FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 40, Issue 475, 18 April 1935, Page 1

FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION.

The 50th Annual Convention met in Hanover Street Hall on Wednesday, March 13. An Executive meeting was held at 10 a.m., at which Mrs T E. Taylor, Dominion President, presided. MA YORAI. KECEITION. The delegates were accorded a Mayoral Reception at 3 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The Kev. E. T. Cox, Mayor of Dunedin, extended a welcome on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin. He spoke of the influence of women all down the ages, and how from antiquity she had exercised great influence, e.g., Helen of Troy had plunged the nations of antiquity into war, and had given to the world its earliest and proudest epic. But we who lived m modern times knew that this was pre-eminently the age of women, and, said the Mayor, “New Zealand has not been without its great women, and your own Society has given many great and splendid personalities to this Dominion. 1 trust that you will have a good Conference, and that your stay in our city will be an enjoyable one.” Rev. .1. I>. Smith, on behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations, W'dcomed the delegates. They stood tor a world-wide movement, and represented a great moral crusade, and gave to the word Temperance its widest meaning. In the name of the Christian cause he welcomed them to Dunedin. Mrs Bedford, District President voiced the welcome of the entertaining l T nion. Mrs T. E Taylor, in returning thanks, said this was the first time they had had a formal civic reception. The delegates represented thousands of wo-

men, and she could wish that their organisation was larger still, for their aims were so wide that they felt they should have with them the support of all women who considered themselves Christian. No other organisation worked for three things, as they worked for them. The first was the abolition of the licensed Liquor Traffic; the second was the abolition of wars and of armaments; and their third the encouragement of purity of life and an equal standard for men and women. PUBLIC RECEPTION. A public welcome to delegates was given in the evening at the Lyceum Hall. Mrs E. Bedford, District President, was in the chair, and on behalf of local Unions welcomed the delegates To-day they had opened the fifty-first year of Union work, and she prayed that new enthusiasm would open their next 50 years of work. Rev. C. H. Olds extended a welcome on behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations, and spoke of their entire sympathy with Temperance workers. Rev. H. E. Bellhouse represented the Dunedin Branch of the league of Nations Union. His organisation gladly welcomed the delegates, because many of their aims were similar. Dr. Siedeberg McKinnon spoke on behalf of the National Council of Women, and hoped the delegates would have a pler sant and profitable time in Dunedin. The NZ. Alliance was represented by Mr R. J. Pringle, who said that when the fight for abolition of the liquor traffic was won a large part of the credit would be due to the W.C.T.U. Mrs L. (Jain conveyed greetings from the International Order of Good Templars, and Mr lies from the Independent Order of Rechabites.

Mrs T. E. Taylor thanked all for their welcome, and said that at this Convention they opened their campaign for this year’s poll for the abolition of the liquor traffic. Their motto was “For God, Home, and Humanity,” and the greatest enemy to the Home, the greatest menace to Humanity, and the greatest hindrance to the work of God was the licensed liquor traffic. They could not cease from their labours until that traffic was abolished throughout the Dominion. The musical programme was very fine, and consisted of solos by Miss Hazel Walker and Mrs (1. Scott, a duet by the Misses Shrimpton. Mrs Frank (Mark was accompanist. Miss Heather Smith charmed all with her recitations. CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER. The Convention was called to order by Mrs T. E. Taylor on Thursdaj morning at 9 o’clock, and the opening devotions were taken by her. Over 100 delegates answered the roll call. COM Ml' N ION S ERVIC E. At 9 a.m. on Friday delegates assembled at First Church, where a most inspiring Communion Service was conducted by Rev. W. A. Stavely, assisted by the Rev. B. .lames. “Thanks he unto (Jod for His unspeakable gift” was the keynote of Rev. Stavely’s address. MEMORIAL SERVICE. In the afternoon a memorial service was conducted by Mrs Hiett, in which Mrs Lovell-Smith, Mrs McCartney, and Mrs B. l»\v were specially remembered. A PLEASANT INTERLUDE. On Saturday afternoon a very plea>ant time was spent. The local Union arranged motor transport for delegates and friends to Eirnach Castle. There

they were taken over the castle, up its winding stairs, to the Hat roof, where, unfortunately, a heavy fog drifting up from Otago Heads completely shut out the fine view usually obtained from there. Afternoon tea was served in the Hall of Antiques. In the evening delegates attended the V Speech Competition, reported elsewhere. H 1 STORK ’A L PAG EA NT. On Monday evening the Lyceum Hall was comfortably filled to witness the pageant setting forth the Past and Present, and foreshadowing the future of our Dominion Union. It was admirably staged, and acted by the Dunedin Union, the director being Miss Tuckwell. As we hope to publish this in a future issue, we will not give any synopsis of it here.