NORTH CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 304, 18 October 1920, Page 4

NORTH CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

The 16th Annual Provincial Convention wu» held at New Brighton on Tuesday and Wednesday, Septemliei 7th and Bth, in the Methodist Sunday School. I tolerates met on the Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 to arrange the older of business for the next day. The President. Mrs T. E. Taylor, occupied the chair. The hall had been very prettily decorated for the occasion. Afternoon tea was provided by the local Union. The public reception to delegates was held in the evening at 7.30. The Mayor occupied the chair, and extended a hearty welcome to the mem Ihms of the Convention. The Rev. J. Tennent (Presbyterian), the Rev. H. Matthias (Anglican), and Mrs Hall (Prosident of the New Brighton Union) also welcomed the delegates. Mrs Taylor replied, and read her address, in which she stressed woman's position, influence, experience, and opportunity. The address was truly inspiring and optimistic in tone. Four solos were rendered during the evening, and the meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem. Convention opened at 9.30 on Wednesday' morning. Mrs Hawk", ol Oxford, conducted the opening exercise. After the roll call. Mrs Klppenbeigrr, Secretary and Treasurer, presented her re port, in which she stated that the membership now numbered 61."* against »!* * last year. The balance-sheet showed an income of £4/5/2. expenditure, £B/0/2. leaving a balance of Cl/5/-. The report was adopted. Votes of sympathy to four bereaved families. Reports from the various Unions wen presented as follows: Christchurch, Ash burton. Uakaiu, Waimate, Lyttelton, Tinwald. Oxford, Winchmore-Greon-strcct, Tiinaru. Kaiapoi, and New Brighton. The reports showed steady progress in the work and that Unions had not lost heart, faith or hope. The afternoon session commenced at 1.30. Mrs Mil. of Ashburton, conduct mg the opening exercises. Some of the members responded to the roll call by repenting a favourite motto or verse of Scripture according to suggestion. The following resolutions were pass ed: “That a message of congratulation )** scut to the Minister of Education on having instituted a Child Welfare !>«■•

partment. and on his decision to introduce scientific temperance teaching into the schools.” “That women should Is* appointed on the Board of Public Health.” “The raising of the age of marriage to eighteen years.” “That the age of consent he raised to twentyone years.” “That in view of the recurrence of epidemics among school children, greater atttention should be given to the frequent fumigation and the greater cleanliness of school buildings.” “That there should be- an extension of the time during which an information can be laid for criminal as sault.” “That separate Courts of Justice be instituted to deal with cases where offenders are women.” “That women Justices of the Fence should he appointed to assit in Court cases where women and children are concerned.” “That provision be made for women members of the police force, the duties of these women to be mainly the protection of ' oung people of both sexes, the police duties connected with young female offenders, and with children brought before the Juvenile Courts; that sonic women should he appointed on juries dealing w’ith cases of offen**e against women or children, and cases where the offender is a woman.” “That the number of racing permits be not increased.” “That this Convention is emphatically of the opinion that any system of notification of venereal dis eases would tend to defeat the object which measures for dealing with these diseases must aim at, namely, the securing of accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment at the earliest possible moment for the largest number of sufferers; and further,, the convention urges upon the Minister that much greater facilities should he provided in all parts of the Dominion for the free adequate treatment of venereal diseases." Mi . Henderson then spoke on "Social HygL:*e,” dealing with the subject in the \cry able and forceful manner which eve i huraclenses her addresses She dealt with iN* question of compulsory notification of venereal disease, and clearly showed th d it wruld be decidedlv inadvisable. Mrs Walker read a paper by Mrs Opie (New Plymouth) on “Picture Shows Their Influence." Votes of thanks were passed to speakers. Thiee questions were received from Oxford Union and answered.

It was agreed to hold the next Coil vention in Kaiapoi in September, 1921. Mrs T. 10. Taylor was re-elected President, and Mrs Kippenberger Secretary and Treasurer. The joirnal was adopted as read, and the meeting closed with Temperance Doxology. and the Benediction. Another public meeting was held in the evening, over which Mrs Taylor presided. Mrs Smith, of Waimate, con ducted the opening exercises. Miss Henderson against addressed the gathering. her subject being: "Women in tin Administration of the Law.” This also was very interesting and instructive. In speaking of Juvenile Courts, .she referred to and deprecated the fact that babies in arms were actually brought be fore the Court as destitute children She advocated women as probation officers. as Magistrates, Justices of tin Peace, and as police. Separate Courts for women's and girls’ eases were favoured. and we were also informed lhat America has special Courts of Domestic Relations. Miss Maekay. of Winchniore. recited, and votes of thanks were passed to the hostesses of visiting delegates and others. Supper was dispensed.