THE WHITE RIBBON IN NEW ZEALAND.

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 367, 18 January 1926, Page 6

THE WHITE RIBBON IN NEW ZEALAND.

CHAITKR 11. Rirly in 188r>, Mary (Aement Leavitt, pioneer, missionary, organiser, speaker, saint, landed in this Dommion. The time of her coming wan most opportune. The way had been prepares] by Fichur! Booth, and then there came a “Woman s<*nt from Hod called Ma *3 .” From North Uape to the Bluff tin slands had U'en stirred hv the preaching of that Prince among Temperance orators- - Richard Booth. Every wheie numbers had flocked to his meetings, signed the temperance pledge, and donn-si tiie “bit of blue.” Into this propanol ground the little lady from America otmo to drop the seeds of world wide organisation of women for the abolition of strong drink. Richard Booth was very sympathetic with the work of this woman’s organisation, and ther» also w-s help for the movement. Women had been rous«*d to a realisation of the <l. r.ger lurking in the wine cup, and hod resolved to alwt&in from it, and now e«,mes Mary Ixavftt with tbit ideal of 0 world-wide movement to link up women from every class, from every land, to fight in defence of their homes. Both in Auckland and in 1 >unodin many w »• men who had signed the pledge *it Mr Booth’s meetings became members and lenders in the new movement. landing in Auckland. Mrs Leavitt brought letters of introduction to leading temperance workers. Several ladi.'s called upon her at the boat ding-house where she was staying. Mrs Dewar

took her from there to Is* n guest at her own home. On February 4th the Auckland Union was organised in the Old City Hall, 1r Oueen Street, with a membership of "0. Many years ago the old hall was demolished. but the little one born that day in it has become a mighty army. Starting with one small branch, it his grown until within the suburban area there are now 11 branches of the W.C. T.U., all doing fine work. The first

officers were; President, Mrs Bra me; Secretary. Mrs Holloway: and Treasurer, Mrs Dewar. Most of these foundation members have entered into their reward, hut Mrs Dewar Is still with us. and tt is an inspiration to hear her tell of the.se old days of small beginnings. From Treasurer she graduated to Pre.sl-

• lent, and se/ved the Union for mury years in that capacity Now, at th. advanced age of 91, she still takes an interest in the work, though physically too frail to take any active part in it, ant her daughter, Miss Nellie Dewar, is still the Secret.try of the Union her mother so long and so ;ibly led. How much we owe to the wisdom energy and forethought of these early workers who so wisely directed the policy of our organisation. Mrs Snackenherg, one of these early members, was first their lioeal President, and afterwards was National President. Mrs Daldy. cTied her of the foundation member saw very cbarly the need of the vote for the women if they were to effectively deal with the enemies of the home. She therefore threw herself wholelieartedly into the Franchise movement,

and liecume the local Superintendent fjr that work. Her love for her old Union s'ill lingered after she was too frail to do active work, and her will directed n substantial legacy to be paid to the old Union. Auckland White Ribl►oners earlv tool: \UP the financial burden for the work and raised £2O for Mrs Leavitt to continuo on her way. Wellington was visited, and the writer retains a vivid recollection of an after church meeting in the old Arcade in Manners Street. Very few were present, but memory still holds the picture of that seemingly fro il

woman, who was yet so vividly alive. Plainly dressed in black, with a ja!>ot of creamy Vice at her throat, and he** white bow on her breast, she spoke and we hstened, thrill cel b>y her earnest n 'ss and by the magic of her wondrous ‘dory She went on her way saddened because she was not able to organise a branch n the Empire City. But the leaven she had placed in the bmirts of many earn est women continued to work, and in a few months’ time all was ready, and a branch was organised by Mrs Dudley Ward, then National President. Towards the South she made her way. At Invercargill a small Temperance Union had been started, and Mrs Brown, its President, was anxious that Mrs l.eavitt should come and organise it as pi branch of the world-wile organisn tion. Thither she-went, and In May organised Invercargill Union with offi cers: President. Mrs Hinton: Secretary, Mrs Horder; Treasurer, Mrs Lonnie. Dunedin an 1 ’Port Chalmers were orgnnlsed on May H Tn the afternoon

*ho Port was visited, a few women gathered, and the work organised, with Mrs Johnson lis President, Miss Thompson as Secretary, and Mrs Adams :us Ties, surer. At Ihimslin Mrs Leavitt was the guen of Mrs Boot, who invited a number of Indies to meet her. 'Phut gathering resolved that a branch of the W.O.T.U. be formed. Here also Mr Booth’s work had prepared the wai. During his mission over 20(H) had signed the pledge, and many of the.se la< »«s linked up with the infant Union. Its officers wore: President, Mrs Fulton; Secretary, Mrs E. R. Dick; Treasurer, Mrs Boot

Many of Dunedin’s early workers arc s ill with Tis. still taking their part In the fight. Among this number are Mrs Don our Dominion President. Mtr Lain, fop more years than one aires to say. loader of young people’s work; Miss Nicol, formerly Franchise Superintendent, and now White Ribbon Agent for Dunedin Union. Some have pawned from oTir sight, like Mrs Fulton and Mrs Broad, a quiet, earnest worker, who always willingly entertained at her bwmtiful home any visitor who came to help the work on.

From Dunedin Mrs Leavitt went to Christchurch. She held a three weeks’ mission there, and got into touch with Iho clergy of various denominations. Df M"rs Leavitt s gift as a speaker, Mr T. E. Taylor spoke highly; she wns the finest woman speaker he had hear! He also paid this striking testimony to her influence: “No person I have heard no book I have read, has so influenced inv life as Mrs Tjeavitt has done.” Mr Taylor s interest In our work was keen, and his help always readily given. Once, when campaigning at New Plymouth. after addressing a meeting of women, he organised a branch of the W.C.T T T .

Christchurch Union was organised op May 15, with President, Mrs Pncke; Secretaries, Mrs Newton and Miss Aidred: Treasurers, Mrs Wroughton and Mrs Toneycliff. On May 28 Rang!ora was visited, and n brunch organised, of which Mrs Rouse was President. Two more Unions were organised by Mrs Leavitt. Napier on June 11th,. Mrs Paterson was elected President, and . Mrs Troy Secretary. Mrs Troy was also iho first Recording Secretary for 1 our Dominion Union.

Oamaru was started on June 16*h, with Mrs Todd as President. These eight Unions were organis'd by Mrs Leavitt. When she left to carry the White Ribbon further round Ih<glolie, Mrs Dudley Ward, at her earnest request, agreed to carry on the work of organisation. Before the first Annua' (Convention met in Wellington in February, 1886 Mrs Word had added seven inoi-* I’nions to the eight organised by Mrs Leavitt, viz.. Wellington. New Plymouth, Hawc-ia, I'atea. Wanga - nui. Nelson, and Ashburton. Those 15 lhi ions formed the full official list presented :it this first ('on vent ion. (To 1m- rontinued.)