfactory regulation or the prohibition and suppression of the drink curse had been eagerly sought for in many lands, while temperance organisations composed of medical men had been largely multiplying. There was now a growing spirit of inquiry concerning the properties of alcohol among the medical profession generally. In a recent discussion concerning the causes of tuberculosis eminent doctors in Great Britain, America, France and Germany had made strong indictments of alcohol as one of the most potent causes of that disease, and in 1900 a company of Russian scientists issued an outline of their study of alcoholism extending over two years, in which they agreed upon a series of propositions strongly condemnatory of intoxi- ! cants. Meeting in the Melbourne Town Hall. A largely-attended rally was held in the Town Hall in the evening, at which Mr Deakin (Federal Attorney-General) presided. Prior to 8 o’clock, Mr W. R. Bennetts gave an organ

Singers ” (Mackenzie), and the “Hallelujah ” chorus (Messiah), and, aided by the eloquence of the speakers, roused the audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm.

Mr Deakin received a splendid welcome. He said the W.C.T.U. had immense claims upon the consideration of the community, as it represented a great army of half a million souls. Besides that, it represented them in 40 nations - in fact, all the world over. (Cheers.) And yet the origin of the movement was not more than 30 years old. Its organisation as a world s force was only 20 years old, while as an Australian federal union it was no more than 12 years old. In that short space of time it had become one of those great modern social and religious growths which was doing so much to shape the history of this time, and perhaps the history of the times that are to come. When speaking of such unions there w as one name which never would be and never ought to be forgotten—the name of that grand and noble woman Frances Willard. (Cheers). Tens of thousands of people were entering into that woman’s labours, the result of her genius for organisation. The chief and primary objects of the W.C.T.U. were to wage incessant warfare against the drink traffic and abuses of opium, tobacco, and drugs of a similar nature, and to preach the gospel of abstinence from gambling and other pernicious dissipations. Its motto was a noble one Two-thirds of it was the motto of one of the greatest and best political saints that the last century had seen—Joseph Mazzini—whose watchword was “ God and Humanity.” But as a woman’s union they had added the source of women’s power, and chosen for their motto, “God, Home, and Humanity.” (Cheers). The home was where the best reforms must be centred, and in beginning there they had begun at the tap-root of all possible advance. They had now entered into the field of politics, and had put forward proposals for the enfranchisement of women. He was proud to say that the Federal Parliament had in its first year recognised the justice of that claim, and by granting adult franchise it had established over a greater single area than any other portion of the world the joint citizenship of men with women. (Cheers). He hoped that the union based upon home wouid prove one of the most potent factors for converting each state into a home, each nation into a family, and finally

uniting the universal families of mankind.

Other speakers were Mrs Nicholls, Mrs Nolan (New' South Wales president), the Rev. Canon Boyce (Sydney), and the Rev. S. P. Carey, of the Collins street Baptist Church. At the conclusion of the meeting the “ membership banner ” for the state union which had made the biggest increase in its membership duiing the past three years was handed over to Mrs M‘Lean (Victorian president) by the president of the New Souih Wales Union, the previous holder. “We in New South Wales,” said Mrs Nolan in making the presentation, “ have been so accustomed to handing over things to Victoria that this proceeding seems quite natural.” Resolutions and Petition. The following two days were occupied in dealing with the various reports, and on the last day several resolutions brought forward by the resolution committee, advocating temperance teaching in state schools and a renewal of the union s efforts to secure the extension of the franchise, were carried unanimously, while a congratulatory vote was accorded Mr Hickford, M.L.A , for his remarks in support of the abolition of the Parliamentary bar. The principles of the W.C.T.U., which embrace, among other things, a demand lor the recognition of a.i equal standard of morals for both sex* s and the payment of equal wages to both sexes for the same work, were also most enthusiastically carried. Mrs Rooke (Tasmania) was elected Australasian President in succession to Mrs Nicholls, who had held that position for eight years. Before separating, the Convention decided to petition the Federal Parliament, praying that the federal capital should be a prohibition city ; and it also fixed the place of meeting for the next triennial convention at Hobart. Public and Social Functions. The public functions included a Christian Citizenship and White Cross meeting, at which Mr Ramsay, M.L. A., presided, and an “ Elocutionary Contest.” The social element was provided by a Garden Party, held at the residence of Mr and Mrs James Ballantyne, Malvern, and three luncheons, the entertainers being the Melbourne Total Abstinence Society, the Victorian Alliance, and the Sons and Daughters of Temperance.