WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 208, 18 October 1912, Page 6

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

The Wellington Conventit n met at Masterton on Tuesday, Sept. 3rd. There were present Mesdames Boxall, Houlder, Neal, Baker, Keene (Wc'lington District), Mrs. Kvans (Wellingt n “ Y’s ”), Mrs. Gooder (Wellington Central), Mrs. Pervman (Xgaio), Mrs. Rouse (Petone), Mrs. Routlev (Upper Hutt), Mesdames Pe /enport, Flannigan, and o(liters of Masterton Union. Many members of the loc i.l Union were a 1 so present. An Executive meeting was held at Knox Hall on Monday afternoon. The sessions opened at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Very incoun*ging reports were read from the different Unions. Alter luncheon adjournment the question-box was opened, and m«nv urestions were answered. Mrs. Peryman then read from Mrs. Stevens’ address to the Ainric *ti National W C.T.U. extracts dealing with the ti ,r ht t » retain Constitutional Pr< hibition in Maine. A pat'er on “ Whv Women Do Not Desire Motherhood ” was read and discussed. The following resolutions were passed : T. That the N.Z,. Un’on lie asked it its next Convention to frame hv-laws under which District Conventions shall work.” 2. That the members of this Convention express the’r indignation and sorrow that the maiority of members in the House of Representatives refused to grant to a very large maioritv of the electors of this country anv reduction in

«the iniquitous handicap imposed on them in licensing matters. That we hereby pledge ourselves to vote for candidates who support a reduction of the three-fifths majority.

3. We, the members of this Convent un, strongly | rotest against an\ legislation increasing the number of tota’isaC r permits or the publication of the totaPsator dividends. 11l view of the fact that thj great evil of gambling amongst our men, women, and youths is so fostered bv the St ite licensed betting machine, we earnestly urge the Government to submit the question of its retention or abolition to a referendum of the people. Mrs. Neal rtad a paper on “Domestic Sc’ence,” which was discussed. Mrs. Houlder spoke calling the attention of the d fferent Unions to our N.Z. President’s letter in last number of “ White Ribbon " re Unions sup] orting our own funds. Mrs. IXryman also strongly urged the members to devote their funds t<> s* reading the W.C.T.U. work. Tie sweater pointed out that hot’’ the Maori Find a d the Organising Fund were being starred, and that the N.Z. treasury was sadly deplet d, wh’le Onions, as Unions, wire ira'Vrg funds for oversea missions and c'thtr objects on te o tside ihe W.C.T.U. work. This question is nr ch misunderstood, one lady wantng to know d’d we mean that they were not to support their own churches. It was pouted out that as individual meml ers of t’le W.C.T.U. tbev were free to s wort the r church or anv other wor hv obiect that aope ded to t’etn, b’t that as Unions the N .Z. ofl’c rs urged them to be loval to our own work and funds.

In the evening a public meeting was hebl. at which a programme o f s ngs, recit it’ons, etc., was gi 'm, and an address <ll “ The t'i ic, Economic, and Political E mabtv of Women.” was delivered hv Mrs. Pervman. Regret was expressed bv Mrs. Devennort that owing to bereavement in Mrs. Te Tail’s family the Maoris were unable to be present and take part in the programme. ITeartv thanks were given to the Masterton Union who had so royally entertain d tK* Convention.