The White Ribbon. "For God, and Home, and Humanity” WELLINGTON, DECEMBER 1, 1946. DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 11, 1 December 1946, Page 4

The White Ribbon. "For God, and Home, and Humanity” WELLINGTON, DECEMBER 1, 1946. DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

MASTERTON OCTOBER 24th. 194 b The evening preceding the opening of Convention at Masterton, the local Union held a “Mother and Daughter" Social, to which all officers and delegate* were invited. \ musical programme was given and a splerdid Temperance Address was given by Miss Kirk, District, and Ihmiion President, Supper was served by the Union members.

Thursday Morning. Opening Devotions included the repeating of the 23rd Psalm all together, and a prayer Session in which many members took part. The Masterton President, Miss Jackson, welcomed all delegates, ami asked for the prayers of all for the coining Election which meant much to Masterton. The President, Miss Kirk, urged members of Unions to go through Electoral Rolls carefuPy, notifying the Electora. officer of any names which should he removed. The following appointments were made: Convention Letter-writer, Mrs. Hunt; Mistress of Courtesy, Mrs. Speigth; Reporters Wk " Mrs

Crawford; Church papers. Miss Tankersly, Daily papers, Miss Jackson. Greetings were sent to Mrs. Penman, Mrs. Hiett, Miss Lovell-Smitli, Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Israel. Letters were to he sent to Mesdanies’ Ross, Turner, Craeknell, Spencer and Miss Brooks.

Routine business carried out. In the correspondence a letter from the Wellington Education Board was received. stating that our Pamphlets would be distributed to Senior Scholars. There are 2U) schoo 1 in the district and UK) pamphlets will be

needed. This was received with acclamation The Rev. Mr. McKenzie suggested that worshippers should follow the Scripture readings in Church in their own Bibles, but sonic present expressed a preference for listening to the min»ster alone. Miss Jackson suggested that Temperance literature should he circulated among all Women’s Societies. Mention was made of the removal of the District Treasurer, Mrs. Gardner, who is leaving to reside in Nelson, a l>ook and posy having been presented to her at Headquarters in W ellington, at a Farewell function. Her resignation was formally accepted with regret. Superintendent*’ Report* Reports on their work were given by the following District Superintendents: Seamen’s Rests. Mrs. Duncan son; Sabbath Observance. Mrs. Israel; Youth Work Mrs. Sired; Literature. All showed good work done.

Union Report:. / Interesting reports were presented by the following Unions; Brooklyn, Johnsonville, Karori. Upper Hull, many outstanding events being noted. The Noontide Devotions closed the Session. Afternoon Session. After the opening Devotions. <»th»r Unions rejiorted a- follow*: Masterton, Lower Hutt, Wellington Central. Wellington Union. A special report on L.T.L. work was presented by Mrs. Spencer. Union represented a* the Convention were Wellington, Brooklvn, Dalefield, Carterton, Masterton, l ppc r Hutt. G rev town, Wellington Cential, and Johnsons ille. The Treasurer reported the following payments: Caravan Fund, £l. Literature. B 12s fxl; General, £4 17s 5Jd; Sailors’ Rest, £3 10s Kd; N.C.W., £2 11s fid.

Election of Officer*. President, Miss Jackson; Vice-pre-sident, Mrs. Brewer; Secretary, Mr«. Reed; Treasurer, Miss Atkinson. Representatives to the N.C.W. Mesdanics Brewer, Sired, Reed, Miss Kirk, Mrs. Watt. Resolution*.

Resolutions against the opening of liquor bars Com K to 10 p.m.; liquor m restaurants, ai dances, redistribution of licenses; public ownership of breweries; trust control; 9 year period between licensing poll*; increasing of alcohol content of Seer, were all passed.

Miss Kirk, speaking on the sulject of Child Endowment, said that cases has come op among the Maoris, of their having borrowed each others children when making their claims, and that there was 75 per cent, more spent on <1 rink since the coming of the family endowment. Mesdames Davidson, Reed, Pearson, and Gillings were apjiointed as delegates to the Bible in Schools Associa tion. A vote of thank' to the Masterton Union for their hospitality was pass ed, and Convention was closed with the Benediction.

