CANTERBURY DISTRICT CONVENTION

White Ribbon, Volume 13, Issue 159, 15 September 1908, Page 5

CANTERBURY DISTRICT CONVENTION

At the Canterbury District Convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union held in the Christchurch headquarters of the Union, Worcester street, delegates from all the Unions in Canterbury, with the exception of Waiksri, were present. Mrs Cole, president of tlie New Zealand Union, presided. Mesdames Pinfold and Darling ( Rangiora) opened the morning session with prayer. Mrs Lill (Ashburton) was re-elected secretary. A deputation, consisting of Mrs Cole and Miss Roberts (New Zealand Union), and Mesdames Mis»en (Ashburton , Brooker (Tiiuaru), Allen (Lyttelton), Evans (Kaiapoi) and Gaarde (Christchurch) were appointed to wait on the Hon. G. Kowlds, slinist»r of Education. and urge upon him the necessity for scientific temperance instruction in the schools. Mrs Pinfold read a paper on *• How to Rouse the Interest of Absentee Members,” considerable discussion being evoked. “Christian Citizenship "as the subject of a short paper read by Mrs Cole, and it wa9 freely discussed. It was decided to urge that September 19th, the anniversajy of the granting of women’s franchise in New Zealand, should be set apart by the Unions as “ Citizenship l»ay.” Reports from the various Unions con pleted the business of the morning.

The afternoon session commenced w ith devotional exercises, after which Mrs Lill gave a forceful address upon the disabilities of the .Midwives Bill. Mesdames M‘Combs and Missen and others spoke upon the matter. Mrs Missen saying that the disadvantage* under which women in back-country districts were labouring in regard to the Bill certainly existed, but resulted more from a general misapprehension of the Bill than the fault of the Kill itself. It was stated that there seemed to be some misapprehension regarding Clause In of the Act, and disastrous results had been caused through women in emergency not being able to obtain trained nurses from town. W omen in the country had been in fear of a penalty being imposed, and had refrained from rendering timely and necessary assistance to their neighbour*. It was resolved that the Union should endeavour to make Clause 1"* widely known, the reading of the clause being as follows :—“ Every women is liable to a tine not exceeding twenty pounds who, not being registered under this Act, practices as midwife or takes or uses the name or title of a midwife (either alone

or in combination with any other word or words), or any name, title, addition or description implying that she is registered under this Act, or is qualified to practise or is recognised by law as a midwife; provided that nothing herein shail apply to any equally qualified medical practitioner or to an v woman rendering assistance in a case of emergency. A paper on “The True Inwardness of the Woman’s Movement was read by Mrs M’Combs, who handled her subject very cleverly and was enthusiastically applauded. A fine paper was received from Mrs Dash, of Waimate, and read by Miss Roberts. After the reading of reports from other districts regarding the work done already and in progress, and the pa sing of certain resolutions, the session was closed.

Mrs Peck, of Waimate, opened the evening session w ith devotional exercises. Mrs Cole requested Miss Rolwrts to read her paper on “The Absolute Majority. The paper was an educative one, Miss Roberts quoting many facts and figures to substantiate her contentions. The paper was discussed freely by delegate.* and others present. Mrs Seed spoke in opposition to the substance of Miss Roberts s paper. Mr Eerriman, of Ashburton, spoke on similar lines, stating that evils were likely to ucciue to the cause of no-license as a whole if any at tempt was made to alter the three fifths majority. Miss Roberts replied to the remarks made upon her paper, adducing certain reasons why, at tin* present time, there should be a consideration of such a subject as an absolute majority. The following resolution was carried :—“That this Convention urges the Unions throughout Canterbury to earnestly work against the unjust provision of the threefifths majority now required to carry nolicense by reading and discussing papers on this subject in their several Unions, by promoting where possible the discussion of the same subject in temperance and literary societies, young men’s associations, etc., by holding and promoting public meetings to educate public opinion, by writing letters to the public press whenever possible, and by the distribution of literature urging the right of the people to an absolute majority on this as on every other subject suomitted to them; that this matter be brought bofore the annual convention, with a view to getting all Unions throughout the Dominion to take up this work.” Resolutions regarding drinking on trains having been passed, the convention was closed with the Benediction

The following resolutions were passed by the Convention :

(I) “In view of tlie expense incurred by mother* in country districts through living obliged to engage a certificated mid-w ife (often from a distance) for confinement*, this Convention of women strongly urges the Government to Multsiili.se medical men and mid-wives who would be available for necessitous cases.*

(•J) “That this Convention of representative women from the whole of Canterbury is strongly of opinion that the law which jierinits liquor to W supplied to children of tender years should lie amended l»y the age Iteing raised from over 13 to over Is years of age.

(3) “In view of the inconvieiioe to which the travelling public generally, and women in particular, are subjected through the pernicious custom of drinking on lioard trains, this Convention of representative women of Canterbury strongly urges the immediate authoritative prevention by the Government of tin aforementioned custom. ’

(4) “ 1 hat separate accommodation should In lie provided for mothers on all trains in the I dominion."