WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 12, 9 October 1919, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD

MATTERS W INTEREST FROM FAB AND ViMße

W.C.T.U. PROVINCIAUONVENTION .. MANY REFORMS URGED Tho annual Wellington Provincial Convention of tho Women's Christian Temperance Union was held at the Church of Christ, Petone, yesterday. Tho provincial president (Mrs. B. .H. Crabb, of Palmerston North) was in the chair. Delefates present were Mesdaines Clara M. leal (secretary, of Feilding), JohnsonWright, Wdbb and Keene, Wellington; Mrs. Whincop, Greytown; Mesdame3 Ballantyiio, Bayly, and . Chittenden, Lower' Hiitt; Miea Wingato, Masterton; Jlesdamee Aehby, Burd, Donesrhue, Murgatroyd and Johnson, Potone; Mosdnmes Weeton and Doro?n, Palmorston North; Mrs. Reove, Feilding; Mrs. Allman, Woodvillo; Mrs, Remington, Wellington Central. Mrs. Ashby, president of tho Petono union, in a few appropriate remarks extended to the delegates a hearty welcome to Petone, to which tho president (Mrs. Crabb) made fitting response. Presidential Address. A lengthy address waa delivered by tho prwu'dent. In the course of this she reviewed the present world-wide unrest and the industrial conflicts, and went on to urgo nil women to keep an open mind, to be prepared to assimilate new ideas, to be patient and give all possible freedom to tho younger generation who were returning homo full of schemes for reform and with youthful enthusiasm were impatient to put thoni into practice, deferring to the drink question the president remarked that the trade was still doing ita deadly work wrecking homes, casting a blight on the lives of children, wives and mothers, and, still worse, eonding a largo, number of our bravo soldier lads back into the arms of their war-wearied mothers in a drunken condition. She urged all delegates to return to their homes with re-newed-zeal and determination, to do all in their power to assist in "overthrowing tho power of king alcohol." Tho effects of prohibition in New Zealand might well prove to bo the beginning of the millennium. Passing on, tho president referred to the Women's Parliamentary Bights Bill, and said that from what had transpired since Parliament had opened Its session there was a possibility that a wider sphere of usefulness would open up for tho able women of New Zealand. Tho Parliamentary leaders no longer dared to shut the door in the faces of women. The representation of women in ■ Parliament _ would hasten many necessary reforms,, including the institution of women police— which had been 60 consistently refused— the need for women jurors and Magistrates, and agricultural colleges for women. The union had taken an active part in the fight put up by the school teachers for better conditions .for the children as well as themselves,'and had been more or less successful. The fight would, however, have to be continued for many years before proper, justice was done in the cause of education. The president also mentioned that the isolation on farm colonies of sexual perverts had been repeatedly pressed on the attention of the Government, but so far without success.. The better protection of the girls and boys who were eanjing their hying in factories, shops and offices away from homo influenco also required attention. In a word the W.C.T.U. had so many interests that no one of its members need stand idle. (Applause.) Various Matters, The secretary, after stating that eho had "sent all the resolutions passed at the previous convention to members of Cabinet and every M.P. lu the Wellington province, read the replies which had been received. There was an interesting discussion on 6omo of the points raised, and members expressed their -appreciation of the fact that some members of. Parliament had replied so fully. On the motion of Mrs.' Neal, seconded by Mrs. Remington,, it was decided: 'That the T. branches be not requirod to pay the provincial convention captation lee of one penny per member." Mrs. Burd read an instructive paper by S. Josephine Baker, M.D., D.P.IL, Director'of the Bureau of Child Hygiene, Dopartment of Health,. New YoTk, entitled "Tho In-between Child in Wartime," and an interesting discussion followed. Messrs. Marshall nnd Hunter, president and organiser respectively of tho loor.l No-license League, addressed the convention on the prohibition movement, following on which addresses were delivered by Messrs. Beddinglield and Haslani, of Petone, on educational reform. Unanimously the convention passed i resolution supporting the following reforms in the educational system: (1) The standardisation of school books; (2) the modernisation of school buildings and .furniture; (3; free echool books anil requisites; (4) 45 children to be tho maximum in any class under tho charge of one teacher; (5) extension of open-air classes; (0) provision for larger playgrounds ; (7) free and compulsory medical and dental .treatment of children in Stato schools; (8) a complete and compulsory system of continuation schools up to the ago of IS , ; (9) consolidation of schools in rural areas; (10) inclusion in the training syllabus for teachers of scientific instruction in sex hygiene and tho effects of alcohol on the lun'jan b'ocly. A resolution was also passed for transmission to tho proper quarters urging upon tho Government tho necessity for giving all -widows with young children a' basis of pension not less than that granted tho epidemic widows and tho widows of soldiers. Tho resolution also txpressed tho opininn that it was not in the best interests'of the. individual or the Stato that a niotlmr should have to leave her infant children in tho card of others while she worked to support tliern. . ■ . The convention will eit throughout 'co-day, when its deliberations will bo brought to n close.

District Nursing Guild. The monthly meeting of the committoo of tho District Nursing Guild of St. John was held on Monday afternoon at tho residence of Mrs. W. H. S, Mo'orhousc. There were present: Mrs. Mnorhouse (presiding), Mrs. J. E. Gibbons, M:'es M. Macandrew, M;es M. E. L. Robieson, and Miss E. M. Rowley (lion, secretary). The nurses' report for the month of September was as follows:—Number of patients on. register 2511), registered during tho njonlh l(i. discharged 22, admitted to hospital i, 384 patients wero'visited in theJr own lujmes, and 4G wero treated at the office. Gifts of sou]), puddings, eggs, sandwiches, clothes, shoos, and old linen wero received from tho following:—Glts(lamos Moorhouse, Corrigan, Ballinjiw, ChatHekl, Lissack, Miss Robieson, four anonymous donors, nfe from a sopietv if St. Peter's Churoh and Red Cross Society. The nurEcs would bo glad of irifts of clean white rag for bandages, Kc. Sale of Work at Newtown. A sale of work to , raiso funds for the erection of clas3 rooms in connection w'th the Wiulcetown Presbyterian Church wns opened in the Club Hall, Pitt Street yesterday afternoon, by the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken. The Rev. Robertson Orr was in the chair, ,ind introduced Mr. Aitken to thnso present, the gathering being n very largo one, as many visitors wero prefent from the city. Mr. R. A. Wright, H.V., also addtxl a few words, and- Mr, aitken, in declaring tho ta.'c of work open, wished thy organisers all possible Micccss. The at.n'l!? iiiiKfe nn excellent display of .homc-mn.tle enlsos, sweet?, produoo. plain and fancy sowing, etc. Astand for soap was quite one of the distinctive features of the rale, nnd looked extremely ornamental. Kxcolent busiTO'a wns done at -all, of thp stalls. In charge wore the following:—Sweet?, Mrs. .T.idra and the Biblf OVi.ss Indies; fancy stall, the choir girls: plain sWI, Mrs. M'Cloland,.Mrs. J. D. 'Stewart. Mrs. Law; cukes and produce, Mrs. Or. L. Stewart, MYs. Hamilton, M : gs Mackenzie, and Miss Stewarti flowers, Miss .Tnckn and Miss Di.ikc; yonp stand, Miss Joan Jt'Clol.ind; fiifn's stnll, Williamson. .Jadra, nnd the Bible Oln?s boys: tearoom, Mrs. Tnft nnd Mrs. Selkirk. Tho s:A'i> will bo continued this afternoon nnd evening.