WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 268, 18 October 1917, Page 10

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

Convention w.<> held at Keilding on September sth. and was well attended, nearly every Union in the Province being represented. Mrs Crnbb, of Palmerston North, presided, and Mrs Neal, of Pahiatua, was Secretary. Resolutions were passed protesting against : (1) The Government encouraging boys of nineteen ,to enlist ; (2) Rum rations in camps; (3) The totally inadequate sentence lately passed upon a man in Dunedin connected with the white slave case. Resolutions were also passed in favour of: (1) The necessity for w - men police being appointed ; (2) That illegitimate children take their father's name; (3) That separate lavatory accommodation be provided for women on trains. Mrs Neal read an interesting paper on “Twilight Sleep,” which caused an animated discussion; and Mrs Godfrey on “How Manitoba Went Dry.” As Mrs Godfrey was in Manitoba when the town went dry, she was able to write from personal observation. The officers were all re-elected: Mrs Crabb (Palmerston North), President; Mrs Neal (Pahiatua), Secretary/, Mrs Houlder (Wellington), Treasurer. A long discussion took place on the advisability of appointing a Provincial Organiser, and eventually was left in the hands of the Executive. Redding Union did their utmost to make the delegates happy and comfortable. Unfortunately, their newly appointed President was not able to be present, having just received word that her son had been killed at the war. and the Secretary was ill and una\»le to take part. Mrs r 0 ton proposed a vote of sympath> with these two ladies, and with all the xv h o suffered bereavement n accoun t 0 f t h e vvar

A large public meeting was held in the Drill Hall at 8 p.m. Mrs Houlder gave an address on “Women Patiols,” and a motion was carried asking the Government to appoint women polite without any further delay. The Rev. J. Dawson also addressed the meeting on the political situation. He strongly condemned the Government for failing to accept the advice of the Efficiency Hoard. The following resolution was carried unanimously : —“That this Provincial Convention of the W’.C.T.U , held at Feilding, September sth, Itj 17, wishes to show its appreciation of the findings of the Efficiency Board, as represented in the report sent in to the Government, especially dealing with the liquor traffic, and to ask the Government to put ; nto force the recommendation to close down the sale of intoxicating liquor as an efficiency measure during the war and afterwards; and failing this, to give the people an opportunity to express their wishes through a referendum. This Convention also views with alarm the attitude of the Government in regard to the Efficiency Board’s report as wishing to pander to an enemy within our gates most powerful for evil.”