REPORT OF THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 142, 15 March 1907, Page 8

REPORT OF THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

Dear Sisters, In once more presenting my annual rcjmrt. I am pleased, at the outset, to He aid*’ to sound a note ot glad thanksgiving. For eleven years re|torta from all over the r unitry have been panting through my hands. l»ut never has the outlook appeared so encouraging. Speaking generally, secretaries report good attendance. And increased interest, and this in the year following a Local Option Poll, when there is naturally a re action after the forced activity <»f election work. and a dis|s>sition to let things slide. I remember luaring a prominent southern minister remark that in all organizations there whs an ebb tide fol lowing toe inflow of interest with which things started off, and that it only people had the grit and the patience to hold on over tnia most ♦rving |**riod the tide would turn once more. We have had a colonial ebb tide. Four or five years ago things looked dark, interest flagged, mem bership fell off. and one of our Tem|s*r a nee leaders told me he considered the W.C.T.U. had had its day, and was played out. That was the time of ebb tide, but the inflow has now set in. The work of the Temperance party in this colony is consolidating, and White Ribbon work has obtained a firmer footing than ever before. For this our humble and hearty thanks ascend to the Great Captain who leads our hosts, and will lead ns on to victory. Our membership now totals 14*»2.

Coining now to details, Wellington, though showing a slight decrease, still heads tin* membership list with I*4. The Km pi re City will, however, have to look to its laurels, for Wanganui with ‘'J, and Nupier with *O. are running it close. Christchurch, our most up-to-date and go ahead Cnion, easily distances all competitors in the matter of meetings, having held -4. The usual result increased mem hership and interest, has followed. We are now waiting for some I'nion to report 47 meetings a weekly one with a recess for Christmas and January, mid then we shall sot* a progressive bran h. Dunedin, alwavs alive to the benefit ot keeping tin* vv^n - k before t lie public, has held live I' 1 1 c meetings. Pledge-taking is a work l■ i great ini|»ortni»oe, ' looted. New Plymouth reports *2*» new pledges, and Illuff 16. Miss *\ illard used to sav that the neglect of departmental work was a great source of weakness in si. S<T 1 departments. Kach of these takes far more interest in the work, because sin* feels that some special branch of it is committed to her care, and while not obliged herself to do all the work, she is expected to see that it is done and held responsible bv her sisters. Napier has fullv recognised the importance of this, and is working 1- departments, Gisborne and Invercargill following close with II each. Auckland presents a record of healthy activity. An excellent work was done when tin* attention of the Inspector ot Police was called to.the laws prohibiting juvenile smoking and indecent post cards, lit both connection* a number of prosecutions followed. Says Sam Jones: * * When I throw a atom* into a pack of dogs and one of ’em howls, I know Homebody'* hit," and as our district president was honoured with a caricature in the •‘Observer" we may safely conclude that Nome impression was products! upon the enemy. Whangarei, our baby branch, sends a splendid re|*ort, showing that it is all alive with interest in the work, a number of departments b.dng taken up, and the membership now totalling Napier has branched out in a new direction by stalling a free reading room, which is open from 1* a.m. f o 10 p.m., ami is much appreciated by the class for whom it was intended. New Plymouth still carries oil its rest room for women coming in from the country. A pleasing testimony to the way this is appreciated is furnished by the fact that the voluntary contributions placed in the box arc sufficient to cover the cost of cleaning, etc. Prison work in New Plymouth was light last vear, only two women having panned through the gaol. These were visited, and helped, also a number of distressed families assisted with re made clothing, etc. Wanganui shows an ever increasing interest in the meetings. A great deal of good relief work is done by this I’nion in a quiet way, a fact which has recently received public recognition in a leaderette in one of the local paper*. Martoii jm>s

