N.Z. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 17, Issue 202, 18 April 1912, Page 12

N.Z. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT.

Ihe past year lias been one of steady pro gross for the W.C T U in this Dominion. I wo organisers have U*en in the field all the year, one doing kurnpean work, the other lalwmng amongst the natives. In addition, Auckland, Christchurch, and Invercargill have employed local organisers, whilst the District Presidents and New Zealand officers have done campaign work, as also hive Mrs Cowie and Miss Hughes.

year we numliered N 7 I nions ; this year we have 111 Ihirty new Unions have lieen organised since last < 'on venti on, 5 in the Auckland District, 6 in Hamilton, 4 in Hawera, 3 ea *'h in New Plymouth, Christchrcii, and Kaispoi, ’J in M ellington, and I each in Ntpier, Wanganui, Blenheim, and Nelson.

Six l nions have ceased work this year, two of which \N aiha<> Downs and Ormondville had practically closed last year. Two Maori Unions in Gisborne have ceased to exist owing to several of their memliers moving away, whilst those who were left decided to join the (fishwrne Union. In l.ipanui, our only officer, Mrs Kirk, was “called to higher service,’ and the Union, finding no one to take her place, had to disband

Last year we reported ‘.Mid* ineiuU-rs This year our membership totals 3474, an increase of HOG for the year. Doubtless there are many more who Iwlong to the Union, hut alas ! their suits were unpaid on Dec. Hid, and so our 1 reasurer cannot count them as niemliers. Christchurch is the only Union with over I*l*o fully paid meinUrs Seven Unions have over 100, viz , Wanganui, Invercargill, Nelson, Auckland, Dunedin, New Plymouth, and Napier. Dunedin has 180. Needless to say, the all-important work of the year lias consisted in preparing, hy educational and other means, for the No License and National Prohibition Poll. K\ery Union reports effort in this cause ; all did their utmost, members sparing neither time, strength, nor money in the great Fight I he “ Crusade movement was started by Mrs Driver, and quickly “caught on ” Crusade hooks were taken hy eager and willing winkers Wellington Central Union had 7o Crusade hooks in use, and Wellington South held fortnightly meetings in the different Churches on Sunday evenings after service. We feel sure it is largely due to this patient and persistent canvassing hy our White Kihhoii women that our vote for National Prohibition w as such a magnificent oue. We are proud to Irelong to a Dominion in which nearly 5G per cent, of the electors are willing to vote out a national evil like strong drink. Resides Crusade work, our Unions assisted the No-License leagues in every possible way. llie sum of £123 has l>eeii reported as handed ovor by our Unions to various leagues to help in defraying expenses, and doubtless much more was given which has not lieen included in the Reports. Devenport contributed £7, and le Kuiti, a new Union, collected £2O in one week for the Fighting Fund. Kihi Kihi, a small new U nioii, gave 30 - for league work, and Wai ganui reports a No-License *ale which cleared and “all without liolda ing single