MARLBOROUGH ANNUAL DISTRICT CONVENTION 24th September, 1946, The Annual District Convention was held in W esley Hall Blenheim, opening at 10 a.in. The President, Mrs. V. Underhill occupied the chair and conducted devotions, a rcs|x>»i'ivt reading from the hvmnal “The Gut of God” bc-

ing used. Addresses of welcome were given by Mrs. W. J. Girling on behalf of Blenheim Union, to Mrs. K. M. Mackie, the speaker for the day, and to all present, the Rev. J. F. Martin on behalf of the Methodists and local Alliance member', and the president welcomed the guest speaker, delegates and friends. Mrs F. (. Wilson and Mrs. C Leov, two former district # officers were specially welcomed. Mrs. Mackie gave a very helpful message together with greetings from Linwood Union, Christchurch District, and from Mrs. Hiett. Mrs. Mackie. Mrs. Forbes and the President were recipients of dainty shoulder sprays made by Mrs. G Duncan.

Mrs. L. Rodgerson acted as Mistress of Courtesies, Mrs. A. M. Gascoigne was the letter writer and the reporting wa> left to tin* president.

Greeting* were also received from Mrs. J. Stewart, Mrs. Neal of Nelson, and from Mrs. P. Stephens, who was unable to be present. Letters of greeting were sent to several sicb members, of condolence to the relatives of Mrs. Ciainsford. Seddon, to Mr. W. Moore, Rai \ alley, and of Mrs. Downing, Dunedin. The meeting stood in respectful silence in nemory of members who had passed away during the year. The Secretaries rc|>orts showed an active year while balance sheet revealed a credit balance. The Union reports presented by the delegates as follows:—Picton, Mrs S. E. Wells;

Springlands, Mrs. J. Eyles; Blenheim, Miss E. Tarrant and Mrs. Knight reported on the work done up to time of disbandment. The President commended the Unions on their activities which showed that the work was well maintained in each Union. Superintendents Reports were full of interests, it may be possible to help these organisations. The Noontide was observed, Mrs. Mackie taking the piayer. Mrs. Underhill, in her presidential address, spoke on “Opportunity.'’ Lunch was a happy respite, all fitting down at a large table, and justice was dv.ue! The afternoon session was opened with de\otions conducted by Mrs. Girling. Two resolutions were passed a* f< Hows: (1) That this Convention views with .rave alarm the Report of the finding''

of the Royal Licensing Commission and strongly protests against its recommendations, urging that every possible effort he made to protect the youth of our country by keeping ’'otels closed from six o’clock and preventing alcoholic drinks being sold in restaurants etc., as has been suggested (2) That, realism# the urgent necessity, a special Department he set up in our Publ*c Hospitals where special Shotk Treatment mav b? administered

persons with mental disorders, so

that they may he saved the stigma of Mental Hospitals, where the treatment is solely used at present.

Mam' more visitors were welcomed uT the afternoon meeting mcluding members from the Springlands-Parn-ham Women’s Institute who entertained with singing several chorai pieces and an elocutionary item Mrs. Mackie was then introduced and she addressed the gathering on “Why are people in prison?” telling of conditions in some of the prisons and of the aspirations of the Howard League in education of the inmates. Mrs. Mackie astounded her listeners as she stated some facts concerning figures and she was accorded a very appreciative vote of thanks for her splendid address. The election of Officers resulted in the President, Nice-President, Rec. Secrctarv and Corresponding Secretary being re-elected. Miss Tarrant was elected Treasurer in place of Mrs. Stephens who on account of ill health did not seek re-election. Mrs. Wells, Picton. was appointed “Y” Sunerint ndent, Mrs. A. M Gascoigne, White Ribbon Superintendent, the Evangelistic, Peace and LAY R Supis. were re-appointed.

Two new members were initiated at close, while later four subscriptions were received, and others .signified their intention and desire to link up. After votes of thanks having been passed to all who had assisted, the Convention dosed with the singing of the Temperance Doxology and afternoon tea was dispensed. R M UNDERHILL. 29. 9 46.