W.C.T.U.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 28 March 1911, Page 7

W.C.T.U.

I ANNUAL CONVENTION. THE MORNING SESSION. The morning session opened with dei votionnl exercises and hymns. The report of "Y" work was read by Mrs. Moody (Bluff). Encouraging reports of work in this department come from many districts, the young people working for hospitals, sailors' rests, and other charitable institutions. Timaru and Christc'hurch take most interest in this department. The report on unfennented wine by Mrs Gaskin, of Greymouth, was read. A committee was formed to work this department more fully. I Mrs. Lovell-Smith read the report on; hygiene. This important branch of the work was creating much interest in I several of the unions. Many addresses on the subject of hygiene had been given. Dr Florence Keller had joined j the ranks at l'onsonby, and gave a lecture on the action of "Alcohol on the Human System." Literature and pamphlets had also been distributed on the subject. Owing to the work of members in Palmerston 'North and! Wanganui, schools had been enlarged.! thus improving the health and comfort! of the children. The report of work among seamen! was read by Mrs Oldham. Where! this work was carried on it proved most I successful, and many unions provided: "rests" for the sailors at different' ports. At these "rests" the men could read, rest, and write letters. Comfort bags were, presented to the men when : they left on their boats. Gospel ser-l vices, concerts and socials were given I very frequently, and proved very help- ■ ful to the men. These "rests" we're : visited by numbers of sailors during the . year, Timaru reporting 1501 visits. • ,The report of prison reform was read ' by Mrs. Cole. The Department was . not worked very fully, but it was pro- ■ posed in the report that all unions , strengthen the hands of Dr Findlay j in carrying out his proposals, brought . before the house' by the Attorney- : . General during the session, as if these i proposals were carried New Zealand would in the near future be running ! along the most approved lines laid down J by modern science and humanity. It i was also urged that official visitors be , appointed to visit prisons regularly, i ' Members of the New Plymouth Union \ visited the prison every week. Mrs Blair, of Dunedin, read the press report. Many of the unions used the press as an agent for educating the public as to the progress of the work, and also drawing attention to anything that was adverse to temperance sentiments, and sent letters of an educational value . There was always a class of people in every community that' needed educating on a great many ques- ; i tions pertaining to temperance and I social reform. j r The report on the "Thrift" depart- 1 ment closed the morning session. j AFTERNOON SESSION. I s The report 01 wie Savings Bank Department was read by Mrs. E. S. Dear- J live (Napier). The department gives an opportunity of aiding the children to „ husband the pennies and small amounts t as ah offset to the habit of self-indul- , gence and careless expenditure, which all tends to foster the drink, drug, and to- C bacco habits. Thrift tends to the con- " version of money into the best channels. ? Such instruction, it was held, should be given in the schools. Several unions reported work done in this direction. 1' Purity Department.—Mrs. Webb (Or- t mondville) reported that good work had » been done in this department. Litera- P ture had been sent and distributed in P various unions, also to many individual t members. I b Anti Narcotic—Mrs. Siddels (Wanga- s nui) reported that good work had been s done in this very useful department, n Literature had been distributed show- h ing the evils of cigarette smoking, h alcoholic drinking, opium, etc. d Papers were written and discussed by f< the various unions. , it Bible in Schools Department—Miss w Dewar (Auckland) said that at present g there was an earnest desire to intro- « duee the New South • Wales system, p which had met with favor in a number a of churches in the Dominion. This tl system had been in vogue in New South v> Wales since 18G0, in Tasmanian since c: 1808, and in West Australia since 1803. d: It provides for (1) selected Bible lessons n: being given by the State school teachers cl without sectarian teaching; (2) minis* n: ters of religion or their accredited sub- Institutes visiting, the schools durng school it hours; (3) a conscience clause providing w that no child shall receive religious tl teaching either from the State school o. teachers or from the ministers of re- p ligion against the parents' wish. o: Scientific Temperance Heport.—Miss ci Maunder (Ilawcra) said the Education ti Department had issued instructions to el its teachers to make this a class sub- w ject in connection with hygiene. The e department had also prepared large c wall sheets on the dangers of the use of h alcohol to be hung in the schoolrooms.' v There were three different sheets, viz., u junior, intermediate and senior. ! n Temperance Sunday.—Mrs. Janscn ii (Petonc) reported on the work done a by many unions by giving temperance v lessons on one Sunday in the year. Good I Templars and other temperance so- e cieties had taken part in this depart- j c ment. . j Flower Mission Department.—Miss M.' 1 L. Cole (Christchurch) reported that f flowers, sprays, and Scripture text cards' I had been distributed in factories, laun- 1 dries, etc., also purity literature, all of 1 which was much appreciated. The 1 Ngaerc, Union also reported that during ] the last winter four families had been i provided with clothing and others with < firewood, vegetables, etc; also that par- , eels of clothing had been sent to Vic- i toria Home (Tnvcrcargill) for the babies. ■ Jubilee homes had been visited, and ' singing, reading and prayer meetings conducted. I Greetings were received from Hawera, Dcvonpnrt, and Blenheim. A pleasant, funci ion took j>lace during the afternoon, when six new members were initiated. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT. Following is the report of the corresponding secretary for 11)11: This year has been a year of steady progress. Last year we. numbered 81 branches: this year we have S8 branches with a membership of 2(S(!S. Last year we bad 43S bullies on our cradle roll; this your our babies number L'i-Ki. Invercargill secured a Plunket nurse to lecture to mothers of cradle-roll babies. Many of our unions have bands of hope; many others assist societies already organised. Bluff has a Band of Hope numbering IS!) members. Here the children held an American evening, and raised the sum of £lO, which was spent on a piano for our new hall there. Manv unions have succeeded in gelling leni-; perance wall sheets hung in the local schools, and temperance is a compulsory subject in our new syllabus. The Wim-hniore prc-ident .'fives a iimnUihaddress lo school children on the evil's in' drinkiu;'. smoking and gambling. We

