ANNUAL CONVENTION

Evening Star, Issue 23694, 30 September 1940, Page 7

ANNUAL CONVENTION

W.C.T. UNION The annual district convention of the W.C.T.U. was held in tho Church of Christ, N.E. Valley, on Thursday last.; Airs J. Sanders, district president, was in the chair. Tho Rev. T. G. Byeroit, on behalf of tho local Ministers’ Association, welcomed the delegates, and conveyed the best wishes of his fraternal for a successful convention ami for a realisation of the aims expressed in tho union’s motto: “For God, home, and humanity.” Reports from secretary, treasurer, and superintendents of departments showed steady progress. Several periods were devoted to intercession on behalf of our nation in its struggle for freedom and jxistice and prayer that a new world with loftier ideals might emerge from tho present chaos. Five pounds were donated to the soldiers’ Christmas parcel fund. It was decided that the W.C.T.U. would heartily support the petition sponsored by the New Zealand Alliance in which certain reforms of the liquor trade are asked for. In the course of her address Airs J. Hiett, Dominon president, said that indulgence in alcohol robbed young people of all that made for good citizenship. Resolutions were passed as follows: 1. Whereas the Government of New Zealand is asking the mothers of New Zealand to give their sons for their country, and whereas in the Great War many soldiers were incapacitated through indulgence in strong drink and returned to New Zealand with habits engendered and developed in training camps overseas for which their children are paying to-day, this union believes that the mothers of New Zealand have the right to ask in return that the Government protect their sons from the two great evils—namely, strong drink and its close associate venereal disease. Resolved that we endorse any movement seeking total abstinence and advocate the closing of “ wet canteens ” in military camps, and respectfully request tho Government to take action throughout tho Dominion, using its power under the War Aleasures Act to reduce drastically* the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor in this Dominion. 2. That in view of the flagrant disregard in so many instances of the liquor laws at tho present time, this convention urges upon the Government the necessity ot more stringent enforcement of the law, especially as regards afterhour trading. 3. Gambling being against all Christian principles, this convention would draw the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs to tho orgy of raffles and art unions that is'being carried on in Now Zealand at the present time in the, name of patriotic effort, and requests that there should ho a drastic curtailment of permits for these devices for raising money for patriotic purposes. . 4. That in view of the fact that the consumption of alcoholic liquor constitutes a greater menace to tho welfare of the community and the generations to come than even war itself, we urge that scientific temperance instruction be made compulsory in schools. Tho following officers were elected : President, Airs J, Sanders; vice-presi-dent, Airs Parker (Oamaru) ; secretary, Miss M. Gray; treasurer, Aliss Ford; young people’s superintendent, Mrs P. Gardner; ‘ White Ribbon,’ Aliss Ford; cradle roll, Airs Flett.