THE 1926 CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 367, 18 January 1926, Page 4

THE 1926 CONVENTION.

Dear White Ribbon Sisters, In last month's issue of the “White Ribbon” I inserted a preliminary notice, in view of the fact that the Convention, in Christchurch this time, is to he held about a fortnight earlier than last year. This month the first draft of the Agenda appears, though necessarily it cannot be completed in . 11 its details till nearer the time. As usual, an Executive meeting will be held on Wednesday, the 10th March, and to it are summoned, in addition to the Dominion officers, the District Presidents (or failing the President, the District Secretary or Treasurer) and the Dominion Superintendents of Departments.

The number of Unions having considerably increased during the last nine months, the Convention should again be a record one in point of numbers. Each Union of 100 or under is entitled to send one delegate; when the number is over 100, an extra delegate for each additional 100 l>r fraction of 100, may be appointed, but the members, to be included, must be financial. Any Union that cannot find one of its own members able to attend may, if it so desires, appoint a member of any other Union in its own District, but no delegate may represent more than one Union, or exercise more than one vote. Any Union that cannot send a delegate at all should apply for a proxy, observing the following conditions;

(li Instructions ns to voting for the Dominion officers, and as to voting for the two Notices of Motion, must be sent to me in a sealed envelope, mark'd, ‘‘lnstructions for proxy for Union.” (2) Application should lx* made as early as possible, as proxies are always appointed in the order in which they have been applied for. The names, addresses and status of delegates should be sent to me as soon as they have been appointed. It is not sufficient merely to send them to the Hospitality Committee of the entertaining Union, though to this it is highly important they should be sent, and request made for hospitality. aR early as possible.

A new' feature proposed for this Convention is the special meeting set down for Friday morning, at which matters can be discussed that are of interest to the District officers, or to tin* Superintendents of Departments. These are all accordingly urged to come prepared with suggestions as to problems or difficulties that they would like to have discussed. One matter that calls for thought is that of District Finance, which it is advisable should be placed on a better footing, or made more uniform than it appears to be at present.

There are two notices of motion that may be briefly dealt with. The first relates to giving Dominion Superintendents a seat on the District Executive of file respective districts in which they happen to reside. The matter cropped up during the year preceding last Convention and though it was felt that such ought to be the rule, no provision was found to have been made for it. The motion is to supply fhe omission.

The second notice of motion deals with the monies and possessions (other than land or buildings) belonging to disbanded or lapsed Unions, and proposes to empower District Unions to take them over in tin 1 respective Districts; they would thus be available for future use in District organisation.

These matters, if they have not already been submitted to Unions, should be brought up at the February meeting, so that-delegates may be instructed how* to vote on them.

It is hardly necessary again to state that the English Edition of the White Ribbon Hymnal (as supplied l>v the Literature Department) is always used during Convention. Delegates should come duly provided wth credentials, showing that they are entitled to be members of Convention. These may run somehow as follows: “We hereby certify that is duly appointed delegate for Union for the Convention to 1):* held rt Christchurch,” and should be signed by the President ami Secretary of the respective Ui.ions, and should bear the date of the meeting at w'bich the delegate was appointed. With best wishes to all the Unions for a happy and successful year'j

ork, and for a helpful and inspiring Convention. —1 am, Yours in White Ribbon bonds, KATE M. EVANS, Roc. Sec. N.B. Present Address: 52 Russel; Terrace, Wellington South. January 13th, 1926.