REPORT OF DOMINION ORGANISER.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 262, 18 April 1917, Page 10

REPORT OF DOMINION ORGANISER.

Immediately after the last Convention I started work in Taranaki, spending close on four months among its Unions, All were visited, several of them repeatedly, and two new ones organised, viz., Fitzroy (New Plymouth) and Urenui. Several days were also spent in Waitara, but as no leader was forthcoming, no attempt at organising was made, though a good foundation for the future was laid in the securing of ten subscribers to our paper. Finding

that not a single juvenile temperance organisation existed between Hawera and New Plymouth, 1 spent a considerable amount of effort in working up the Unions to the point of asking Mrs Duxfield to visit them and form branches of the Loyal Temperance Legion, and later had the satisfaction of knowing that seven had been organised, not a branch being left out. Taranaki Unions were found to be healthy, with the exception of Eltham, where the friends had become discouraged, their membership having for some years stood at six. An additional twenty were secured as the result of working up three monthly meetings in succession. A Branch was organised at Marton, a second visit being paid to set it on its feet. Te Kuiti had for some months been asking for a visit, and in the spring I arrived there and organised a Union. This Branch is in an unfortunate geographical position, being such a distance from its District Union that it is almost impossible for it to be visited and mothered. It has also fallen on evil times in the loss of its President by removal. Next came the Waikato, and from there l visited the Bay of Plenty, organising branches at Kati Kati and Tauranga, and working up the Union at Opotiki, which I found to be in a very live state, in spite of its isolated position. Every effort was put forth to revive our work in Taneatua and Whakatane, but no encouragement was received. Thames and Te Aroha were also visited, but no one seemed willing to take up the work. Hamilton District Union is entirely satisfactory, which is, in my opinion, attributable to the fact that it holds a monthly devotional meeting in between the ordinary business ones. Different members throw open their homes, and the average attendance is twenty-five, while the special subject and method of conducting it vary. The result is a beautifully unanimous spirit. Its auxiliaries were found not as flourishing as might be, but are now improving. i have still one place on the Thames line to visit, Eastport Ro»d, which seems ripe for the establish nent of a branch. During the year since last Convention I have travelled 960 miles on my eye le, and over 4000 by public conveyance (rail or motor ’bus), in addition to spending several nights on the sea. Muc h of this travelling has been rendered necessary by the abundance of patriotic meetings, our women being so engaged in war work that it is impossible for them to PTt up an extra meeting just when it suits me, and I have to fall in with existing arrangements. Only seven new Branches have been organised during the year, it being considered wiser by the* Organising Committee to strengthen existing branches rather than, during the war, to form new ones, unless in exceptional cases. 223 new members have been secured, and 87 “White Ribbon” subscribers. When organising a branch it is not

wise to unduly urge the members to take the paper when they have just paid their fees, the better plan being to appoint an energetic “White Ribbon” agent, and let her get subscribers. In conclusion, I wish most sincerely to thank the many kind friends who have so freely extended to me* their hospitality, and the workers who have so loyally seconded my efforts in connection with the work. Yours for (iod, Home, and Humanity, MARY S. POWELL, Dominion Organiser.

PAH I. I huihui ano te roopu Karaitiana o Pahi kite whakarongo inga korero ate. Perehitini raua kote hekeretari o te mitingi i tu nei kiakarana ite 21 o Maehe i uru mai ano hoki nga kau matu o tenei takiwa kite whakarongo menga tama riki tane he nui taratou whakamihi mote pai or.ga mabi i mahia 1 taui hui ara mote turaki i te waipiro o mete whakakaha hoku ite mahi karakia i uru katoa ratou kite tau toko mote turaki ite waipiro. Kia hinea kei te whakahaere kaha tenei roopu ienei tika nga kia o ti pai kite rangimarie mahi a mai nga mahi pai ote Atua inana tatou e whakakaha inga ra katoa e ora ai tatou ake ake. Amene. Hoi ano nalc Hekeretari. P. MANAKAU.

Hotel Hours In England.— Owing to the early closing of public-houses, the convictions for drunkenness have declined to 45,257 for the past twelve months, as compared with yy,735 in i()i 4- —“Age.”

L'ncle Sam’s drink bill for 10* 5 shows a very remarkable decrease of 10 per cent., which, if continued, would destroy the liquor traffic in ten years. Not since 1 <><>s has the nation’s drink bill been so low as in K>is, notable for a marked decrease in the per capita and total consumption of malt and spirituous liquors amounting to 2.70 gallons per capita. —“Age.”