WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 69, 11 August 1914, Page 2

WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

PROVINCIAL CONVENTION. (Contributed.) From all points of view tlhe provincial convention held. a|t Manaia on August 5 was one of the strongest ever held in Taranaki. About fifty delegates and visitors assembled in the Town Hall from Wanganui, Wanganui East, HaMena, Otakeho, Manaia, Nonnanby, Ngaere, Stratford and New Plymouth. The National Anthem w>ig sung before the usual religious serv,ices were commenced. Mrs Patterson., president of -tttie iMauaia Union;, welcomed the visitors. Mrs Allan: Douglas, president of the New Plymouth District Union, nresided for the day. Mrs Xavier Jones (Ngaere), Miss Maunder (Ilawera), Mrs Mowlem, ir. conjunction with Miss Neilsc.ii, were respectively elected recording secretary, letter writer, and Courteous Committee. Reporters .to the various papers wore also elected. Greeting;; in scripture were received ircwni the Dominion president (Mi's Don) and from Mrs Gilling (Matapu). During the day kindly words of greeting and appreciative of women's work were given by the Rev. Howes, Presbyterian Church, and Mr Hunt (Manaia).' Votes of sympathy were passed to Mr Carson and some of our members in their ill- | ness, and to tlhe friends of those who had passed to >the Great Beyond during the year. The morning session passed only too quickly in receiving and discusing the report of the Taranaki provincial unions. Each one is working on its own lines with more or less zeal. All are working for the .main issues, which are total abstinence for tlhe individual and total prohibition for nation. We regret (to notice that the work of the Little Whine Ribboners, or cradleroll, as it is called, is not taken up more zealously as a department of work by some of our unions, for we believe it to be one of our best. The practical i work of providing Test tents, refresh- i ment booths, and rest rooms, was well reported. The securing of new members, both working and has been rather neglected by some of the unions. Others, however, have more than made up the lack. 'Noou-tide prayer was conduced by Mrs Blamires, after which the receiving of reports wag continued ur.til 12.45. At Uhis hour a bright and happy party trooped into Mie luncheon hall, where was spread a repast that delighted the eye and satisfied the palaite. The afternoon session ivas again crammed full of educational master helpful to- the work of the present campaign. Mrs Duxfield, superintendent of tlhe Loyal Temperance Legion, Wanganui Last, gave a splendid paper on this particular work and how to con-, duct it. Mrs Mowlem, New Zealand organiser, kept the convention in rapt attention as she pointed out wdiat an ordinary woman in her home can do in the next six monirihs to help along the (temperance sentiment. Mrs L iu;;!as laid stress on the absojiute necessity for W.C.T.U. members to interest themselves in gelttting our sympathisers to tlhe poll, as it had been publicly Stated that there was a growjng tendency, in women especially, to neglect this sacred duty. A paper of an unusually high tone on womanly courage was prepared and read by Mrs. X. Jones. It was particularly valuable at this convention, as it unconsciously emphasised all the rest of the day's work. (several resolutions to improve the working of tlhe unions were passed, &Ibo the following: "That this convention, pledge itself not to support any candidate for Parliament who is unwilling jo vote for a reduction of the threefifths majority." A satisfactory mock-ballot was held and made a break in the n;ore solid duties of the afternoon. The question-box furnished fresh 'topics for discussion. The invitation from New Plymouth for the Provincial Convention to meet there in 1915 was accepted. Votes of .thanks closed the business sessions. At night a large crowd, presided, over i by Mr Bridge, listened to a 'high-class musical programme rendered bv the Hawera quartette party, the Manaia orchestra, and the children's choir. Addresses nere given bv Mr. Kendrick and the Rev. Butler, of the Kin? Countrv.