THE FORTHCOMING CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 273, 18 March 1918, Page 8

THE FORTHCOMING CONVENTION.

A FEW QUESTIONS. (To «;he Editor.) Madam, —The need of organising additional Unions, especially in some districts of the Dominion, is becoming a more pressing one as the years pass on, if our cause is to develop, and Prohibition be gained. If it were possible to send forth ten more Organisers it would be most desirable ! If this cannot be, could it not be arranged that at Convention our veteran and indefatigable Dominion Organiser (Miss Powell) should have full opportunity of instructing the members as to the derails of successful organising—“mistakes to he avoided,” etc. (There will be many new delegates* no doubt.) Also if any present arc open to volunteer for this work, or to act in their own immediate neighborhood as opportunity occurs, could not a special opportunity of meeting Miss Powell for further instruction be granted to such a class? A difficulty in some localities is that where the need of organising is 1 he greatest, the existing Unions are the weakest (in numbers and finance), so that if a volunteer worker were found among them, capable and free to give her time, the local funds would not enable her to do the necessary travelling necessary not only to start the W.C.T.U., but to go round again, as might be needed, ho nurse up the new Unions till they were strong enough to work alonce. Could not our National Organising Fund give a small grant for travelling expenses to such weak districts as may be deemed judicious bv Uhe Executive ? Will our National President again remind our Convention members to be especially kind to the new delegates when they meet ? W e heard of one shy little woman from a remote disUrict last year who felt quite “strange” among the others; they were all greeting friends of old acquaintance, and perhaps forgot the new ones! When the Committee of Courtesy is appointed from the local friends, could no; a “Welcome Committee” of old veteran members be appointed to look after, in a sisterly fashion, these timid new comers? Another point: Could not our Unions everywhere secure the use of some empty shop window for a time, in order ',o display upon the inside of the glass any striking cartoons, cuttings, Prohibition maps, statistic columns, mottoes, etc., to be altered from time to time? The public needs educating, and this is an effective and simple plan of reaching “the man in the street,” the curious little folk, and

others too. Unions, please try it! Last Convention members were instructed as to the claims of Proportional Representation. Some of us want to know what it is, and how it works! (N IL- I have asked sevei >1 intelligent business men, and <ould get no satisfaction). Will not our Convention '.his year explain and enforce the claims of the “Initiative and Referendum” method of gaining Pro hibition, and other needed reforms? It appears to me to be iust what we have been looking for and pra<-ing for during irnny years of weary waiing for success. As a further development of “Tem perance Teaching in Schools,” could we not this year go in very heartily for a campaign to provide and sec ure the placing on the walls of our St.ite Schools certain definite and clearly printed mottoes? I should se: a striking motto card, “Where There is Drink, There is Danger,” and such like sentiments. They would never be effaced from the child's mind, and would lead to intelligent thought later on. Would nc> our Minister for Education be in favour if we provided the cost? I think so. Last year, the Department of Unfermented wine was dropped. Now, not only is the Anglican Church still bound bv ecclesiastic law to use alcoholic wine at the Communion, but others, such as some of the' Plymouth Brethren, use it each week. Could not the* department be re-in Stated at the coming Convention, and ine luded under the heading of Mrs Neal’s department ? There* is another aspect too, namely, that unfermented wine is not onlv the proper substitute for alcoholic, in the Sacrament, bu it is most valuable too as a nourishing and tonic wine for the use* of invalids and children. The sale* of it, therefore, can be well advocated and pushed b) *>ui W.C.T.I' v ' .it tention is now being called to this at Home). Our N.Z. womanhood generally is engaged in Red Cross and other patriae ic work.—See what organisation can do. Shall we secure these same women, well trained for effective work, when the special nerds are over, in membership with W.C.T.I . women: Let us trv. —I am, etc., SISTER MOODY BELL. Invercargill.