W.C.T.U.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 45, 18 March 1909, Page 2

W.C.T.U.

AN N UAL CON VKXTI ON. By Telegrtapii.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. ' The annual convention of ti*e Women's Christian Temperance Union commences its business sittings here tomorrow. The delegates were welcomed by members <»i* Lilt' Wellington brancn to-day. .Mrs. Jjoxhall. president "f the Wellington branch, who presided, welcomed the visiting delegates, and spoke „of the good work the union was doing. I She road extracts from letters thanking the union for its successful ell'orts in reclaiming voting men and women, ilon. T. 'W. l'lislop, Mayor of Wei

lington, in the absence of .Mrs. ] Jislop through illness, addressed the gathering, and said nothing could lie higher or nobler than the union's work in the reclamation of waifs and strays who had fallen by the way. Hev. l'\ W. Isitt, on behalf of the Temperance Alliance, expressed the certainty that the work of the convention would be ell'cetively carried out and the object they all had in view would be accomplished in tie course of a very few years. The Rev. W. .). Williams (pvesiden of the Council of Churches) said th

W.C.T.U. was a. powerful fighting arm in the troops of progress. The exertions of the devoted women in the cause of temperance were a great aid to the cause of religion. Messrs A. At. Atkinson and K. A. Wright. M.P.. al„o spoke in support of the work of the union. Mrs. Cole, of Christehurch (president of the Xew Zealand Union), in returning thanks, congratulated the temperance partv upon the success which had attended its etVorU at the last local option .poll. Delegates had almost hoped to see the bars already closed in Wellington, but they were confident this was only a matter of time. r ihe union had tried long enough to get rid of barmaids. Now they were endeavoring to l «'ct rid of the bars themselves.