News of the Unions.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 257, 18 November 1916, Page 12

News of the Unions.

(The Editor cannot promise to insert anythng in the next issue that does not reach her by the Bth of the month. Correspondents are requested to write their Reports as concisely as possible, on one side of the paper only. .Newspaper cuttings are unsuitable.) HAMILTON. Aug. 2q. Drawing-room meeting at Mrs Auld’s residence. Miss Powell gave .in address. Mrs Jones presented a banner for the l nion, and uheartilj thanked for it* Mll Dillicar, senior member, unfolded the banner. Collection for Organising Fund, 16s. Afternoon tea. Three new members. Sept. iq. Cnited prayer and missionary meeting held at Mrs Cliff’s residence. .\irs 1 ucker give an earnest address. Afternoon tea. Oct. 5. Decided to purchase literature for distribution on troop »r.nns at Plankton Junction; also charts for -.hool wall and Band of Hope. Final arrangements made tor Provincial Convention. BLUFF. Sept. n>. Franchise Day celebrated. Attendance good. Address by Mrs Pasley, who also recited “The Women’s Fart’ poem sent from the trenches. Afternoon tea. One new member. Band of Hope met same evening ; address by Rev. Fowler, and a good programme. O. i. Arrangements made for presentat on of prizes it next Band of Hope meet tig. Decided to hold a Cake and Lollie Sale. An article was read on the “Strength of Britain Movement,’’ and a dis< u» oh followed. STRATFORD. o< .. 4. Midhurst tragedy disc usscd, and the callous treatment of the victim by the drink-sellers indignantly commented upon. Reference made to the unfairness of proh.biting women only from obtaining liquor after 6 p.m., and the opinion expressed that women were no more in need of this prohibition than men. The humour of allowing a liquor prince to sit in committee and prohibit a large portion of his own income was commented upon. WHAXGAREI. Oct. Five members present. Discussion took plat e on the organising Unions in adjoining districts. District Secretary to be written to re delegate from this Branch. FFILDINCi. Oct. v A letter received fioin America re direct legislation. Divided to ask Mr Judson Kin<\ Secretary of National Popular Government of America, to visit us. Report of Pro-

vincial Convention was given. Our first L.T.L. meeting was held on Or- * tober 2nd, when Rev. T. Miller gave .1 splendid addie ss. AUCKLAND. Oct. 11. Weather had, attendance good. Votes of sympathy passed with members who have lost sons in battle and who have sons wounded. Reported that the recent sale of gifts had b *en most successful. Arrangements made for Provincial Convention. Decided to take c harge of Soldiers’ Club for a fortnight, as requested, several Branch Unions promising to assist. SOUTH INVERCARGILL. Oct. Franchise Day c elebrated by an evening social. Attendance good. Mrs Cowie was given a hearty welcome home. Decided that we join with town Union to offer, prizes to school children for Scientific Te mperance essays. Mrs Garrett gave a very fine paper on the* Franchise. Mrs Cowie spoke of her work in Australia. Songs, recitations, and supper filled in a pleasant evening. TIMARU. Oct. Report from Sailors’ Rest was a very quiet month; no Home steamers had been in port, and coastal steamers made- only a short stay. Derided to send circular from Superintendent of Moral Kdueation to the Ministers’ Association, and also to remind ministers »>f Te mperance Sunclay. ASHBURTON. Oct. 10. Votes of sympathy passed with members who have lost sons in the recent heavy fighting, also with Mr and Mrs G. Andrews in their recent bereavement. Decided to hold a Garden Party on November 2 Hearty thanks to be* conveyed to Mr Ferrimhn for generous financial help given to the Union. Decided to help with Red Cross Day. Oct ifi. Band of Hope, under supervision of V Branch, held its final meeting for this season. An address bv Mrs Broom, who also distributed the prizes. The Y's were heartily thanked for their help at the Band of Hope. NELSON. Oct. 10. Mrs Field read a letter from Mrs Sheppard, advocating the formation of a Women’s National Council, which should represent all women’s soc ieties willing to join, and should d scuss all questions specially connected with women. Resolved that the* Nelson Union express its willingness to join such a Union. Financial report of Miss Weymouth’s work read by Treasurer. Y Branch thanked for donation of £7. Oct. 13. Good Citizenship meet-, ing. Mrs Field spoke* on “Venereal Disease and it* Prevention.” She* considered that the tight attitude* to all sufferers from this terrible evil was one of compassion and fielpfuß

