NAPIER DISTRICT CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 304, 18 October 1920, Page 5

NAPIER DISTRICT CONVENTION.

The Annual District Convention of the W.C.T.IT. in Hawke’s Bay opened in Knox Hall. Mrs James Bibby (Waipawa), District President, presided, and the meet inf? commenced with prayer, followed by the crusade hymn and the crusade psalm, after which Mrs Nicholson. President of the Pannevirke Branch, and Secretary for the district, extended a hearty welcome to the visitinf? delegates, to which Mrs Bibby suitably replied. The roll was then called. Delegates answered to their names from Napier. Hastings. Waipawa. Ormondville, Norsewood. and Pannevirke. TEMPERANt 'E INSTRT TCTION After the reports from the delegates had been received, Mrs Bibby suggest - ed that a resolution of appreciation he sent to the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Pari) for his kindness in getting temperance instruction included in the syllabus. PROHIBITION. On the President’s suggestion. h scln me for combating the false statements circulated in regard to Prohibition was discussed, and a line of action sketched, which will be submitted to tinvarious branches. I*KESIIIKNTIAL ADDRESS. The President took as the subject of h-r address “A Word of Cheer,” and sai 1 the Union had met this year in very I. *ppy circumstances. They had been lighting for years to get temperance instinct ion in schools, and had at last secured it. 'They had worked for To years to get Prohibition in America, and now it had come, earned by the life-blood of many noble women workers. In (Ireat Britain also they had got the word of Mr Lloyd (leorge that a measure of local option would he granted. Further, the labour urmns in Britain had voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of local option. There was still a huge drink bill, but it must Ik- remembered that the increased price partly accounted ior this. All over the world the drink traffic was being crippled, and as an example the speaker pointed out that at one time il was hardly wise for a Presbyterian minister to stand up alongside a piohibltionist. but now it was more the rule than the exception. Again. Parliamentary candidates now always had a scheme to curtail the drink traffic.

though he might be a brewer or a pub licnn, it was all tin- same, showing tln-ti-end of public opinion. An immense change for good was shown in the working classes by the spread of temperance propaganda. Now when liquor was on the table there was a halfashamed apology for its presence. Once there would have been a sneer at the lack of it. (Gradually people were recognising the waste of man power and of efficiency caused by drink, and this was a great encouragement for further effort. VENEREAL DISEASE Mrs Peryman (Carterton), who was present by invitation, gave some particulars of the work of the W.C.T.U. in regard to temperance, and women who had been prominent in the movement. and whose splendid work had earned them high honour. She showed how the Union was world wide, embracing branches in Japan and India, and many other countries, and forming a bond and common meeting ground for women of all classes, creeds and nations; for Just as white light absorbed all colours, s<> the white ribbon embraced all shades and all races. They were out to tight the three great evils of intemperance, impurity, and gambling. and she would speak on the second. They objected to compulsory notification of venereal disease, and the compulsory examination of suspects as most likely to defeat their own object, pointing out that the disease did not show itself openly until too far advanced for remedial measures, and that if notification wen* compulsory pa'icnt.*woulcl hide the disease as long -is possible, whereas if free clinic, for the treatment of the- disease were opened night and day as they wen- in Sydney sufferers would voluntarily seek medical treatment, because they could do it privately. Uonipulsory notification had always proved a failure in remedying the evil, while' tin- system by which many quite innocent women were brought befon a doc tor for compulsory examinattion was abominable, and lent itself to all sorl - of abuses. For these reasons she suggested that the Convention might pass ;• resolution protest ing against the passage of tin- Bill. Mrs W. F. Knight then moved: “That this Convention urges the Government to establish in all the chief centres clinics for the treatment of venereal disease, when* sufferers could attend

day or night for free, voluntary treat ment. Mrs Chote seconding, the motion was carried unanimou Iv. Mrs Olsen then moved, and M-s Field seconded: “That legislation be- introduced placing upon the father of an illegitimate child the responsibility of providing for its birth. Should his failure to do this result in the death of the child, either from neglect or foul play, he- to be held equally responsible with the mother for such death, and lake his place beside her in the dock." This was carried unanimously. INDENT URED LABOI li. At Mrs Knight’s request, Mrs IWyman explained the evils of indenture.! labour, pointing out the immorality and evil conditions that ensued upon the compulsory residence for a long period of a large body of men apart from their own peoples. She referred to the conditions which existed in Fiji, and deplored the fact that New Zealand, in accepting the mandate over Samoa, had obtained permission from the- Imperial Government to employ indentured labour when Britain had previously proved by experience its baneful effects. A resolution protesting against the employment of indentured labour in Samoa was then moved by Mrs Oliver Johnston, seconded by Mrs Mowatt. and carried unanimously. Two new mcmbeis were* initiated, and after a dainty afternoon tea had been disposed of. the meeting adjourned I’UBLIU MEETING. The public meeting and social evening held in connection with the Con veillion in Knox Mall was very well attended. ever a hundred persons being present, and all spending a very enjoyable* time. 11l Worship the Mayor (Mr G. I. Anderson) presided, and after Rev. A Grant had opened the neeting with prayer, in a few words expressed his sense of the honour of presiding over such a gathering. He felt, too. that Pannevirke was honoured in that the W.C.T.U. had chosen the towi for its Convention. He extended •» hearty welcome to the visiting delegates—the noble* women whose- lofty aspirations and earnest endeavours for the good of their fellows, entitled them to all respect and consideration. He* hoped the meeting of these women and their

discussions would result in material wood, and lie trusted they would find their visit to Dunnevirke pleasant as well as profitable. He asked that the welcome should be endorsed by acclamation, a request which was heartily acceded to. Rev. J. H. Richards wave a splendid rendering; of Edgar Allen Poe’s wellknown poem. “The Hells," and In response to an eneore, recited “Say, Hullo." Mrs l*eryman, from Carterton. who is an interesting speaker, took as the subject of her address the work of the W.C.T.I'. in reward to the Prohibition movement. The- W.C.T.I ~ she said, was one of the largest women’s orwani sntions in the world, and numbers over a million meml>ers, and when they said that “all round the* world the ribbon white* was twined,’* they made no idle* boast. She* urged that all shottlel combine to figrht the evil which was destroying; the life and effl*-ien**y of the* nation, and concluded a telling neldress antiel applause. Mrs Venal)le»s (Napier). speaking *»f the letters of the* title W.C.T.I . sai«l it was a women’s organisation. Men we re aelinitteel to honorary membership, tint not to vote, only to assist in a financial way. Every woman shoulel Is*- a member, if only to help fight against the truffle from which so many women suite reel. At the contusion of the* speeches, the Chairman congratulated ’he speake*rs e*n their ad<lre*ssos. He thought there was gooel work for the* women here in Itannevirke. in view e»t the* tact that h' kne w the*re* would t»c an agitation to g #, < another license granted to the* town. When he* had »>een approached on the matter he hael assured the>se concerned that there was no hc>pe of such a thing. Public opinion was too strong against it. and in this attitude he recognised the work of the WCT I*. He urg d the women to take heart and carry on. anel they would go ahead to the ultimate success which he felt sure awaited them. At the concluding session of the* Pistried Convention of the* W.C.T.I . in !kmnevirke, various plans we*re suggest(,l for the extension of activities. including the' formation of young people’s branches. The election of officers for Hje ne xt District Convention resulteel: Pits., Mrs Venables; See*, (pro tern.). Mrs Nicholson; Treas.. Mrs He>pkirk. Wai-i-ukurait was selected as the place for holding the- next Convention.