W.C.T.U.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2556, 2 September 1915, Page 3

W.C.T.U.

PROVINCIAL CONVENTION

RACIAL WELFARE

The Provincial Convention of tlie Women's Christian Temperance Union opened in the Kent Torraco PresL. terian Church .yesterday morning at half pa6t nine, Mrs. CrabbCj vice-presi-dent, taking the chair iu the absenco of the. president, Mrs. Evans. There were ten unions represented the' delegates, coming 1 from Wanganui, Palnierstoii North, Mastorton, and other places and important matters concerning the welfare of ivomen were discussed. Mrs. Houlder briefly welcomed the visitors, and Mrs. Crabbe, president of the Palmerston Onion, replied expressing the gratitude of the visitors for the hospitality experienced in Wellington. Miss Powell, Dominion organiser; reported that Lower Hutt .Union ; had • voted £5 for material'for sand-bags for the soldiers, : 120 having been sent to the front. Mrs. Crabbe reported that. Palmerston North had organised a war committee that • was working steadily with the Rod Cross League. ■- Mrs. Spearman, secretary, presented her report] which showed tnat one branch had collapsed, but a new oiie had been, organised at Greytown and was working vigorously. The following resolution' was passed at the morning sitting:—"That this convention earnestly requests the Minister, of Defence, in view of the example of total abstinence for the duration of the war set by His; Majesty the King; to order that should- circumstances ever again, occur inducing the medical .military; authorities to order a general alcoholic ration ( to the soldiers, a nonalcoholic stimulant' such as hot soup, coffee,. or "tea/ should also bo offered to every man.". . . ' i . ; In the afternoon the convention was opened by. Miss Powell urging members to induce as many people—soldiers and citizens /alike .to sign the Kitchener pledge. - . A discussion followed, 'and the'following resolution ' was passed:—"This Wellington Provincial Convention deeply, regrets that the members of Parliament had not enough loyalty and patriotism to follow His Majesty the Kind's example of total abstinence during the war, but decided by : a secret vote to continue the sale of drink at Bellamy's." '. : The next matter . upon ■ the agenda paper , was the discussion'of somej of the proposals brought forward' by the; Medical. Conference in regard: to the Public Health Amendment Act, which was held in. Christchurch a few months ago. ? If was pointed out that the subject of venereal disease .was without shadow of doubt a • womens' question, because of the fact that many innocent women' and children suffered through, its existence, and in a. country ■ where women had political;: power it was emphatically a matter in wh'ichj they. should' rouse themselves from their apathy and take active steps to grapple with an evil that struck at the very,roots of their being. Mrs. A. R. Atkinson read the resolutions ; brought forward; against' the pro.posals of the Medical Conference by the New Zealand Women's' Christian Temperance Conference:: The proposed Bill contained' all the objectionable proposals of the C.D. Acts, which the; unioiis throughout New jZealand so strongly opposed; 'and"-.'succeeded ..in' getting abolished. These' were,:' (1).-Compulsory notification; (2), compulsory examination (oii suspicion only); (3) compulsory detention.. Mrs. A. R. Atkinson quoted in the course of her remarks the statements made' the highest European oxperts, who conceded that compulsory notification, examination, and 1 deteiitioii were iiot only utterly useless,' but were' .absolutely .'pernicious ■in their effects. In' regard to the matter of detention it was painted out that such a tiling would be a menace, not only to personal freedoni, but to the public health, because in the opinion of the highest medical authorities:it would,only drive the evil underground by causing sufferers to apply to .quacks and unqualified persojis. .It was urged by the speaker, that education and general enlightenment, as well as the -'provision for facilities-'for effective, ■ complete, and in many cases free treatment would do far more to lessen, the. evil .than oompulsory notification: ."■• Dr. Edith Huntley and Mrs. Peryman both stressed'how much might be:'done by mothers in: preventing this evil by the .proper (Safeguarding, training,' and instruction of,Vtheir children,'and by instilling into boys .chivalrous ideas in regard to their attitude .-to girls, other boys' sisters , as well as. their-own.