District Conventions 1959 (W.C.T.U.)

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 8, 1 December 1959, Page 8

District Conventions 1959 (W.C.T.U.)

Wanganui met for Com«r;ln n in the Baptist schoolroom, Mr* King taking .he opening devotions. Mr* A. Jarvis (P *»*i«Gr.t) welcomed delegates and friend*. among whom Mere members from tedding Annual re|N»rt* were presented Flection of resulted a* follows: Prev, Mr* \ Jams; V. Pre*. Mr* Ciancey, Mr* Robb, Mi%» Kendall; Life V. I‘re*., Mr* Day. Mi** Christie; So, Mn tirant; Trea*, Mint V. Jarvi*; LTL. Mr* \ Jarvis; \V R , Mi** V larvi*; k., Mr* Spurdle; \ CAN , Mr* lam*, Mr* Grant; Soldier*. Sailor*, ami Airmen, Mi** Kendall; Maori, Mr* Motu The Service of Memories wa* <w«Wvd liy Mr* Oancey. Noontide was ol»*erved with the liyinn and prayer. I he afternoon *e**ion opened ruth demotion* by Sister J. Kearney. Mr* tang and Mis* lams recited The truest *|»eaker wat the Kev K l> Klley, Mho gave us fact* regarding abstainer*, •octal drinkers and problem drinker*. Items Mere given by the Castlecliff La die* Choir. Thanh* expressed to all who had helped to nuke the Convention a *ucce*v Canterbury held their Convention hi Tiuiaru in the Woodland* Street Mrthodi*t Hall on October 7th and Kth. Mr* Smith. President of South Canterbury presided and welcomed a representative gathering of delegate* and member*. Mr* WohJ welcomes those prevent on Indialf of the heal Union. The Rev. Mr Bycroft, in extending y.ood wishes, mentioned the honoured place the W’ ( T l held m the community, due to the positive protest it gave to prevalent evil* No time in history had their work been more mi|»ortant than it is no»v. Vocal item* Mere given by Mesdames K Smith r«nd J (iordou accompanied by Mr* I Batchelor. An address on the life of Jessie McKay, New Zealand poetess and temperance stalwart was given by Mr* Cumberbeach Emphasis Mas placed on the great inHuence of feminine intelligence to a ramnranity The second day** proceedings commenced with a COmmunion service conducted by the Kev Hycroft m the Methodist Church In the !»u*ine*s session, report* showed healthy activity in the many department* of W C Tl\ work In her address Mr* Wood gave u* much ford for thought In an interesting paper Mr* Dellow reviewed the year* lietween 1906 and I<M6, v hen many union* Mere active in this district. Questions dealing with long service badge*, remits, alcoholic (terrentage in drinks, school of method*, newspaper cutting* and change of name of organisation brought forth much discussion with satisfactory answer* Remit* submitted by the Ttmaru Union on temperance education. Government assistance in the fight againt* a leoh >l, blood te*ts and others Mere discussed. and agreed to lie sent to Legal and Parliamentary I>irector Devotion* Mere taken by .Mrs Smith and Mr* Griffith*, and Noontide hour by Mr* K ecu* W annate (delightful after non tea served by ladies of Woodland* Street Methodist, and Baptist ( hurches. AM officers Mere re-elected uith the exception of North C anterbury Treasurer who now i* Mr* 1 1 Neville

Auckland. .W»lh { invention commenced with a Mell attended Church Parade at the Baptist Talnrr* tiaclc. Rev. J. Pritchard spoke on **Counvgc and Cor vie (ion s'* and V*s Riciiai'd* look the prayer and Mr* Sherman read the lesson On Monday M ** Sherman presided over the I milu reception when the Mayor***. Mr* K Buttle, v.a* present and greetings Mere brought by representative* of many women's organisation* The gue*t speaker wa* Pastor J llankinsoii, youth organiser of the S D A Church, who gave a mo** interesting addre** Tuesday morning nj»ened vvitli devotions by Mr* B Christopher The Recording Secretary'* annual report Ma* fciven by Mr* Snekar who reported goo I work being done hv the executive each month Mr* A I- Kelsey. Corr Sec. reported good work by most -»f the Unions in th# district The increase in membership wav 57. A very satisfactory financial statement v a* given by the Vting trea*urrr, Mr* C Bla< khurn A comprehensive re|*>rt of the Maori Girl* Hostel vva* given by Mis* I* \pplehy, together with the ha’.ance sheet. I <* gue*t speaker for the afternoon vva* Mr 5. Carter, M B E, J P., v\li<» *|* ke on “Women and the Rule of the Ism"—a very interesting address At the Servicr of Remembrance wr paid tribute 40 12 of our Sister* who hail passed on Mr* McMahon rang two Iwaiittiul solo* An excellent prc*identud addre** Ma* given by Mr* Sherman Wednv«day morning devotions Mere taken by Mi*s I. Campbell, after which came departmental re|*or<* by the 17 Dist. Suptv Mr* Melville of Norihcote Union received her 31 year* service badge It Ma* decided by a unanimous vote that M r* M Long. I 'resident of the Auckland Cnion, lie made a Life Vice President in recognition of her many years of devoted *ervice to the W’.CTl’. Officers were elected a* follow.: Pre*, Mrs I Sherman; \’ Pre*. Mesdames J. Pru**ing and C. Bartlett; Corr See, Mr* A L Kelsey; Ree Sec. Mr* I- Davison; Trees., Mr* C Blackburn Banners and trophies Mere presented to the following Union* Five Fold Plan Silver vase, Onehunga, LTL. Onehunga, largest number on roll, mod the banner Hender*on 2nd the bron/e vase School of Methods, Onehunga, silver vase White Ribbon *ub*cnlier*, largest number, Birkenhead, silver vase. Cradle Roll, Takaptina, largest number, 156. banner The trading table Mas in the capable hand* of Mr* Woods. Tea convener, Mr* J. Prussing A vote of thank* passed to Mr* Sherman for conducting C onvention so ahlv South Auckland. a7th Convention Mas held in the Cambridge Baptist Church The President, Mr* L F.a*tM<>od. presided I delegate* from Tauranga, Te \u am ut u. Te Kuiti Maori, Hamilton and Cambridge Mere served with morning tea on arrival District Officer* met for Flxecutive prior to Convention Opening devotions Mere led by Rev R McCosh (Baptist). Mrs Hall, Vice President. Cambridge, welcomed delegate* in the ab*ence, through illnes*. of Mrs Parry. The Secretary’* re|M»rt showed an increase of 25 memlier* and good work lieing done in the many departments, financial help had l»een given to Seamen'* Rest*, particularly Timam. for urgent renovation*