I 'have (hrce Young Women's Vm< which are actively at work. Chri i church branch has made clothing for i children's ward at the hospital. Di edin Y's assisted at the Y.M.C.A. gi den party, gave an entertainment , the Sailors' Rest, had charge of t rooms at liie ijiiie'h lair, and assist* at the sinking at Henry Pott's missio '■' Tiniaru Y's have taken charge of t! Band of Hope, and given a concert , )' the Miori pa. They have a nice rooi " where the girls can go to read, writ B and sew. Great interest has bc< e taken in our Maori work. Xapier ai I Cisborne 'have ketvt well in touch wil I their native auxiliaries. The work i I I providing refreshments at A. and '. i shows has been continued this yea ' j Christfhurch Union had three siren •I ous days. Blen'heim. Nelson and Aue 3 1 land had refreshment booths. Palmer I ton Xorth was to the fore at the sho '| with a refreshment booth, also rest an ! cloak rooms. Wanganui had a rei I * tent for Hie first "time. Ashburtc ! also had a rest tent, with two cots f( ' babies. This year ladies were for tl I I first time eligible for seats on Hospits • and Charitable Aid Boards, and, a usual, White Ribbon women led th way. Nelson elected two ladies to.th Hospital and Charitable Aid Boarc and Timaru one. The Christehurci ; Prison Reform superintendent was als 'elected a member of the Hospital an i Charitable Aid Board, and lately move< j a resolution re the treatment of dc ; generates. Our unions have been build j ing and improving properties. Blul has built a hall and reading room : Christchurch lias erected a pavilion a the local show grounds, also pantry kitchen, etc. Several unions havi sailors' rests. Xapier is also raisim funds to build a girls' room. c The meeting to be held in Whitelei Hall on. Tuesday at 7.30 is for mem tiers of temperance associations, tern perance workers and sympathisers, only Miss Powell, an experienced campaigner will give an address entitled "Hints foi tlie coming campaign." Musical items will be-given during the evening. A collection will be taken up. ! On Sunday morning quite in an in formal -way, nearly the whole of th< members of the convention, with theii hostesses, attended the beautiful churcr of St. Mary's. The service was im prcasive and helpful, the text from which the Rev. Kempthorne preached being "Bear ye one another's burden and so fulfil the law of Christ." Everj attention was shown to the visitors and this was much appreciated.