PALMERSTON NORTH PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 232, 19 October 1914, Page 10

PALMERSTON NORTH PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

On the morning of September 7th a party of 12 White Kibboners arrived at Palmerston, and were met by their hostc s.-es, and taken to their separatehomes. An Executive meeting \\a> held in tin- Presbyterian Schoolroom at 3 o’clock, when the business for the sessions was arranged. Convention opened at 9.30 Wednesday, the i/th. Mrs Don, the Dominion President, conducted devotional cxer< ises. Miss Powell, on behalf of the Palmerston Onion, gave a hearty welcome tc tin- visiting Onions. We deeply regret that Mrs Crabbe, the Palmerston President, was unable to lx with u>, through illness. Mr> Kvans, tin- Wellington District President, then took tin* chair, and after replying to the cordial welcome extended l>y tin- local Onion, referred to tin- diffidence she felt in occupying so important a position, for though born and bred in a teetotal family, only for the last two years had she taken an active part in the work of the W’.C.T.O. She paid a tribute to the veteran workers, many of whom sin* saw around, who had borne the* brunt of the battle from the early days, when contempt and ridicule were too often the reward of their noble efforts for the cause of “(iod Home, and Humanity.” Their organisation was now one of considerable influence, and therefore all the heavier responsibility lay upon the members of the present day to carry on and complete the work begun amid great diflic ultic-. Women ought to do their utmost for self-development by study and bv training their faculties. They should accustom themselves to take a broad view of questions that arise, and *n think carefully on matters that concern the welfare of the home and family. They were often tempted to excuse themselves by the plea of want of time amid the routine of everyday dutie s. But in this very way there was often a great wastage of thought power. Anyone trying to observe the workvg- cf the mind would -re how quickly tne thou' ht passes from one subject to another. To c ultivate concentration of thought was one valuable means for training the mind, and there were* many opportunities for doing this while un-

gaged in the ordinary mechanical duties of housekeeping. Kadi should make* a point of trying to keep the attention fixed on a special subject for a definite space of time, for the- training thus g lined was conducive to clear thinking. Kven young children can be encouraged to form this habit of concentration of thought, and the speaker referred to one family she knew where five minutes was devoted every morning to meditation on some given subject by all the members of the household met together for the purpose. Women must remember that upon them as mothers devolves .1 serious responsibility to olan for the best welfare of the home and the children, and therefore they should take a live interest in all social questions, and in legislation that affects the home. Only so could they ful' 1 their duty as enfranchised citizens, possessing the right to choose those who make the laws, and thus indirectly to influence legislation. Kcference was made to the grave cri-i> in Europe and the condition of active warfare throughout the Empiie. Women had done and were doing their part nobly in the various ways open t,> them. They must avoid giving way to undue ex< itement, realising that one way of showing true patriotism was by continuing, as far as possible, their ordinary duties, while holding themselves ready for any extraordinary calls that might be made on them. On the one hand, they should husband their resources, and not spend money on unnecessary thing-, for there was certain to lx* much di tress arising from the war, and all available funds would be required. On the other hand, where it was possible* to spend money that would help to keep others in employment, let them spend it. If they could afford to have work done, as in getting their gardens put in order, and such like, by all means they should do it, for to keep men employed was the very best way of preventing distress, and this would be as far as possible the method adopted for the relief of distress. Finally, as members of the W.C.T.I .. let them retain their trust in (iod, knowing that His Divine purpose is ever being worked out, alike in peace and in war, amid all the varied circumstances of life. After the roll call, the proposed Constitution was read and adopted, with an amendment to Article it, viz. :

