ANNUAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 287, 19 May 1919, Page 1

ANNUAL CONVENTION.

Tin* uth Annual Convention met in “Sunn\ Napier. I he town proved true to it* name, anil sunshine flooded the streets and halls during the whole of our sessions. I he Kxerutive met on Wednesday, j/pd, at io a m. PI HI K' RKCKPTION. On Wednesday evening, April 2ird. the public reception took place, and proved a verv successful and intevest-

mg function. On the platform were Mrs Don, the Dominion President; Mrs \ enables, tin Picsident of the local District l’i>ion; Mr Mill, Mayor of Napiei ; Ke\. A. Hodge, President of the Ministers’ Association; Mr Peters, Preside nt of the Napier No License Leagie; and Mr Harding, Secretarv of toe Order of Rechahites. Mrs Venables, on behalf of the Hawke’s lla\ Onions, welcomed the members of the C onvention to sunny, sleep* Napier. Foi many years Napiei had been honoured the home of th»

■‘White Ribbon” Kditor, and when the printing of the paper was transferred to Wellington some members of the Onion were not even aware of the fact. But now the\ were all waking up, and the Convention that was just opening was going to lie historic. I hey had hopfd it was to be .» record C onvention, celebrating the return of peace and the overthrow of the Liquor Traffic: but instead, it was to inspire the enthusiasm and energy that would sweep away all obstacles and seeure a great victory in the near future,

Hie Mayor welcomed the delegates on behalf of the citizens of Napier, lie 'tood there a'* a life-long temperance man, who had worked and sacri ficed foi Prohibition. (icing ba< k 150 years, to the time when Captain Cook tame 10 New Zealand, he stated the Maoris were then a sober people, with no method of intoxication, but on May 4th, Mr Colenso, who had landed the first printing press in New Zealand, printed a placard -the first piece of Knglish printed in the young colony announcing a meeting for 12 o’clock on May nth to discuss the establishment of a Temperance So< iety. in the interval the Maoris had become drinkers the result of contact with Kuropean civilisation. After propounding for the consideration of Convention several economic questions dealing with a living wage and an eight hours’ day fundamental principles formulated b> the founders of the White Ribbon movt ment in \merica— His Worship pictured the day when electricity would do all the work of the women in the household, so rapidly was science moving. lie concluded by giving a hearty invitation to the delegates to visit the \cetone works, the bridge being constructed in the Inner Harbour to connect the Hast ('oast with Wellington, and other interesting features of the town. Rev. A. Hodge gave delegates a welcome on behalf of the Ministers Association, a welcome specially tit ting because they came as ( hristian women, members of the chun lies, soon to be members, he hoped, of one united church, and they stood for liberty, justice, mercy, and good government. He scouted the idea that a Christian man could not be a good business man. The cause of Prohibition was a Christian cause, .1 religious cause, and therefore we must w in. Mr Peters, President of the NoLicense League, was the next speaker, lie dwelt on the great progress made during the last months; though we had not won the fight, still we had by no means altogether lost. We had now to bring home to people’s minds that State Control meant also State Purchase. The next campaign niusi be conversational, and must be won by personal, individual effort, but with determination and faith and enthusiasm we should march forward to victory. lb' extended a hearty welcome on behalf of the No-License League. Mr Harding, representing the Rechabites, also spoke words of cheer and welcome. He referred to the time of Mrs Leavitt’s visit to New Zealand to organise the W.C.T.IN in IXXS, and read an interesting little letter written to his daughter by Mrs Leavitt in reference to the meetings 'he proposed to hold in Napier. (This letter was presented to the President next day as a valuable memento of Mrs Leavitt’s visit.) Mrs Don, on rising to reply, was nresented with a lovely bouquet from the Y’s of Napier. Speaking in her happiest vein, she thanked, in the

gracious wax tha* is her own, each and all who had extended so warm and hearty a welcome. All were glad to come to Napier, ever dear to the veterans in the W.C.TI’. as the home of Mrs Oldham. Thev had come for inspiration to carry on, and while cordially thanking the Mayor for his invitation, she feared they would not be able to accept it, for thr\ had come for solid work, and not for sightseeing. She too had pleasant recollections of Mrs Leavitt’s meetings in Dunedin, tfiat formed the starting point of wluit was now a Dominionwide and influential organisation. During the evening >everal delightful items of music and rec itation were contributed by Mrs Kindlay, Miss Knnor, and Messrs Lee ai d Sheppard; and the proceedings were brought to a close by sinking the National Anthem. We all keenly regretted the absence of our Dominion Treasurer, and our sympathies went out to her in her long illness, and she* was ever remembered lovingly in our prayers. On Saturday the delegates were taken by motor to Mr Holdsxvorth’s lovely garden in Havelock. The drive through such lovely scenery was a treat. Kverywhere the eye turned were the nu >t gorgeous autumn tints, poplars a blaze of golde n glory, and beeches one crimson splendour stood out against a background of dark green pines and firs. The grounds were beautifully laid out, and delegates .old friends wandered around, or stood on the lawn and gazed away over miles of plain and woodland to where the mountains towered against the* sky-line. Afternoon tea was served on the* lawn by the* Hastings 1 nion. Cameras were much 111 evidence, and the* offie ial picture was take'll while delegates were grouped upon the* lawn. A hearty vote of thanks to our entertainers was proposed by Mrs Peryman, and seconded by Mrs Crabb. A framed photo, of the delegates and friends was presented to our host as a souvenir of the* occasion. On Sunday the Methodist, Congregational, and Presbyterian pulpits were occupied by delegates. The official sermon was prea< hed by Rev. T. R. Richards in the Methodist Church. Delegates marched in procession to church, headed by the Salvation Army Band. After the service a public meeting was held in Princess Theatre. Mrs Don presided, and addresses on Christian Citizenship were delivered by Mrs Kineton Parkes and Mrs Peryman. Mrs Lee-Cowie

made a fine* appeal for new members, which was well responded to. On Monday evening the session was devoted to Social Hygiene. Mrs Cowic, Nurse Chappell, and Mfs Kineton Parkes spoke, and manx delegates took part in the after discussion. On Tuesday evening the Vs gave a concert, and very sxveet our girls looked, grouped upon the* stage around their youthful chairwoman. Miss Hughes, of Wellington. Mrs Napier, Y Superintendent, gave a short address. The initiation service brought the evening t; a close. We had hoped to celebrate Victory, but though this is longer delayed, there was no feeling of depression. We were not down-hearted, but rather was our Convention pervaded by a feeling of determination to relax no effort till we xvin, and a quiet confidence and trust in the (»od of Israel. We did not feel defeated, only halted to dress our ranks, to reform our lines ere we* press forward to victory not denied, but delayed.