W.C.T.U.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 7 August 1937, Page 12

W.C.T.U.

MEMORIAL SERVICE. LATE MISS M. MOORE. At the monthly meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, yesterday afternoon, Mrs Carter presided. The meeting commenced with a short memorial service for Miss M. Moore, the late president. The hymn, “For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest.” was sung, and the president read Psalm 46 and led in prayer. Mrs T. R. Hodder spoke a few words of appreciation. Miss Moore had endeared herself well by her great interest in the work of the W.C.T.U. and also by her sympathy for those in trouble. One of her outstanding traits was her cheerfulness. Always bright and joyous, she appeared to possess the “joy of the Lord.” Another of her outstanding traits was her firm adherence to her principles at all times. She had always been interested in children and had coached children for the temperance examination with very good results, ft now remained for all members to walk in her footsteps, and in all things to bo faithful to God.

Short messages of sympathy were read from Mrs H. Paterson and Mrs N. Peryman, after which members stood for a moment in silence as a token of respect. They were also asked to honour at the same time the name of Mr C. N. Clausen, who had always I>een a staunch friend to the prohibition cause.

Mrs Scadden gave a sympathetic rendering of the lnmin, “Sleep On, Beloved,” Mrs Parker being the accompaniste.

A brief report of the recent jumble sale was next given. The proceeds had • been £ll, and the net proceeds £lO Bs, half of which was to go to the Palmerston North hra-'ch of the New Zealand Alliance. Mrs Carter expressed thanks to all who had assisted in any way. It was mentioned that the district convention would be held in Feilding in September. Delegates chosen were Mrs Penketh and Miss Sutherland. WOMEN’S FRANCHISE. As this was Franchise Day, an address on women’s franchise was given by Rev. M. A. McDowell. The speaker first gave a short account of the struggle for the franchise for women in England. John Stuart Mill was the first to respond to the cause, and brought a Bill beiore the British Parliament in 1860 in favour of votes for women, which, however, was thrown out.' In 1869 women were granted municipal franchise as ratepayers. In 1870 they were permitted to lie members of school boards. In 1907 there took place the first of many public demonstrations by women would-be voters, many of whom were imprisoned from time to time. As the years passed women who had reached the ago of 30 were permitted to vote, but it was not until 1928 that th,e vote was accorded to all women on the same footing as men. In New Zealand agitation for women’s franchise commenced in 1877, the chief sponsors of the movement being the W.C.T.U., chief of which was Mrs K. W. Sheppard. The first petition to Parliament on the matter was presented in 1888, hut was shelved, the speaker added. In 1899 women were granted the vote on condition that they had property or were ratepayers. The W.C.T.U. did not agree to this, however, and wanted 1 lievote merely 011 the ground of each being a human being. Mrs Sheppard and her helpers continued their work of bringing the matter before the public and doing house-to-house canvassing until in 1893 another petition was presented to Parliament containing 31,872 signatures. This time the Bill passed both Houses of Parliament, and at last women’s franchise was an actual fact. Politicians were rather fearful as to the results, and some thought they were leaping “into an abyss of unknown depth.” What difference, if anv, queried the ( speaker, had the women’s vote madef In 1928, the National Council of Women said at the Pan-Pacific Conference that 44 Act 6 had been passed, which were due to women’s influence alone. They had found that members of Parliament were ready to listen to them as voters when as 11011-voters their requests were disregarded. The speaker ended by saying that_ New Zealand women did not appreciate as they should the privilege of haying a vote. Every woman should consider it her sacred duty to record her vote, as even one voto could have great influence.

Mrs Ilodder and Mrs Collins both expressed thanks to Mr McDowell for his instructive and helpful address, their remarks being endorsed by acclamation.

The president announced that the next meeting would take the form of a social afternoon, when the annual subscriptions would be received. The meeting closed with the singing of the Doxology.

For a headache, an old-fashioned and effective cure is to put two cloves in a freshly-made cup of tea and drink it hot.