ness rather than condemnation, and that the* most effective way of dealing wrth it was to raise an equal standard % of puritv for both sexes. Oct. 27. Last Good Citizenship meeting. Miss Maude Royden’s pamphlet was read, “ 1 he* Great Adventure; I hc* Way to Peace. Oct. 25. Annual Sale of Work held, and was most satisfactory. A programme was provided by the \ Branch. Intercessory services have been he ld regularly <*ll tin* last Monday of every month. RAKAIA. \\e arc* very hopeful. Meetings are held monthly, and our menibtism. stands at ninneteen. Mrs Hop wood is Secretary, and Mrs Judkins Treasurer. Several interesting papers have bee»n read, and a Band of Hope has been worked for two winters. Literature has been ordered for dotribution. KAIKORAI. Oct. 28. Letters read from Mrs Pinfold and Miss McCarthy, the latter in reference to Moral Education. Decided to hold annual meeting in November. Mrs Don spoke on the work at heart with us all. WANGANUI FAST. Oct. 27. Letter from Mrs Suisted acknowledging Christmas gifts for soldiers, and from Ms* McCarthy, Dominion Superintendent for Moral Kdueation. Resolution of sympathy with mothers who have lost sons in the recent fighting was passed in sdence, members standing. First prize essay m recent competition of “The Kvik? of Strong Drink in War Time,’ by Huia Clayton, was read. Dec ided to hold a “Pay-up Social’’ in Novem her. WELLINGTON CENTRAL. Oct. 5* An “At Home’’ at the residence of Mrs Evans. Mrs A. K. At-kin-on spoke* on the need for women combining to compel the Government to frame leg station w ith respect to the w she> of the women of the* Dominion. Rev. J. K. Archer urged women to watch all legislation affecting women and girl workers. Mrs Clark provided musical programme, and Hit* hostess dispensed afternoon tea. Seven new members initiated. Oct. 20. Vojrs of sympathy with Mesdames Comrie, Fear, and Smith, whose sons have fallen at the* Front. Mrs McDonald spoke* on Convention resolutions. Resolved: “That this meeting, believing that the appointment of Women Police* by Government would tend to diminish crime, deeply regrets that the deputation of representative women which recently waited on the Minister of Justice asking for the* appointmc*nt of women police met with so unsatisfactory a reclition, especially as Mr Herdman, in his reply, admitted that voluntary police women, in other parts of the world were rendering valuable service. Annual meeting to be* held November 17.

MAW ERA. Oct. 2(). Mrs Hone presided, 14 members present. Decided to offer prizes to the school children for the best essay on the Temperance Wall Sheets. Arrangements made for a rest tent for women and children at the November Show. PON SOX BY. One enthusiastic member reported having sent to every M.P. the leaflets, “What 1 Saw in Maine” and “Facts About the* Revenue.’ Joy was expressed at the success gained in Australia for 0 o’clock closing- We were pleased to see that Miss Isitt represented cur Onion at the British Dominions Conference in England. Julv 5 - reel of comforts for the mine-sweepers to be sent to Mrs Hatchwell. Reported that £33 3s bd had been collected for our Patriotic Fund. Union assisted at street collection on Serbian Day. I nion decided to assist the central union in catering for the Soldiers' C lub. MOSGIEL. Nov. 8. .Mrs Pinfold occupied the cha»r. Annual report and baiancesneet read and adopted. Our report docs not show much progress as tar as meetings are concerned, but a fair amount of work has been accomplished through correspondence. 1 he membership of our l nion stands at 17, as against ib last year, and we show a credit balance of £ 1 (is 3ici. The election of officers for the coming year resulted as follows: — Pres., Mrs Pinfold; Sec., Mrs Kccersall; Treas., Mis Wilson; “White K bbon” Agent, Mrs Morton. SAW YER'S BAY. Nov. Annual meeting held in the evening. Two new members were initiated, bringing membership up to 30, an increase of m, in spite of several removals. Annual report anti balance-sheet read and adopted. Officers were elected: Pres., Mrs Allen; Sec., Mrs Booth; Treas., Mrs Mains; “W.R.” Went, Mrs J. Periy; Press Reporter, Miss Kilgour. Mrs Don gave an address. Song, recitation, and supper concluded the* programme. One encouraging feature of this Union is the* number of young women joining it since evening meetings have been held. N.E. VALLEY. Oct. 24. Annual meeting; attendance good. Treasurer reported that ,£23 ibs had been collected for the

