W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 11

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

YESTERDAY'S SESSION. At yesterday morning's session of tho W.C.T.U. Convention, Mrs. TJpton, evangelistic superintendent, presided. Miss M'Carthy, New Zealand treasurer, presented the financial report. 1 The balancesheet showed a balanco of £101 10s. lid. standing to the credit of tho union. Capitation foes, amounting to £43 125., had been received, representing a membership of 1883. Tho receipts for, the year amounted to £135 16s. 4d., and the outlay, £94 ss. Sd. Coming to the local.union balance-sheets, it was.noted that a largo amount of preventive and educational work is being done. A considerable amount of money and a great deal of energy aro expended in rescue work, but tho most effective work is undoubtedly done among tho children in the Bands of Hope, Loyal Temperance Legions, and tho Craalo Roll, and in the spread of knowledgo undertaken by tho Purity Department. Entertainments have been held by several branches to raise funds. Refreshment booths aro promoted by the Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Otautau, and Bluff branches at agricultural shows to provide a counter attraction to the bars, etc., on the grounds. The total receipts of the local unions throughout New Zealand amount to £1939 Bs. 3d., tho expenditure being £1548 ss. 5d., leaving a balance of £391 2s. lOd. At the afternoon session a commendation of Miss M'Carthy's work was expressed by Miss Powell, and a motion embodying it was carried with .applause. A vote of thanks to Sir. Bannerman (auditor) was also passed. Miss Maunder (Hawera), New Zealand superintendent of scientific temperance instruction in schools, read the report of the work dono in her department. In the discussion which followed, regret was expressed that the Minister for Education was so dilatory in introducing temperance instruction into the syllabus of the public schools, and it was decided that the whole convention should wait on tho Minister at an early date. It was agreed to issue a pamphlet urging tho use of unfermented wine at Communion. Tho report on "Hygiono" was adopted, and it was announced that a pamphlet entitled "Food for the Baby" had been issued. Delegates were urged to procure a number for their unions, as it was recognised that the first j;ear in a baby's life was most important in building up a constitution for the rest of its life. During this discussion attention was directed to the insanitary state of many of the railway waiting rooms. Miss Dewar presented the report of tho work done in the Bible in schools department. Twelve unions throughout New Zealand have reported work done in conducting weekly oV bi-weekly classes-under tho leadership of different clergymen. The Flower Mission report showed that interesting and helpful work was being done by many of the unions. Flowers and fruit had been sent to many sick people and institutions.

The Purity report showed that the demand for literature dealing with questions usually tabooed has greatly increased, and that parents seem to be at last waking up to the dire results of the ignorance which has so far reigned. Suggestions for the more effective working of this department were given by different speakers. A short article on the C.D. Acts was read by Mrs. Cole, and the following resolution 3 r I 1 £. t '.ir - ''That this convention of the ft.Z.W.C.T.TJ. hereby calls the attention of the Prime Minister to the fact that the Contagious Diseases Acts—which were for many years a 'dead letter' and out of touch with present-day public opinion—are still on tho statute books of the colonv. Tho members would remind the Primo Minister that for twenty years past the W.C.T.U.; as well as other societies of women throughout the Dominion, have appealed to the Government and to Parliament to have. these Acts removed. ''