sesses a few faithful workers who go steadily on year after year. fl:** L.T.L shows a member* hip of 7V Wellington still cheers the sick and weary with its Hospital Hand. The Newtown Girls' As sociatiou continues to do excellent work, the usual nightly attendance being he tween twenty and thirty. At Christmas a number of factories were visited, bunches of flowers with texts attached being given to the women and girls, and giatefullv received. The peculiar function of our up to-date Christchurch I’nion is to keep itself abreast of the times, and to be constantly seeking, by resolutions, protests, public meetings, etc., to educate public opinion and to purify and uplift our social and political life. Christchurch has held two district Conventions, one in the city, the other at Ashburton. I wonder that all district Cnions do not follow this example, no better way can be found ot enthusing the auxiliaries and reviving interest in the work. The highly successful luncheon booth at the Show still absorbs a large proportion of its energies. The same annual effort is made iu Auckland, while this year Blenheim also has joined the ranks of A. and P. caterers. - For over twelve months the bav at the Kxhihition has made large demands upon the time and energies ot White Kibboners ill the City of the Plains. A considerable amount of self sacrifice has been demanded of them, and thev have not been found wanting. The thanks of the whole colony are due to Ashburton worker* for crystallising public opinion into a petition signed by fiJ4 inhabitants praying for tbe removal from the bench of the local Stipendiary Magistrate, who has since resigned. The Cnioii has furnished a room which is thrown open each day during the dinner hour to girls in shops, factories, etc. Waimate, as well as Christchurch, held .■ meeting to protest against the legalisation of tin* totalisator. Ilutt has purchased, and now paid for, a hail. Dunedin and Timarti find their chief occii pation in conducting each a Sailors’ Rest, the number of seamen having passed through these during the year being respectively .'s4*s*2 and I***2**. A number of smaller branches have made comfort bags for the sailors, a ml very touching is the pleasure with which these are re ceived. Lyttelton ami Grey mouth both visit the ships in port distributing litera ture, etc. The latter intends opening a Sailors' Rest. Maori work has been car rii*d on by Blenheim, also by our Lyttelton workers, who gave a Christmas tree to the children of the pa. Invercargill still maintains the Victoria Home for friend less girls, last year twenty having been befriended. Hoard and lodging is given the girls, who assist in laundry work while • j ntil life and i"' tp/fl v \ / [j /if fit / ( tendance «>t l»"j Pin - **** Medal-Contests have been hehf, and a luncheon booth conducted at the regatta. By a series of

brave efforts a section lias been bought and | »;i i«t tor at a cost of £1 Ht, upon wliirli is to to* erected a building for tlo* use of moil anti I toys, am| to art as a counter attraction to the hotel bar. Kaiapoi still runs its own coffee moms, which are so well managed as to be entirely self supporting. A vast amount of good work not here chronicled has been done, as I have striven rather Y«> show the wide scope of the White Ribbon movement than tin* amount of work accomplished. Two or three small branches have disbanded. A number of other small branches are nobly holding up the standard; by ami by these will rejoice that they stotsl bv the White Ribbon movement in spite of much dis coiiragemeiit arising from small numbers, bad roads and lack of interest. Every year the tight will grow easier, for every year Temperance sentiment grows stronger and warmer, and when the tide turns they will “ jov before Him with tin* joy of harvest.” In the meantime, nothing will so tend to awaken interest as the undertaking of some definite work. The Cradle Roll is admirably adapted for country districts, which might also make eomfort-bags for the sailors.Mr. Hligli s visit has been very heartily made the best of by our branches throughout the couldrv, and has done much I. In conclusion may I remind you that before we meet again in Convention we shall la* fairly launched upon our year of triennial struggle. It is time, now, that we began our preparations and laid our plans. Each local option |m»II finds the enemy more alert, better organized, and putting up a more determined fight. \nd if we are to meet this we must not relv upon influences which will be brought to bear upon the public for the few months previous to the election. The process of education should la* commenced without delay, and by home meetings, mothers’ meetings, distribution of literature, etc., the foundations will be laid strong and deep for the superstructure to lie reared next year. Cod grant that in everv electorate here represented the top stone may be put on with shoutings of grace, grace unto it. Yours in the tie that binds, MARY S. ROWKhL