SOUTH AFRICA.

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 367, 18 January 1926, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICA.

Tin* W.C.T.r, of Tape ITovince helc its Bfith Annual Convention .i» Cape Town, September 26th-Octol»or 2ml, under the Presidency of Mi's dealt], Port Elizabeth. Sixty-seven delegates were in attendance. representing ar. adult mend>ership of 2.785. The husl. ness sessions were held in the Universit) Hall of tin* South African Col leg •. The total income of the load Unions was £2,476. with an expend!*ure of £2 041 0s 9d. Three Red letter Days are chaerv 1 during the year, viz., Willard Ttuy In February, when a collection is taken for Provincial Organisation; Mackenzie Red letter Day, which is oliserved on or near the birthday of Mrs Mackenzie, the first I‘resident of the South African W.C.T.U. when the collection is devoted to the National Organisation Fund, and “June’ Red letter l>ay. when specVil

efforts are made to increase the niembership. nnd also the number of subscribers to “The White Ribbon,” the offcial organ of the W.C.T.U. in the country. This paper is publish'd monthly in IV>rt EMzabeth. with i. eireulotion of 2055. The Headquarter* Of fire ant Eiterature I>rpot is also in Pnr* Eliwjlidh. und *r the charge of Mr? Beresford. 67 Havelock Street, who re ported that about 790 visitors had called during th*‘ |*ast year. Several hundred adult and junior memlers. scattered throughout the country wh- re c' Unions exist, are also kept in touch with by correspondence and literature. Eif<* on I Memorial Memlx rship is obtained by the payment of £lO towards Iho Organisaiion Fund. The * Mackay” Fund %

is a sum of £IOO. which is invested, and the interest used to provide prizes >n the Scientific Essay (Competition in which there were 85 competitors this year In connection with the T/xul Option Fund, there is a Axis! deposit of £SOO in the tank. to Ih l drawn upon when the time arrives for a special campaign in favour of this measure, which has Isen defeated in Parliament by only a smat* majority for seven!l years. The Women's Enfranchisement Bill has also made steady progress yea" after year, hut at present a deadiiv k prevail*owing to the new Government's decided objection to give the vote to native women on the same terms as men, nnd the til lure of the Eahour

party to k«*ep their election promises in this respect. Work in 22 departments was reported on. As South Africa is a wine producing country, every effort is Iwintr made to increase the use and sale of raisins and grape juice, so that the wine farmers may have othei avenues for the disposal of their productions. ThF work has l« on attended with great sm cess, and promises to grow rapidly. Press work is very generally undertaken. and a tanner presented to the Individual or Pnlon with the best record. This year Miss Stapleton bended the list with 84,599 words followed closely hv a Y Pnion. with only 890 words less. The W.C.T.U. native Pnions have hitherto lieen directly afTi Mated with the World’s W.C.T.U.. hold ing separate Conventions. They have recently suffered an irreparable loss by the death of their President, Mrs Stuart and the advisability of the Provincial W.CT.P assuming the responsihllitv this work wis Introduced n 4 Canyon tion. One of the visitors to Convention was Sister Bessie McFarlane, of New Zealand. who was warmly welcomed. Sis ter Bessie thanked the Cnpe Town White Ribboners for the kindness she had received from them during her enforc'd stay in their midst, owing to the strike among the crew' of the Ballarat. Pin ing Convention, Miss Solomon the President of the South African W.C. T.U., *»nd recently elected Vice-President of the World’s Pnion. returned from th»

Edinburgh Convention. nnd received a loving welcome from her fellow-workers. At a well-attended public meeting she gave an outline of the proceedings nt Edinburgh, and also at Geneva, where she had attended an International Temperance Conference as the representative of the South African Temperance Alliance. During the Convention a luncheon was pro* id* l for the delegates in an adjoining hall The morning teas were served by the Unions of the Ope Benin sula, and the afternoon teas bv various Women’s Associations in and around the city. Among the social functions was o Mayoral Reception in the Town Hall nnd an “At Home’’ to the delegates h\ the IVnlnsula Unions. On Saturday afternoon the delegates were conveyed round the Mountain Drive by a fle*Jl of privately owned motor «»»rs. On the’r

return they were entertained to tea by the Peninsula Y’s. This wis followed by a V Conference and prayer meeting. The Annual Bible Service was held or. Sunday afternoon in the Dutch Luthervin Church, many of the local Sunday Schools having been previously addressed by the visiting delegates.

Beautiful houquets were constantly lM>ing presented to the officers, making the platform a veritable beauty spot. Banners decorated the walls. A wellsupplied literature table catered for all departments of W.U.T.U. work. £27 worth l>eing sold during the meeting.*. A Question Box w.is placed in a prominent part of the hall, and answers given dally. Timekeepers were appointed, who rang a l>ell when speakers had occupied the time allotted, speakers to resolutions and reports iv intr allowed five minutes, other speakers thr-s*. When necessary, this time wa> extended by consent of the Convention The election of officers resulted in no change. E. MOODY, Supt. of Press Work. Cape Province W.C.T.TT.