CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 232, 19 October 1914, Page 14

CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

Ihe Canterbury Provincial Con ventron of the Women’s Christian Temperance l nion met in 1 rinity Congregational Hall on Wednesday, September ifith. The delegates were welcomed at a public reception in the >.lllll' building on Fuesday evening, Mrs \\. J. McCombs (President of the Christchurch Union) in the ch.*r. Addre>se> of welcome were given by the Rev. Mr ( OC ker on behalf of the Canterbury No License Council, and the Rev. Mr Paterson, late of Adelaide, S.A., and Broken Hill, N SW.

Tlu latter gentleman threw some ligV on the woik of the Temperance workers of Australia, speaking in highly complimentary terms of the women's work. In opening the proceedings, the President pointed out that the occasion was somewhat unique, in that, besides being an ordinary business Convention, it also was the occasion of the coming of age of the granting of the franchise to the women of New Zealand. Mrs Sheppard, who was for many years Franchise Superintendent of the W.C.T.U., and who was mainly instrumental in bringing about the reform, addressed the gathering, and pointed out that a long course of educative effort was ne< essary, and that no less than three petitions were pr< stilted to the New Zealand Parliament, the last containing 3 , > 0O ° signatures, being the largest signed petition ever presented to a Parliament in Australasia. We had to acknow ledge the debt due to men lik< the late Mr Alfred Saunders and the late Sir John Hail, who undertook to pilot the Women’s Franchise Bill through the House. Several speakers expressed pi* asure at the priscnce of Mrs Sheppard on the platform. The Mayor of ( hristchurch (Mr Holland) also welcomed the delegates. He facetiously remarked that the women, after getting the vote, had turned down the party to which Sir John Hall belonged, and kept them out of ( ffice 'or over twenty years. “Yes,” interjected a member, “but we never turned him down. So long as he sought our suffrages he got them. ”

Mrs Don, N.Z. President, also addressed the gathering, and referred to the time when she had first been brought into the movement, and to the

broadening effect it had had on the lives of the women. Next morning Convention met at q. 30, and proceedings were opened by Mrs W. J. Roberts, Waimate, conducting ihc* devotional exercises. Twenty-seven delegates responded to the roll-call, and practically every Canteibury Union was represented. Mrs McCombs again pu cletl, and Mrs W*. T. Fill, of Willowby, read the minutes of the last annual meeting, and also the financial statement. Both were adopted. The morning session was devoted to reports from the l nion- and di-» ussion of the subjoined resolutions.

Christchurch reported the < !. tn n < t 30 women in and around ( hristchurch to various S< hool Comm’ttees. Kaiapoi reported giving prizes for essays on the Temperance Wall Shu ts in the public school. A refreshment stall at the Cycling Club sports. New Brighton reported that the Band of Hope work brings together the workers of three different churches. Oxford, among the rountn Union takes pride of place for aggressive work. Fortnightly Band of Hope meetings are held, competitions, catering for Show Day and Sports Day, rest tent for mothers, and the presentation of a trophy for the bc-t all-round athlete. Literature sent to the workers on the Ashley and Snowdale Roads. Plunket nurse gives fortnightly course of let lures. M-o a vigorous Y branch. Rangiora reports members of Union elected to the School Committee; prizes for essays on Temperance Wall Sheets; creche at the November Show. Sheffield has to meet in four centre - to get in touch with it- various members. Tirraru has a Cradle Roll of 140, and Sailor-' Rest managed entirely by the Union. Waimate reports the el* < tion of a woman on the School Committee. Winchmore. —Th< live several miles distant, but the President drives members to the* place of meeting. Belfast reports Band of Hope work, visits to hospital, and an address by Miss Roberts. Ashburton. Plans are drawn fot a

Public Rest Room to be erected by the Borough Council. The scheme has received the written authority of the Public Health Department. 1 he

Union manages a Rest Tent at the Show. In the afternoon papers were given by Miss Roberts on the Feminist Movement throughout the world, and by Mrs Fill on the Real Aristocracy. A short address was given by Mrs Mowlem, National Organiser, and a -tilling address by Mrs Don, illustrated by ribbons of various lengths and colours showing the expenditure by New Zea and on Railways, Tea, (Offer and Cocoa, Post and Telegraph, Education, Missions, and I )i ink. RESOLUTIONS. I hat thi> Convention tenders most heartfelt sympathy to the sufferers in the lluntly Mine Disaster. 1 hat we would respectfully urge that community of interest be one of the first < onsiderations of the Elec total Boundaries’ Commission. “The members of this Convention “solemnly pledge themselves, irrespective of party, not to vote for any “man who will not undertake to sup“port and vote for the reduction of “the unjust handicap imposed upon “the voters for local and national prohibition, and we further pledge our “st ives to use all our influence both in “and outside of our Unions to induce “others to do the same. “This Convention views with indig - “nation the letting of the contracts

“for the canteens on troopships to pr“vate pet >ons at a price which involves the exploitation of the men in “order to make a profit. I he Convention holds that the De fence Authorities should fix sin h a -tale of prices as would bring ordinar> comforts within reach of the men. “This Convention urges such alternations to .he licensing law as will “make it an offence for a licensee or “anyone acting in hi- stead to supply “drink to any member of the I erritori“als or of the Expeditionary Eorce “while in uniform. “That we urge upon the Defence “Department the desirability of io“catirg all future encampments of the “Expeditionary Force in No license “districts, or of arranging that the “hotel bar- be < losed at 0 o clock each night duting -uch encampments. I hat this (. invention expresses its hearty appreciation of the statement made by the Defence Department that no liquor is to be allowed *.n the outgoing troop-hips,, except for medical purposes. The majority of the women of the Dominion consider th it he result- of drinking are worse than

those of war, and many of the rrothers who have willingly given their so is for the defence of the Empire would rather see them fall by German bu 1 * lets than become the victims ot the dreaded liquor traffic. “That while expressing a general “approval of the proposed amendments in the Criminal Code Bill now “before the House, this Convention “enters a most emphatic protest “against the provision that no prosecution shall be instituted until the “written consent of the Attorney-!»en-“eial ha> been obtained. 1 here is no “reason why prosecution for crime “against the person and purity of our “gills should require, or depend on, the leave of anyone before being insti- * tuted. Sue h a provision opens the “door to many and grave abuses. “That in view of the success that “has attended the appointment of “women police in other countries, this “Convention strong 1\ urges the Government, in the interests of the “young people, to give the system a “trial in this Country. “This Convention wishes to express “its strong indignation at the dcleat “of the clause in the Licensing Bill “dealing with the reduction of the majority required to carry National “Piohibition. It reaffirms the opinion that the request was a reasonable one, “and the minimum of the No-License “party's demands. It also wishes to “express its strong disapproval of the “action of those members of Parlia “ment who failed to carry out tluir “pledges, and of those who reversed “their votes. “That this Convention tenders its “heartfelt sympathy to our American “comrades in the loss of their loved “president, and the World’s Vice- “ President, Mrs L. M. N. Stevens, and “at the same time would like to ex“press its deep appreciation of the “magnificent service she rendered to “our world wide organisation. “That this meeting is of the opini“on that the Provincial Executive consisting < f the President, Yice-Presi-“dent, Secretary and whatever officers shall be decided by this Convention to compose the* Executive, shall “be responsible for providing speakers for educational meetings held by “Country Unions.”