Organisers' Reports.

White Ribbon, Volume 10, Issue 111, 15 August 1904, Page 3

Organisers' Reports.

Miss Powell*.J

Our meeting in Waimate on July Bth was a great success, the hall being full, and a branch organized with 21 members. As the frieml* at Geraldine advised my waiting until the Monday before travelling thither, I decided to wait yet another two days and meet the new Union in the meantime. Accordingly we called a meeting for Tuesday (12th) and although the day was very wet fourteen responded and we had a useful conversation, it being decided to order about fourteen shillings’ worth of literature from Mesdamea Webb and Hughes. The officers elected are, President, Mrs. Dohrmann, Studholme; Secretary, Miss Richard, Waimate; Treasurer, Mrs. Philip Russell, VI aimate. I had lieen warned that Geraldine would be found a very hard place to work and my experience cause* me to endorse the remark. The audience for the '• Sweetheart ” lecture I thought very small, but every one else seemed to consider it a good one. The afternoon meeting was certainly a very small one and no thought of organ izing oould be entertained. I addressed the G. 1\ Lodge, while the visits paid to the homes ai oust'd a good deal of interest, and the Writs Ribbon planted will prepare the way for iuture work. On Friday, 22nd, the little journey to Temuka was undertaken. and here 1 found many sympathizers Th" lecture to the girls secured a good

audience, and the following Friday when—after employing every available minute in visiting—l met the ladies n the Preebyterian schoolroom, a good number assembled. There were several capable, earnest women present, but somehow when 1 asked for a vote upon the question of organizing a branch, only four hands were raised. Some, I afterwards discovered, held back until

they saw how many others were willing to join, a practice which, if generally adopted, would result in a glorious do-nothing policy However, at some future time we must make another attempt and we shall then, 1 believe, be more suooeesful. I am now in Ashburton, on No-Li cense ground. I understand this town hss been '* ruined by prohibition." Then, all that I can say i* that I wish I had seen it be* fore that lamentable occurrence took place. So far I have seen but one empty shop and - I do not recollect having passed one empty dwelling house, though there may be such. U.v lecture to the girls, advertised for tonight must t»e postponed, as with five inches of snow on the ground and mote falling, women are not likely to venture out.

Miss Huoiisri. J

The Ist *f July found me in Tiiuaru, my work in Lyttelton having been completed the previous day. My work in Tiinaru had not been arranged, and little could lie done the first few days, owing to the absence of two of the otiioers who are school teachers and were taking mid-winter holidays! this gave me an opportunity of spending s few days in that progressive little town which has become of so much interest to every Temperance worker—Ashburton.

Here I remained uniil the following Tuesday, keeping my eyes open, and making en {uiries as to the success or otherwise of, rio-Liceuse from all sorts and conditions of people. Many and various were the reports I had previously heard, but to visit Ashburton is to be absolutely convinced as to the success of the system. It was a pleasant and novel experience to be shown over three of the largest hotels of the town, to find them flourishing and busy as first class boarding-houses, and to hear from the proprietors themselves the admission that they are doing splendidly without the bars. I certainly amused my friends by my untiring though fruitless searching for drunken and disorderly persons. Ministers, business people, and persons in public positions all gave the most ready and encouraging reports of the success of No-License.

Returning to Tirnaru on sth July, I addressed a Band of Hope meeting at Trinity church, a number of young people promising to assist in the '‘Congress of Nations." On the 6th. with our President, I attended a Ladies’ Guild, and used this opportunity of bringing the work of the Union before the ladies; the name evening I addressed the Primitive Methodist Hand of Hope, and next day had my first rehearsal with the girls who had promised to help in the “ Congress.** A busy week was spent visiting and working up the Union; training ray “Congress" girls; and working up several items with the school children. The h* v Mann being in extremely bad health, I was glad to be able to relieve him of one of the services

on Sunday 10th. Tht following Wednesday our Union meeting was held and took the form of an “At Home.” The weather was miserable but did not prevent our having a well attended and very pleasant meeting, whhh closed with the Initiatory service, 14 lalirs joining the Union. Our entertainment next evening was a thorough success, the young people taking their parts with great credit and the audience being large and appreciative in spite of the pouring rain which continued. Our Tiinaru Union is to bit congratulated upon the very comfortable '* Sailors’ Rest which has been secured and is kept up entirely by the work of our women. At the termination of my work in Timaru oarne a most unexpected change in my plans and work, the New Zealand Alliance having borrowed u*y services for the remainder of the month to assist the Temperance workers in the Pahiai.ua electorate in the very important Hy-Flection in their district. Consequently, the 14th found me Hying northward, instead of south as we had arranged. Having received full instructions from Mr Isitt I reached the scene of ooinbat on the 18th and was given charge of the Woodville end of the electorate, including the township and six outlying districts. The next ten days will long be rememl>ered by our Temperance workers. Our temperance candidate, Mr Hawkins, was a strong, true man, and such a thorough prohibitionist, that we were deteimined to place him at the head of the poll. The liquor party and 03vermuent combined were generally determined to prevent his return, and so tne contest became fierce and furious. Never in all its history has such an onslaught been made upon this quiet little country electorate. Mr W W. Collins was sent to represent the liquor people, and Mr H. Bedford. M H. K , followed on our behalf. Then came a host of influential people to plead and pr?mise, among them Mr Mouro, Minister of Lands, and Mr Hogg, the Government whip. And on the day preceding the election Sir Joseph Ward addressed the electors, while our own Mr T, K Taylor addressed a large crowd in another part of the town Although there was no Local Option Poll being taken the tight was so decidedly between the Liquor and Temperance parties, that the persons showing the returns on the large screen in Woodville, repeatedly during an interval showed the question, Which will win, Whisky or Water?** and our pleasure was unbounded when the results were declared ani we knew that in spite of the tremendous opposition brought to bear against us. our Temperance candidate had beaten, having a majority of 05 votes above the next man.

While in Waodvilin the advisability of forming a branch of the W. C. T. U. had been discussed, and a group of girla are preparing to give the “ Congress of Nations." On the 20th I left for Wellington to represent my own electorate (Fden) on the deputation to the Premier on the Soth, and assist in an after-9ervice Temperance meeting on Suuday the 31st, bringing to an ead an eventful and busy month's work.