MAORI ORGANISER'S REPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 226, 18 April 1914, Page 14

MAORI ORGANISER'S REPORT.

After Convention in Gisborne, I revisited my Cnions in that district, and found things very satisfactory. Then I started out for the Fa-t Coast. A;

Whangara 1 found that as th°re were few stationary -ottler- there, I could not form a Vnion, but one :.od all have promised to help us with their vote this year. Next day, Ilira Paenga kindly drove me the twenty miles up to Tolago Bay, where 1 was kindly entertained at Mrs K. Smith’'* residence. 1 held a splendid meeting at Hauiti, the Maori settlement, and have formed a large Cnion. 1 olago, l might add, -t*ems to be the resort of “pakeha’ habitual drunkards. It is unsafe for a girl to go out alone after dark for any distance. I then came on to Mangatuna, and stayed with Mrs Hale, an old -übscriber to our paper. There was such a week of rain that I could do nothing except visit the people individually, day by day, until on Thursday, when there was a lull, the meeting was held. A Union ha> been formed, and 1 hope will be a good one. Friday, the t\\o coaches were so full that they absolutely itfused to take me on. However, Mrs Hale came to the* rescue, and most kindly >ent her son to take me the iH miles to Tokomaru in her buggy. Though we had to do it equipped in oilskins and sou’ westers, etc. Since then I have been at the Mission House in Tokomaru, with Mi-s Lee and Miss Davis. They have been most helpful, helping me at meetings, arranging these also. 1 have formed two strong Women’s Union* here, and also by -penal request, a Young Men s Union. Miss Lee drove me to Waipiro to make arrangements for meetings there for Sunday. To day we ride out to Hikuwai, and on Friday to Hiruharama. and arc* looking forward to splendid gatherings. From what I have heard and seen, I think it is most essential fur a good mail Temperance lecturer to be* -ent up this coast amongst the Europeans. The drinking that goes on i- something appalling. It is this that makes it so hard for our Maoris to prohibit themselves. It would be a grand thing for both races if this man was sent up as soon as possible. 1 am very happy to thank Miss Lee for her great help. She has procured for me a very nice hor-e,

and a packhorse for my trip right through the Coast, past Tauranga. It will be* a tremendous boon to have it good horse, «»- the roads arc* fearful in places. Also, it will be such an immense saving of expense and trouble, to have the same horses all the way through. Thanking you all for your kind interest, and also assuring you all of the necessity of this trip through here. But, dear sisters, it promises to be as successful as the Northern trip. I am now going over ground which has never been touched before.

FLORENCE WOODHKAD