W.T.C.U.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 84, 6 November 1916, Page 3

W.T.C.U.

The following report is suppliei officially: —

The annual meeting of the, Stratford W.C.T.U. was held on Wednesday afternoon and was well attended. The secretary's and treasurer's reports were found finite satisfactory and adopted. The deputation to the A. and P. Association (in regard to rest tent on tlie Showgrounds) in giving their report, said there seemed to he soke annoyance felt by the A. and P. Committee because the rest ' tent erected last year was loft una [fended. In common justice to our union a little explanation is necessary. During Show time last year the time of our officers was fully taken up with patriotic and other matters and we made no application for the rest tent. The secretary of the A. and P. Association informed the deputation that he rang up the President telling her that the tent was erected. The President states she did not receive the message and knew nothing of the matter until the interview occurred. Asked whether the Association would not provide the tent with seats for the benefit of the women and children avlio visited the Show, he replied "No" most emphatically, the erection of the tent being quite enough expense. To many of the mothers who attend the Show with the little ones, this is the one big outing of the year. Should it he showery or, as we much prefer, a scorching hot day, it. is unreasonable to ask that a lititie comfort'be provided out Association's funds, for tlie Rest Tent is a deckled inducement to affoiul ' tho : Show where' mothers are concerned. Our Trea-'

surer paid out lis 9d for cartage of seats, the last time we took charge of the Tent, and we are responsible for any damage done to the seats, which the iMethodist Chun.'h Trustees have so kindly lent for this purpose. We reap no benefit", and when n v e asked for the privilege of selling a cup of tea and distributing literature wo were refused, hut when the crush became too great for the tea booths we were permitted to sod 'tea and'cakes, but'riot a penny of the .inoney taken was returned for the bcnelit of our Union. The courtesy wo received from the Soldiers Day Committee last Easter, stands out in Striking contrast. They erected the' tent, provided, s'eat.s,. and asked our officers to kindly .ta^Cf. charge, doing all they could l Ho>'KHre ; ' !; t>rouhle, and .generously providing va ; ijthe v last attendant!home.!' .j ',,■■

/ ' The members^jn^seVVWeir" strong disapproval of allowing. drink to be sold on -'the grounds, eontending that it added in no way to the best interests of the gathering and only gave sore heads and sorer hearts to many who would otherwise have found it a day of perfect enjoyment. The following officers were elected i —President, , Mrs Reove; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames T. White, Pridgman, and. M. Phillips; secretary, Mrs McAllister; assistant secretary, Mrs McMillan;-treasurer, Mrs. Birdsall.

MASSEY-WARD VISIT TO FRANCE LONG WAR IN SIGHT. Press Association—Copyright, Austra. lian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, Ncvember 5. Mr Massoy and Sir Joseph Ward have returned .to London. Mr Massey, in a' statement to the Australian Press Association, remarked:—We spent a full week in France, looking into conditions as they exist afi the front, more particularly with regard to New Zealand troops. The Now Zealanders are in good heart, ami cheerfully confident, but the weather and the approach of winter make it almost impossible to continue operations on a large scale at present. Naturally there is a great deal of discomfort, but everything is being i\itne to render the winter quarters as comfortable as possible. During our visit, we had an opportunity of conferring with General Sir Douglas Haig and other members of the General Staff. Whilst matters

are going very well, no one win

opinion is worth having, even sn Tests the possibility of the war en irig for a considerable time".