W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 5

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

-j| DELEGATES AT WORK. The thirty-fifth annual c vention of the Neiv Zealand W.C.T.U. opened in the Timuinki ; Street AVesley Sunday School yesterday moru.'iig. Mrs. Crabbo (ucl.ingpresident. of the N.Z.W.C.T.U.) was in the chair. On the platform" ivith' her were: Mrs. Jolmston-Wright (president of the Distiict W.C.T.U.), Mrs. Peryman (editor of tho "White Ribbon"), Mrs. W Evans. 31.A. (convention secretary), and Miss Henderson (Dominion, secretary). There were close upon 100 delegates from nil over New Zealand present. A short speech relative to. the work befo.re the convention was. made 'by the acting-presillent, followed by a. crusade hymn and Psalm. The latter was read by Mrs. Peryinan, after wh'ch she gave a short address. Roll call followed, and •proxies were appointed. The report of the Executive, Committee regarding the agenda paper for the convention was received. Various comniltses and officers were appointed. Mrs. Helyer was appointed to take charge of nnd deliver the mails, Mrs. Bates and J( Mrs. Clark as Courtesy' Committee, and ~~ Mrs, Powell ns convention letter-writer, •j-■ ;The district presidents were asked to interview delegates' during the' luncheon j hour, and appoint press reporters where SL necessary. For the Epuoliifcions Oommit- >)) tee it was announced that (("delegate from each district would be appointed, and all resolutions would bo received from this committee. It was decided, tlmt lptters of sympathy from the convention should be sent to Mrs. White, the wife of the Rev. White, - of Port Chalmers, Mr. White hav'ng been a great 'fiiend of the union there; to Miss Posking,; upon* the loss of her mother. Mrs.' lloskimr. widow of the jate Dr. Hoskilng, both friends to the nrohibition causeto. Ilio '.family..of the Rev. Paterson, Airs. Paterson having been treasurer "..of the union; and to Mrs. Sutherland, of Mnstcrton, who is now an invalid. / The report on the year's work read by the corresponding secretary (Miss Henderson),- ;'stntcd.;t,liat 1919 ' hn\l been < record'year in that , two I'censijjt poll had."been'.taken, one■ on April Ifl, thi other,on December 17. ' This hnd necessi tated n great ; deal of - ; work. and mnnj of "the unions were' .occupied 'in ' v.iriou, activities nlmost continuously through nut thVyear On this account the worl doiie .-in otheT .denartmeiits., wes:.n'ot w great' ns, usual. -The "Y" unions'. organisation was seriously interfered witli by the formation of young wojuen's effi c;'«ncy leagues. In most cases the "Y* unions joined forces with the?? leagues nnd so lost their identify. The New Zea land National Prohibition Council arranged with Mrs. Wheclar, a- representative of the union in America, to ad dress meetings of women throughout Ncfl Zealand on behalf of prohibition, am' Mrs. Wheeler accordingly gave addresses under the nusp : ccs of the council. Or Februarv 14, Mrs. Don (president) lcfl fc England to represent the New Zenlnnd Union at the World's Conventior to, 1)0 held in London. Other representatives of the union were also visiting Eng. land. It had been suggested that New Zealand should send delegates or appoinl fraternal delegates to the International Women's. Suffrago Alliance Congress to meet in Madrid in May -this year. It ww; thought that possibly M.rs.- Don and other members 'might bo able to attend. ; During \ the. year correspondence had passed between the corresponding secretary and tho officers of tho World's W.C.T.U., the president of tile United States W.C.T.U., the W.C.T.U.'s of South Africa, Australia, and West Australia, the i British Association for Moral and Hygiene, and the British Dominions' Women Citizens' Union. The unions were represented at the Town Planning Conference in May last by the president and others. The usual provincial conventions wore held, and all were successful. It was felt that a most urgent need «as the appointment of several organisers. Tito work of Miss Eornshaw and Mi»s Waymoutli for the alliance was highly eulogised. The health of lyoth had suffered as a result of their laliours, ■ Miss Weymouth in couscnuence- b ni, ig given a year's leave of ab?enc,e, and Miss Earnshnw several months' leave.—lt was decided that letters of appreciation shatild bo sent to these two ladies. A notice of motion sent in "by Mrs. Field proposing that Do-min'on superintendents of departments at convention should have seats upon the executive, thoiich not between conventions, Vns carried. In the afternoon. Mr=. Crnbbe warmly nelcomed the Maori delegates and new dele7Cites. of whom there wre 38. A number of .vrcetings ai'd good wishes to the convention were al«o read-