District Convention held in Ashburton.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 136, 15 September 1906, Page 3

District Convention held in Ashburton.

The Animal Convention of the Canterbury District of the Women’s Christian Temperance Cnion was held in Ashburton on September sth. Delegates were present from Christchurch, Kuiapoi, Timaru ami Waimate. Mrs Macleod, President of Ashburton W.C.T.U., opened the proceedings with singing and prayer, after which Mrs Cole, the Ne w Zealand President, occupied the chair, and spoke on words contained in a speech hy the late Mrs Mary Hunt, if America. “ What ought to be done can be done by all who have the courage and tin* fiith to undertake it. Mrs Cole urged members of Unions never to allow their Unions to lapse, even if only President and Secretary V * were left, but to do what they could. As long as there were two members they could take part in getting petitions signed and in any special work needed. Mrs Cole also aflirmed that the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was better fitted than tlx* churches to undertake such work as a crusade against the totalisator, as the Union is composed of members of all drnominations. In addition to Temperance, the President considered the Union should take up every year some special work. Miss Roberts read a paper on “ Organ nation,” after which there was an interesting discussion. The following resolutions were passed : “ That a Conference of the Canterbury 1 nions, composed of two delegates from each Union, he held on the day before the District Convention.” “ That this Conference decide upon the reforms to be specially worked for throughout Canterbury during the year following, suggestions to be obtained from the various Unions as to the best methods to he adopted in helping them forward.” “ That even member of a l niou present at the District Convention he entitled to one vote. The invitation of the Kaiapoi Union to hold the next District Convention there was heartily accepted, and the first Wednesday in September, 1907, was fixed as the date. The Convention was continued in the afternoon, when there was a large attendance. 'The meeting was opened by Mrs Dohrmann, President of the

Waimate Union, after which Mrs Cole read a paper written hy Mrs Sheppard, i on “The Civil and Political Disabilities of Women.” The writer stated that although it could not trutlilully be said that New Zealand women were eager to sit in Parliament any more than those of Australia, yet their exclusion was most unjust. The men who would keep them out were either “ fantastically chivalrous or else “ barbarously tyrannical. Sitting in Parliament need not take the bloom oIT a woman s modesty, any more than voting does. The stock argument of woman’s incapacity was without weight, seeing that in schools, in colleges, and in the teaching profession exactly the same standard is required. A very interesting discussion followed, after which the f<allowing resolution was carried : “ That the time is now ripe for the removal of all civil and political disabilities of women.” A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs Sheppard for her able paper, also a vote of sympathy with her on account of indisposition, which prevented her from being present. The evening meeting was opened by Mrs hill, of Willowby, after which Miss Roberts read a paper on " l he Physical Effects of Alcohol.” After reviewing the history of scientific investigation into the nature of alcohol, the writer stated that alcohol as a medicine was not only unnecessary but harmful and dangerous, and that it was a destroyer of protoplasm, the foundation of life, and also of corpuscles of the blood. Operations were made more dangerous, infectious diseases more catching, through the use of alcohol. Medical men were coining to call it a sedative, a narcotic and a paralyser, rather than a stimulant and a restorative. She pleaded for scientific temperance instruction in schools. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Miss Roberts for her very able paper, and a discussion followed. After the transaction of business of minor importance, votes of thanks were passed to the hostesses, and a very enjoyable Convention closed.