CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 50, Issue 6, 18 July 1944, Page 5

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT.

It is a great disappointment tliat ovung to restrictions on travel we are unable to meet in Convention this year. We miss the contacts and friendship of fen* a members

The Dominion Officers met in May, and items of interest and business have been forwarded to all Districts.

The World’s W.GT.U. have not met in Convention, but reports of our work have l>een sent to World’s Officers. Owing to war conditions, with the shortage of petrol, etc., some of the small or outlying Unions have been unable to meet and carry on the work, but we know when conditions return to normal we shall again have their sup|*>rt

107, out of 150, branches filled in their qu« •'tionnaires and returned them to me at the end of 1043.

There were 131 New, 5 Honorarv. 5 Transfers, and 2 Associate members reported to me for publication in the ll’hite Ribbim during the year lumtirrs.— Mt. Roskill has the largest increase in membership, with 19. and al*o the largest percentage increase with 271%.

In tlie Cradle Roll Department there are 8,237 members.

Invercargill Central, with 501, has the largest Cradle Roll for Unions with over 30 member.

i lore, with 280. has the largest l radle Roll for Unions of under 30 mcmliers.

Upper Hutt, with 202. has the largest Cradle Roll for Unions of under’ 15 member*.

Upper Hutt, w-ith 80%. has the largest increase per cent. The largest District Crr»dle Roll is Auckland, with 1.493. • There were 27 Bands of Hope reported, and three others not actually run bv the Union were assisted by Union members.

Ashburton again wins this Banner with a membership of 286

12 L.T.L.’i reported, and 11 give their membership; this totals 189.

The two major items on our Dominicti programme for 1943 were the Licensing Poll ami the Jubilee of the granting of the Franchise to the women of New Zealand.

The results of the Poll were a great disappointment to us and tlie loss of Invercargill as a No-License Area was yen’ keenly felt.

Members all over the Dominion worked before the Poll; all Districts and the majority of Local Branches rej»ort tliat they districted quantities of Literature. Three Unions report tliat they had shop window display* for Posters, etc., ami two that they had slides, advertisements or films shown at picture theatres. Napier spent £3O in this excellent way of ad vert i sing

The celebrations for tlie Jubilee of the Franchise were well carried out, thanks to the data supplied by the National Committee in Charge. 1 hi* Committee was ooanpoMd of representatives from National Women’s organisation* with our Educational Officer, Miss Elsie Andrews as Chairman, and the Business Manager of the If’/n/r Ribfum. Mrs. Grigg, as Secretary. +) F.ducatumai oud Organising. Owing to home ties. Miss Andrews was not able to complete the year’s work, nor to resume this year, but we hope that next year slie will lie free to take up the Temperance Educational work for which she is so well equipped. Miss C. McLay organised for three months in her District of Auckland, and assisted the local branches there tremendously. She gained 45 memliers in that time and revived tlie interest of others. The Temoerance Educational Films are a new departure for us, and the Dominion fficers are anxious that these lie u -ed vliere fiossible. There arc four on hand and we have others on order. All information about the can he obtained from Headquarters. They arc specially good foe the secondary school age. Much entertainment of service men is reported—teas, suppers, etc., supplied to the different clubs, and one branch supplied light meals to soldiers on manoeuvres. Again large quantities of knitting and sewing has been done for the Patriotic Councils and Red Cross.

The Officers regret that Long Senior Badges are not procurable until the war is over or such time as the Government releases suitable metal for these to he made Last year twenty 30-year and twenty-nine 20-vear Badge* were presented We are indebted to the members who have given so many years’ senice to our work. (f L M MITCHELL, Dom. Cor. Sec. W