The White Ribbon For God and Home and Humanity THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1915. PROXY OR DELEGATE.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 236, 18 February 1915, Page 9

The White Ribbon For God and Home and Humanity THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1915. PROXY OR DELEGATE.

At the Gisborne Convention a notice of motion was given to alter the Constitution by abolishing the word ‘‘proxy, ” and allowing the Unions to elect a* delegate any mem her of thr W.C.T.U. Now this resolution, if carried, would entirely de-

stroy the representative nature of our Convention. Instead of a gathering of delegates, each one a representative of her cwn Union, and proxies, each one instructed by the Union she represents how to vote on all important matters, we should become a gathering of members of the W .C.T.U ea< h one representing only her ow n opinion. Now, while we admit that a member of one Union might know the opinions and needs of a Union a few miles away, there is no limitation of this kind in the notice of motion. It does not even say any member of the W.C.T.U. in this Dominion. Should this notice of motion bee ome part of our Constitution, any Union could select an Australian, American, or Knglish White Kibboner as their delegate. So far from benefiting -mail Unions who cannot send one of their own members, this notice of motion would inflict a grave injury upon them. It would take away from them their right to vote for N.Z. officers, also for alterations to Constitution. At present, when a Union cannot send one of their own members to Convention, they say, “We will apply to tin* Recording Secretary for a proxy, and end along our vote b\ the proxy. Hut if they appointed a delegate from the other end of the Dominion thev could not tell her how to vote, and consequently the vote would be her vote, and not necessarily their vote. There is not the- slightest inferiority in the position of .1 proxy. Hut if a member has the welfare of a small Union at heart, and consents to act as their proxy, she would naturally desire to be instructed by them how to vote on all important matters, and whom to vote for as N.Z. officers. We hope all Unions will discuss this matter thoroughly. It is by their vote that this will either be added to the Constitution or rejected therefrom. Hut we think all Unions should understand the serious change this notice of motion would make in our Constitution, and thr great injustic e it would indict on Unions unable to send a delegate, by depriving them of their rote.