Tauranga donatrt! a piano to the kical Seamen * Rest there l airbridge entered 31 in the Ttmj»eranee Mr* Moore reported on tlie Hamilton branch of N C W, A new branch ha* l»ccn formed in Cambridge with Mr* Hurt a* delegate from thr W.C.T.U. Three remit* were discussed, two of which will go forward to I* minion Convention and the other to local M l’ *

The Noontide himn w.i* foil* need t»* *h<»rt prayer session Mr* Fastwood then gave a challenging and inspiring addrr** Luncheon, served by a band of willing helper*, wa* enjoyed by delegate* Xfternoon demotion* were taken l»v Vlr* J len*en of Te Awainutu The Mayoress, Vlr« k. Wilkinson gavr a greeting and short me** age Roll Call wa* an*vvrrrd by 31 metnliers and also repre*eniati\e* of X.CVX ami of various churches

A forceful and challenging address wa* given by the Ke\. I Kamage of Hamilton, Convener of the NZ Meth<»di*t Temfieranre Committee. Two lovely tolot were rendered b> Mr* M Kairweather Officer* elected were: Pres., Mr* L Fastxrond; Secretary, Mr* L kelly; Treasurer, Mr* l>aley; Xwe Preiidenti, Me*dame* Moore, Baker and Hurt

Mr* Fast wood wa* apltointed delegate to Ikminioti Convention in Wellington Plan* of Work —l district Officer* \ I*ll XX’hakatam mnhi a* |H»**dde to form a new I'nion. Winner* of apron competition, plain- l*t equal, Mr* kelly and Mr* Hurt. Fancy—-Mr* Haley l*t and Mr* kelly 2nd X Sale* Table and collection helped I i*trict Fund* substantially Afternoon tea coticluded a *ucce**ful Convention

Otago Convention wa* held in Oamaru Mr* I >aniel welcomed delegate* from Halclutha, lhinedin and Oamaru In the afternoon, thr Kev. G. I llrown gave ail address in which he quoted |)r Oswald Smith of Toronto, “I am the greate*! criminal mi the world I have killed more than have fallen m all the wars of the world. I have turned men into brutes and I have made millions of In me* unhappy.”

This was alcohol* confe**ioii according to Or Smith, *aid the speaker It wa* now agreed that alcohol was not necessary for health, hut rather was it injurious to it. . . Spirit drinking wa* notorious for the ravage* it brought Long ago there was no orgam*ed trade in alcohol to corrupt the community and life was simple then in comparison to thr present day complex civilisation. To preach triti|»erancr wa* not a negative approach, for it was the task of the people to develop character and anything such as liquor that destroyed it, should be rigorously fought and denied. Flection of officers: Pres.. Mrs M Flett; X ice Pre*. Mesdainex J. T. Gardiner. X (dll and Ilone*; Sec. Mrs M lie*; Treasurer, Mrs \\ i hekmson The following remits were considered: XXe strongly urge that liquor should be sold only from hotel* licensed for that purpose and that all restaurant* b** used for the purpose of refreshments only, excluding all intoxicating liquor It has l»e»'U brought to our notice that in coffee being sold, rum has been included in some milk hars and restaurants.

\Xe ur/i the (iovemment to prohibit the *ale of so-called *oft drink* containing alcohol because of the grave danger to children acquiring a desire for intoxicating liquor

In view of a recent t r ag«. iy when a M .on w<»uiau died m a drunken orgy V Company Pas and also according to rrport that iU t»er cent of l»or»tal inmates are Maori youths (hem* having played a big |iart in that fact), we urge the faovotrament to revise the liquor law* relating to the Ma* n Race hi the interest and protection of tli* Race. Note: Before liquor wa* brought to the V .son * by the Pakeha they were a moral and healthy race This Convention urges the (iotentmenl to absolutely prohibit intoxicating drink lem,: taken on to footliall ground*. Note: At a recent match drink wa* openly carried into the park and a Colossal amount consumed to the di*gu»t and inconvenience of many of the *|*cctator*.