W.C.T.U.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2371, 11 December 1908, Page 5

W.C.T.U.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of tlie Gisborne Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held in ‘St. Andrew’s Schoolroom yesterday afternoon. Mrs A. Graham presided, and there was a large attendance. The following report was read and adopted:—“There have been eleven monthly meetings of the Union during the year, which have, as a anile, been wolf attended, and a large number of new members enrolled. At the first (meeting (February) Mrs. A. Graham (President of the Union) was appointed delegate to tho convention held in Auckland in March, and at the May meetings an interesting account of the convention was given by her. In March, after some correspondence with Captain Blackburnc, secretary of tlie Anti-Opium Association in Wellington. tlie Union undertook to help that work, and. appointed Mrs. Chatterton .local, secretary here, who has done good work in enrolling members, distributing literature, etc. We re grot very much that owing to the long illness oi Airs. AN ittv, who lias been so much interested in the work of collecting for the Leper Mission in India, we have only been able to forward £3 to that mission this year. In May a special committee was l'orImcd' to deaf: with any eases of distress requiring immediate help and in rescue work. Donations of clothing sent to the Union were distributed. Help has also been sent to Miss Barton, who is working amongst Maoris at Whakapara, Auckland, and applied to our Union. On September 19 the Union invited the Cook County Women’s Guild to join,with them in celebrating Franchise Day. At this meeting, which was open to the public, a -vote of sympathy and -collection of £5 5s was forwarded to the AVomen’s Political League, London. Meetings open to the public have been held on June 18th. when Air. Strong, of the China Inland Mission, gave an interesting account of China and the anti-opium work. In August, Miss Hughes gave an address on temperance; on September 24th an evening meeting and address on “The Problem of Intemperance.” by Dr. Gerard Smith; and in October Nurse Har leer spoke on “Infant Life Protection. 5 ’ The Union has also co-opera-ted with the No-license League in temperance work, and thanks are due to many of our members for their very self-sacrificing work in that direction, also to other’s who have kept un tho visiting of the Old People’s Homes and Hospita. 1 . the distribution of literature. and to Miss Sievwright, superintendent of the educational department, who has read some interesting papers at the meetings.. In thanking all our .members for tlieir work in the past year we would ask them to remember that we need their very active sympathv and help for tho coming year, and would ho gald if those who 'a re able to take up the superintendence of different departments of work would signify their willingness to do so”.- In closing I might say that though wo did not succeed in the principal work wo wore interested.in this year—tho closing of tho open bars. —wo must not forget that to rightlv value the good work done the real thing to be. considered is the educating of public opinion on the evils of intemperance and the checking of abuses of the trade, and that in those ways and in the whole temperance vote of the Dominion the year has been a record one.” In her address, Airs. Graham spoke of the Union) as a- world-wide organisation, embracing all classes among its members, and announced that the next World Convention would be Hcfcl in London in May next, and delegates from all parts of the world would attend. * . Mrs. N. F. Walker was appointed delegate to attend the Convention to be held in Wellington in February. Tho following resolutions, moved by Mrs. Graham, were adopted: “That this annua? meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union •hereby expresses ’its devout gratitude to Almighty God for . the spfondid vote recorded for No-license throughout tlie Dominion on Tuesday, the 17th November. The fact that over 30,000 votes above those east three years ago is encouraging.” “That this Union desires to record its hearty appreciation of tlio splendid services rendered to the cause of temperance and No-license by the Revs. Isi.tt for so many years nast. The retiring officers were re-elected, ■and the meeting closed after passing a vote of thanks tor Mi'S, Graham for presiding.