PROVINCIAL CONVENTIONS.

White Ribbon, Volume 28, Issue 325, 18 July 1922, Page 6

PROVINCIAL CONVENTIONS.

M X TH I .AN 1 > DIBTKH T ODN VKN - TION,

Held at Gore, June 27th, 19-2.

Delegate* and member* assembled in numliere in the Gore Town Hall at 11 a.in. on Tuestlay, Juno 27th. Mrs Smith, the President of the Gore Branch, gave a very warm welcome 4o delegate**, and the following Brunches responded to the roll call: —Gore, Ma Laura, Kdendale, Bluff, Orepuki, Otautau, Ryu l Bush, Invercargill Central, South, North, and Y Branches. In the afternoon delegates from the newlyformed Temperance Society at VVendon arrived. Excellent reports were given by the Secretaries of the various Branches, and Mrs Don congratulated them on the work done. Rev. Ecoersall, in welcoming the delegates in the name of the Alliance, emphasised the fact that the weapons used to gain the victory at the next poll must be God and prayer. Mr Rogers, from the Mataura Council, also spoke words of welcome.

A delegation from the Ministers’ Association welcomed delegates to Gore. For the first time the Anglican Church publicly ranged itself with the W.C. T.IT., and general pleasure was expressed at Mr Hamlet’s action, and also at his words of welcome. Mrs Don then addressed Convention, and spoke of the work among the Maoris, and exhibited the tiki given at Convention, also on the prayer cards, showing that in two months , r »000 had already been distributed among Cnioi s, and r»000 more were being printed. Cards had been sent to Cnions all over the world, risking for their prayers for New Zealand at the next poll. All Cnions were urged to begin work for the visit of Mary Harris Armor, committees to organise and publish reports about her. Committees to interest every Cnion in their district should be forme*!.

Every District Union and every Branch, and every member of a branch was urged to remember the noontide hour of prayer. The Organisation Fund was spoken of. The splendid work of the two Organisers. Misses Earnshaw and Mayo, was referred to. and Branches were reminded that it was their duty to conserve their funds for their own work. Tt was necessary

to have Organisers, and it was a sacred dut> laid upon Branches to support them. In the afternoon session, at which there wus a large attendance, the devotional exerciser were taken by the South Invemirgill Branch. Mrs Garrett gave particulars in regard to an assault case, and the following motion was paused:— “That the Southland District Convention. assembled at Gore, request the National Union of New Zealand to see if the law can lie amended to protect children from parents who have proved themselves absolutely unfit to have the care of children. A father convicted of assault upon his little child should never again have control of that child.” It wus agreed to send a message of appreciation to Mr Parr for his straightforward reply to the Moderate League in regard to the pamphlet “Alcohol." A large gathering of citirens was present at the evening meeting, held in the Town Hall. Rev. Mr Carlisle, from Invercargill, gave a telling and forcible address, and Mrs Don spoke for the latter part of the evening.

Altogether Gore Convention was a great success, and we feel sure the Branch will benefit bv ihe work done. At the aite*noon session the Gore ladies supplied afternoon tea, and saw that tho hall was kept #;irni by heaters. All delegates wish to express their appreciation of the great kindness shown to them.

TARANAKI AND WANGANUI PROVINCIAL CONVENTION,

Held at New Plymouth.

The Convention opened with the reception of delegates on the evening of the Ith July. The meeting was held in the Presbyterian Schoolroom, the chair being occupied by Mrs Griffon. President of the Union, who welcomed the visitors on behalf of her Union. Speeches of welcome were also given by the Mayor and the Venerable Areh deacon Evans. Mrs Phillips, Pi vii,. cial Convention President, suitably responded. Musical and elocutionary items were rendered. The business session opened in the Methodist Hall on sth July with a de votlonal service conducted by Mrs Phillips, who gave a message to Con vention on “Tho Power of Prayer.”

About 50 delegates answered to the roll call. After the appointment of a Committee of Courtesies, Convention LetterWriter, and Press Reporters, the Secretary read greetings. Reports of the Unions took up most of the morning. Tho Secretary’s summary showed the state of the Branches to !*> highly satisfactory. Two new Unioas have been formed —or rather resuscitated —namely, Waitara and Inglewood; while the membership throughout the Taranaki district has increased by 362, owing to the splendid work of Miss Mayo, Dominion Or ganiser. Resolved: ‘That a letter be sent to the Dominion Secretary expressing appreciation of Miss Mayo’s efforts.” Summary of Reports. Active membership. 841; honorary, 52; L.T.L., 109; “W.R ” subscribers. 102; Cradle Roll, 951 (increase 156). New Plymouth has the honour of holding premier place for the Dominion, with a Cradle Roll membership of 313 —increase for year 40; Band of Mercy, 34; Band of Hope, 32. New Plymouth and Ngaerc held picnics. White Ribbon. —New Plymouth increase 12 subscribers —Manala and New Plymouth supply Hie Public Library with a copy. Haw’era supplies railway station with literature. School Committees. Manaia has two members (1 acting as Secretary and Treasurer), New Plymouth I..is one member. Meeting*. New Plymouth held five special home meetings; Ngaere an “American” ten. and an honorary menders’ social evening. 1..T.L. Manaia membership 50. Held competitions in speech-making, poetry and essays. Entertainment given. Xmas tree laden with prises. New Plymouth membership 25. Press. Hawera, Manaia. and Normanby report meetings to newspapers. Maori. New Plymouth and Hawera gave donations to this fund. Donations.

Ngaere 'and Eltham sent away bundles of clothing. Manaia gave IS towards the "Armor” Fund. New Plymouth donated £2 15s for Maori work, £6 7s to Atkinson Memorial Fund, and £1 16s to World’s Missionary Fund

Ha "'em K»ve 30# to Maori work, and gave also to “Armor” Fund. Kfaoiuti<Mis, Ngaere and Hawena went resolutions protesting against the increase in racing permits. Resolution from Wanganui E.: “As it has been brought under the notice of ibi.s Union that mothers with children are subjected to much inconvenience when travelling on the New PlymouthWellington railway line, it is decided that an appeal be made to the Minister of Railways asking him to plate a separate carriage on the mail trains for the exclusive use of women and children. as is provided on the Main Trunk ]j ne /*__Adopted by Provincial Convention. Votes of sympathy with Mr Atkinson and daughter in the loss of Mrs Atkinson. and with Mr Blizzard and family in the passing lof Mrs Blizzard, for many years President of the Ngnore Union, were carried in the usual man ner. Afternoon sessions. Devotions led by Mis Avery, of Waitara. The five minutes' speech competitions resulted in Miss Patterson, of Manaia, gaining first prize, and Mrs (Joody, of Wanganui Central, second prize. Miss Drew, of New Ilymouth, kindly acted as judge. Decided to hold 1923 Provincial Convention in Hawera. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Pres., Mrs Phillips. Stratford: Sec., Miss Patterson. Manaia; Treas., Mrs Hawkins, New Plymouth.