FINDINGS OF DISCUSSION GROUPS ON DEPARTMENTAL WORK

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 4, 1 May 1949, Page 2

FINDINGS OF DISCUSSION GROUPS ON DEPARTMENTAL WORK

GROUP 1 Backblocks, Literature and Library, Bulletin, Maori and Home Meet* inga. Leader: Miss C. McLay. Batkblock* Good literature should be sent to camps, aerodromes, forestry camps, etc. “W.R." should be included. Old Christmas cards with texts pasted on are useful for backblock Sunday Schools. Stickers on envelopes do good work. Literature and Library. Leaflets call be distributed through newspapers at small charge. House to house distribution very good. AH methods recommended. Library little used. Suggestion of opening a fund for new liooks. Each Union advised to send for catalogue costing 3d; and to use library. Bulletin. Many do not know of this, which contains world news of our work. 1/6 per annum; and published bi-monthly. Valuable for presidents and members in preparing addresses. Maori. Speakers on Maori work very helpful. Recommended that Unions interest themselves in Maori women and children. Hold a Home meeting or a lantern meeting in a Pa. Have speaker to give address on our work. Home Meetings. Should be held with the view of gaining new members, and for Poll Campaign work. Appoint Superintendent who should find homes for meetings. Good opportunity for training speakers. Homes of "Shutins " advised for meetings. GROUP 2 Little White Ribbonera, Loyal Temperance Legion, Bands of Hope. Leader: Mrs. Brewer. Continuity in work desirable. Eight-year-olds leaving I K. should be enrolled in L.T.L. or B. of H. Mothers should be visited and asked to sign the Pledge. Birthday cards, especially for 7- and 8-year-olds, should be attractive. Letters should go to 8-vcar-olds as they are transferred. L.T.L. Valuable in taking up younger ones and providing hope for future “Y ” members. B. of H. difficulty is lack of Leaders. Some churches are having “Happy Hours” for children, advantage being taken of opportunity for scientific temperance teaching. Question of attractive pledge card* postponed because of difficulty in procuring. GROUP 3 Good Citizen»hip. Anti-Gambling. Leader: Mrs Hiett. Good Citixenship carried out in helping to relieve aged and blind people, sending parcels to Britain, and in other practical way*. Anti-Gambling. Illegal for lioys under fourteen and girls under sixteen tv> sell anything in ** streets. Other women’s organisations might he appealed to asking them to refrain from

Dominion Convention, 1949

holding raffles, etc. Our views to be *et out and sent to the “Justices’ Quarterly.** Suggestions from World Superintendent of Anti-Gambling: (a) Appoint a Superintendent for the department, who will gather some keen workers round her. (b) Try to obtain openings for talks to youth groups, high school and teen-age youth, (c) Protest against all gambling projects for gambling in connection with churches, .(d) Watch for all contraventions of the laws against betting and gambling, (e) Endeavour to get articles or letters on the subject into the local Press from time to time, (f) Prepare leaflets and printed matter for distribution dealing with your local •conditions. GROUP 4 Evangelistic, Bible in Schools, Sabbath Observance. Leader: Mrs. Spence. Devotional exercises should be divided among members. One Principal of a secondary school had expressed the opinion that a full-time qualified person should be employed for giving religious instruction in schools. Christian people should stan( f firm and by their example encourage others ‘o preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath. GROUP 5 Legal and Parliamentary, Press, Notable Days, and Educational. Leader: Mrs. Chesswas. Legal and Parliamentary. Letter-, sent to Members of Parliament should be as concise and brief as possible. Urge all friends to vote. Press Reports are acceptable if worth while matters are reported. All Unions and districts suotild have a re|»orter. Notable Days could be varied; not necessary to observe all the same every year. • GROUP 6 Scientific Temperance Examinations, Sunday School and Bible Class Temperance, “ Y ” Branch. Leader: Miss V. Jamieson. Suggestion that medals might be replaced by something less expensive, so that more could be awarded Sunday Schools and Bible Classes could Inapproached by means of strips and addresses. Members urged to try to form small groups which would scon grow. Youth Rallies and AfterClmrcb gatherings recommended. GROUP 7 Social and Moral Hygiene and Health and Nutrition, Method*. Leader*: Metdames Mountjoy and Kasper. Hygiene, etc. Children should be encouraged : n clean inbits both in

mind and l>ody, and to confide i parents for solving their difficulties. Health. Much valuable substar lost by cooking vegetables too loi and in fix) water. Methods. Departmental work sin t he organised. Concentrate on gainii scattered members and honorai members.