W.C.T.U.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2711, 22 March 1924, Page 2

W.C.T.U.

ANN LAL CONVENTION. Departing from custom, the annual convention of flic New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union on Thursday morning,at New Plymouth, decided to admit representatives of the pres.- to it.-, sessions. It is nine years since the last open convention was held When the 3!)th convention opened on Thursday, with Airs W. ft. Don, Dunedin, in the chair, 52 delegates answered the roll-call, but later in the day about double that number were present.

A plea for more efficient teaching in schools was made by the president, in the course of her annual address.

The progress made in 1922 had not been maintained in 1923, more than half the Unions showing a decrease in membership, stated the corresponding secretary (Miss C. Henderson, 8.A., of Christchurch) in tin* annual report. Only one organise)' had been at work, whereas in 1023 there had been t wo, but, further than this, there had been a marked failure to collect membership dues. The number of adult Unions at the end of the year was 114. Seven adult and live “Y” Unions had been formed, the eight Unions that had been disbanded being Alai a kuna, Marton, Patea, Karaka rumen, Okinwa, Lees-ton, Milton and .Mat a lira. The membership of the adult Unions was 5,880 as against 5,969 for 1922, a decrease of 115. The “YV- had a membership of 670, and the Maori Unions 27, a total of all numbers of 6,577, an increase of 76.

The annual report of the treasurer showed the year had been commenced with a credit balance of .61,488 9/11. Receipts totalled £L,041 8/10 and expenditure £560 1- 9, and on March 3, 1924, there was a credit balance of £1,969 17/-.

Regarding the instruction being given in tlie schools on the nature ,d alcohol and its effects on the human system. Airs Don said that the law allowed this, “but we know that proper teaching on this matter is nut given, though it is tlie unquestionable right of the child to receive Iroin the Commonwealth the truth coneerniug this vital subject. Year by year we discuss the question, but something more definite must lie done, and that at once, to enforce scientific temperance instruction in our ,'Slate shhonls.”