‘•That am I'nion joining in the Provim ial Convention should have the power, through its President or otherwise, to appoint a representative on the Executive Committee in the event of the President being unable to attend Convention.” I he by-law - wcie then adopted. Noontide hour e 011ducted by Mrs Evan-. Convention adjourned at 12.30 for luncheon, provided by the Palmer-ton friends. Afternoon session opened at 2.30. Sister .-Alice conducted devotional exercises. Thirty-two answered the roll call. The* question box was then opened. Ist. Is t» a beneficial to health? Decided it is not harmful if not taken strong, and not allowed to infuse for more than thiee minutes. 2nd. Is it right for the Pre-ident of any Cnion to sign the minutes with out asking the members to confirm them first? Answer: Certainly not. 3rd. Should the* business of the meeting be considered settled when only mentioned by the President and not voted upon by the meeting? An-.: Certainly not; it would not he* legal. 4th. What is the* pioper way of putting money in the Post Office by a small Cnion? Ans.: You must have the signature of the* Treasurer and someone else* appointed by the Cnion. Mr Crabbe, representing the* NoLicense League, and the Rev. Mr Aspland, representing the* Ministers’ Association, gave a very hearty welcome to the Convention, and said that it was the fir-t time Convention had been held in Palmerston, but the y hoped that it would not be* the la-t, and that now the) would call Palmerston a c ity, not a town. Mr Crabbe also gave a welcome on behalf of the* Order of Rechabites. Two Medical Temperance papers we re read, one by Mrs Neale, and one* by Mrs Spearman. 'There was also a paper (from Mrs Crabbe) read by Mrs Ilodder, on “The Morals of the Military Camps.” This paper created a great deal of discussion, and many suggestions were made* to try and rectify matters. Convention then adjourned at 5 o’clock. The officers and delegates were entertained at tea by the Palmerston Cnion in the Empire Hall. In the evening there was .1 public meeting held. Mrs Mowlem, the New Zealand Organiser, presided, and Mrs Don, the Dominion President, gave a splendid address. Three new members initiated. Mr ffodder proposed a vote of thanks to

the speaker, \ hic h was carried u ith enthusiasm. Convention 'esunicd on Thursday morning at Devotional exer- ( i>r«v were e one! i< ted by Mrs lloddei. Roll \\ii> called, jb answering. Re solved : i. “That this Convention, while feeling proud tint Biilain has been true to the best traditions of her pa t. and while gratefully recognising the patriotic service rendered to the Empire by all classes of the community, would respectfully u?ge the men and women of the Dominion, especially the numbers of the Temperance Party, to show similar patriotism by continuing with unabated energy tin* warfare against the liquor traffic.*’ election of officers resulted a > follow s: President, Mrs Kvan>; Treasurer, Mrs Houlder; Secretary, Mrs Speai man. Mrs Houlder read the balance-sheet, showing balance in hand of 7s ul. A letter from the Napier Cnion, sent on by Mrs Field, of Nelson, suggested that .1 leaflet he written for distribution among girls, similar to the appeal to men. Held over. 1 he following resolutions wire passed .it Convention: ist. “That this Council 01 Whiic Ribboncrs of the Wellington Province express their hearty appreciation of the statement made by the Defence Department that no liquor is to be allowed on the outgoing troopships, except for medicinal purposes. The women of the Dominion consider the result of drinking in the Kxpedition iiv Foice is worse than war, and main of the mothers who have willingly given then son s for the defence of the Fmpirc dread drunkenness so unutterably ih.it they would rather have them fall in Herman bullet" than become vi tims of the liquor traffic.” 2nd. “'That this Convention would advise any Cnion not being sure how to reply to the Minister for Publn Health, to write to Miss Roberts foi reasons objecting to clause 19 in the Resolutions passed by the Cnited Women’s Committee." 3rd. “That this Convention urge upon the Defence Department the de sirability of locating all future encampments of the F.xpeditionarj Forces and other < amps in No-License di tricts, or arranging that the hotel bars should all he closed at 6 o’< lock each night during the encampment. ’ The l 11 ions represented at Convention were: Wellington District,

Wellington Central, Petone, Upper llutl, Pahiutua, Woodville, Masterton, Wanganui, Wanganui Fast, Feliding, Palmerston North. It was decided to accept the invitation from Wanganui for Provincial Convention to be held there next year, and that the entertaining' Union make all arrangements for sui h Convention, pay all expenses attending thereto, and hand the surplus money over to the Proviin ial Treasurer. The Convention was brought to a (lose with devotional exercises and chair, prayer. Mrs Fvans pronounced the Benediction. A party of delegates went out to visit the military camps before leaving by the 3. ;o train, arriving in W ellington .it 7.20, after having spent a very helpful and enjoyable time together.