sewing meeting. On Polling Day the Unions were well to the fore m providing Rest Rooms and refreshments for the workers. Many Unions also provided the refreshments for NoLicensc Socials, and the Wellington Unions assisted at the N Z. Alliance Tea. Then, again, literature was largely distributed lief ore the Poll Hamilton reports .*»0Sl wrappers as addressed by its members, and New Plymouth •also assisted in a similar way. Okaiaw a sent the Vangnanl to 100 persons, and Tuakau sent an organiser into the hack blocks to prepare for the Poll Prior to the Poll, large processions were held, in which our memliers ably assisted. New Plymouth held one hundred practices, to train its young folk to take part in a grand spectacular display. Christchurch, Wellington, and Dunedin also hel|M‘d in NoLicense processions. Palmerston North gave “ Mrs W.C.T U. ami Her Children, w hich w as so much appreciated that it had to he repeated. Our work among the N oting People has made good progress this year. Nelson, Wellington, and New Plymouth have organised “ Y Unions, whilst several other Unions are on the eve of doing so The Cradle Roll is still doing its noble work of claiming the little ones for the Temperance Cause I cannot get an adequate estimate of ttie numlier on the Cradle Roll, as many Unions liaie not furnished the necessary information Feilding started a Cradle Roll this year ; New Plymouth added 4* members to its Roll ; little lariki still reports the largest n ii mi I K-r, viz , 28.">, whilst Tuakau, with 271, comes a good second. The Invercargill meml*er»liip is NO, and that of Nelson 1 0 1. Ngaerc ami Invercargill report having entertained infants and parents at a picnic. The Evangelistic Superintendent of Ngaerc lives far from Church or Church School, so she gathers from 30 to 40 children into her own home for Sunday School, and has thus started what I Isdieve to l>e the first White Ribbon Sunday 50h0,.l in the Dominion. These scholars joined in the Cradle Roll picnic. Rami of Hope work has not been neglected. Many Unions report flourishing Societies. Waipukuran Rand of Hope has I GO members, Otautau 11*0. and Hastings .*>o. In Dunedin P.’ Rands of Hope took part in the No-License procession Indore the Poll. Dunedin also held a successful Rand of Hope competition. North* Last Valley gave two prizes for the l>est essay on “ Temperance ” written by a school child, and Kaiapoi gave prizes to the Young Women's Guild .or essays oil “ National Prohibition. I he in portant work of obtaining Total Abstinence Pledge signatures has been steadily kept in view by many of our Unions, ">BB tir»t pledges being ieported Miss Keliecca Smith addressed a meeting of l*etween two and three hundred natives at Ngaruaw ahia, and .‘>o pledges were taken. Putiki has 70 names in ils pledge hook 1 he “ Willard Institute was opened at Napier in l)eceiid>er last, the Anglican Rishop performing the ceremony of turning the key The new department of “ Military Camps ” was taken up this year, and several Unions report work done in connection therewith. The work of visiting hospitals and caring for the inmates has l>een carried out as usual. Many Unions distribute flowers to the patients, whilst the New Plymouth “YV have formed a Temperance Choir, which renders excellent service by singing at the Hospital, etc 1 lie Wellington Union long ago placed a piano in the Hospital, and members u-ed lo go and play and sing to the inmates. The Mother Uniou

was unable to carry on the work, aiul the Hospital authorities asked the Union to remove the instrument, as it was not being used l'he “ Y’s ” came to the rescue, and now undertake the work of entertaining the patients as opportunity serves I lie ( hri'tchurch Union presented a gramaphone to the Bottle bake Hospital I lie Christchurch “Y V made *Jti garments for the Children's Ward in the Hospital ; they al«o sent groceries to St Saviour’s Home and gave cash to four families at Xmas. Many Unions have assisted the Maori work with funds, etc. ihe t hristchurch "1 * donated three guineas to the Hukarere Native College. Hastings provides a rest-rosm for Maoris. Gisborne looks well alter its Native Unions, and trains and educates their members. At the local Agricultural Shows our Unions are to the fore with rest and refreshment tents. Palmerston North, Christchurch, Auckland, and Napier report wo'k in this line. Ihe Napier Union has takeui over the catering at the Hawke’s Hay Show for the next five years. New’ Plymouth keeps a Dorcas Box, and lias distributed six parcels of clothing. 1 his Union has also a maternity hag, which it lends out. Ngaeres Superintendent for Moilier* Meetings is a trained maternity nurse, and her practical talks are most instructive and helpful. (’hristchurch has been fortunate in securing a Plunket nurse to address Mothers Meetings, who, by way of illustrating her remarks, washed ami dressed a dummy doll. Ngaere has a very original way of helping members who live too far off to attend meetings. An absentee members correspondent has been appointed, who sends a report of all meetings and proceedings to those unable to he present. lu conclusion, dear Sisters, let us “thank God and take courage.” Our spieiidid majority of over no per cent did not carry National Prohibition for us. so we have still to fight on. Hut the battle is the Lord’s, and we feel no doubt as to its ultimate issue.

1 would like to thank the oHice-l*earers of our local Unions for the help they have given me hy their prompt and courteous replies to all queries addressed to them. May 191*2 he the best year we have ever known ! NULL IK PERY MAN, NZ. Cor. Sec.