Patriotic Fund. Addresses were given by Mrs Don, Rev. A. 11. Wallace, and Captain llawkes, of Salvation Army. A silent vote* of sympathy for those who had 10-; boys at the Front, also for the wounded. A musical progr-Vnine was contributed, and refreshments handed round. Four new members. NEW PLYMOUTH. Oct. 17. A most enjojable and well-attended social (pay-up). Refreshments and musical programme provided. Rev. A. B. C happell gave an address on “Women’s Work and the War.” The Union, which was founded by late Mr T. E. Taylor on October Bth, 1805, was celebrating its “coming of age.” Dec ded to hold annual meeting on November 29. Members kindly take* notice, and attend. STRATFORD. Nov. 1. Annual meeting. Reports were read by Secretary and Treasurer and adopted. The following officers were elected: —Pres., Mrs Reeve; Vice-Pres., Mesdames T. White, Bridgman, and M. Phillips; Sec., Mrs Allister; Assistant Sec., Mrs McMillan. [Teas., Mrs Birdsall. The Union protested against a liciuor bar being licensed at the A. and P. Show grounds. WANGANUI. Nov. 3. Reported that the \ social had been abandoned. Mrs Matthews resigned as President of Y Branch, and Miss McAnemy as Rec. Sec. Mesdames Upton, Bent, and Dimes were appointed to attend a conference* of Temperance workers to discuss the best method to be adopted to bring before the country the urgent need of the abolition of the liciuor traffic. Collection of £2 7s taken up for Wool Fund. WELLINGTON DISTRICT. Monthly meeting held in Constable Street Rooms, over which Mrs lloul<|er presided, with a fair attendance of members. It was decided that a Jumble Sale be held on Saturday, December 2nd, in the rooms. Dec ided that the circular issued b> the Defence Department should be sent to the Ministers’ Association, re health and morals o ( the* young i>eople of the Dominion. Those present expressed disappointment that the* wishes of the deputation in re gard to women police had not met with much

sympathy from the Minister. A hearty vote of thanks w »■* passed to a lady who did not w ish her name to appear, for a gift of £SO towards the Building Fund of our Constable Street Rooms. LYTTELTON. Nov. 1. Annual meeting. Great regret was expressed at the retirement of Mrs Whitby as President of the Union, after 25 years of faithful service, during which she had endeared herself to all members of the Union. It was mainly owing to her efforts tl at the first Seamen's Rest was opened heie in 1892. Mrs Wilson was elected President. MATAURA. Sept. Our Union donated 10s to Nurse Every, who had given us an instructive address on February 25th. Oct. 27. A motion passed that we write a letter of sympathy to Mrs Menzies in her recent s.id bereavement. BLUFF. Nov. 'l'he annual report of the Band of Hope was submitted, and was most satisfactory. Mrs Lilhcrap, of Invercargill, gave a short address. PAHIATUA. Oct. 18. An “At Home” held at Mrs Wilsons to enable members to meet Miss Purnell, .» Wanganui White Ribboner. A very stormy day, and attendance* small. Nov. 2. Monthly meeting. Mrs Neal presided. Letter read from Miss McCarthy, Dominion Superintendent of Moral Education. Resolved to carry out her suggestion. One new member initiated.