W.C.T.U.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1917, Page 6

W.C.T.U.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. The annual Dominion Convention of tie Women's Christian Temperance Union recently held in Auckland was tendered a reception to welcome the visitors. Over 100 delegates were present, and these, with their local friends and sympathisers, practically filled the Baptist Tabernacle. _ Mrs. Cook, president of the Auckland Union, presided, and extended a hearty welcome to the delegates on behalf of tlio Auckland Union. The DeputyMayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, in extending a welcome on behalf of the citizens of Auckland, referred to the valuable work of the Union in the city. The Mayoress, Mrs. J l . H. Gunson, stated that she welcomed the delegates on behalf of the womanhood of the eity, whose sympathies were wiMi the -Union in the work in which it was engaged. Amongst other speakers were Rev. P. S. Smallfield (president of the New Zealand Alliance), Rev. A. Miller (representing the Auckland Ministers' Associationj and on bshnlf of the National Committee of the Y.M.C.A. Mr. I'. J. Kenny, secretary of the Auckland Y..u.C.A., conveyed to the convention its thanks for services to the Y.M.C.A. during the past year by raising over £2OOO to assist the association in carrying on its work among soldfers at tho front. These addresses of welcome were replied to by Mrs. Don, Dominion president of the Union. In responding on behalf of the delegates, Mrs. Don pointed out that the work of tho AV.C.T.U. in its early stages had been originally formed to combat the liquor traffic. It had been found, however, that ?o many social evils sprang from the traffic that the sphere,of the Union hud been widened to a great extent. The Convention was called to order by tho president, Mrs. Don, and was opened with the Crusade hymn, ,: £iv3 to the' Winds Thyt Fears" and tho reading of the Crusade psalm. The roil call showed that the various branches jf the Union were well represented. Committees of courtesies and resolutions, convention letter writer, and press reporter were then appointed. Reports from tho Dominion secretary and treasurer were received, the balance sheet showing that the year had elbsed with a credit balance of £BO 8s 7d, number of unions BS, and the total membership 3039 09 against 82 unions anc 3333 members in 1015.

Resolutions of sympathy with those members who had lost relatives at the war during the year were passed. The president's address dealt with many matters of interest connected w. the Union. Many of the workers, said Mrs. Don, had turned from their usual activities and devotc-d their energies to patriotic work. Though the year had been one of great sadness, it recorded many great victories in the cause of "temperance, to which Great Britain was giving more time and thought than ever before. Over two million signatures were obtained in less than six weeks to the memorial presented to Parliament. last August, praying for the prohibition of the linnor traffic dnring the war. Other petitions had also been presented, making a total of 2,700',(wd men and women of Great Britain who desired the curtailment of tho sale of liquor. Reference was made to' the progress made in tho temperance cause in Canada, Russia, France; the United States and Australia. New Zealand, however, while doing nobly in sending m large a proportion of her sons.to the war, was doing shamefully in the matte.' of domestic reform. Of all the. countries quoted, she had done tho least. Our annual expenditure on intoxicating liquors, taking war-time figures, exceeded fpur millions sterling, equal to the up-keep of the Dominion's Expeditionary Force. Two petitions had already been presented to Parliament, which had been refused. A third was being prepared by the New Zealand Alliance for presentation next session. In addition tho convention felt that even something more ought to be done, and have decided to start forward in a grand effort to secure National prohibition as a war measure for the period of the war and klemoMisation. A most interesting address closed with reference to the work of women during the war, the added opportunities and re" sponsibilities which fell to their lot. "My message to you," she said, "is 'little is much if God is ill it.'" When speaking at the Convention on the financial aspect of the W.C.T.U., Mrs. Lee Cowie stated that the Union had raised a fund of £2310 and the expenses only came to £8 4s 4d. The speaker inquired if any other organisation in Now Zealand could beat that for management.

The president made a strong plea in favor of the appointment iof women police. "It is recognised on all hands," she said, "that juvftnile depravity is on the increase, and it is patent to all that tho decay of home life is at the root of the evil." The result of this slackening of restraint, said Mrs. Don, had been the growth of a demand for the institution of a woman police force, to supervise and safe guard the life and honor of these young people.. Many reports were rend and adopted in connection with work taken up by the Union, i such as Sabbath observance, narcotics, scientific temperance instruction, prison and reform work, legal and Parliamentary, anti-gambling, purity and moral education. Among seamen good work had been done at our restrooms. The men had taken full advantage of the facilities for letter writing, reading, and games, several unions making and sending comfort-bag?, also parcels and donations for the mine-sweep-ers. All these reports showed much activity being displayed by the unions. Two or three meetings were held in the evening. These were public meetings and all were largely attended, one being an intercessory service for our Empire and the boys at the front. Another of these, evening niqetingi was devoted to speeches in connection with the appointment of women police or patrols. Mrs. Lee Cowie moved. "That this meeting urges the. Government to yield without further delay to the wide spread demands for the appointment of women police." The seconder said that since she left New Zealand some fourteen years ago to settle in Edinburgh she had been very interested in the work. Councillor Miss Melville also Spoke in favor of the resolution and mentioned that in a recent paper she had receive? from England it- was stated that the Minister of Munitions had some hundreds of women to .police the factories where so many women were working under new conditions. It was stated that when an addres ; .had been presented to Mr. Herd man or this subject, he had asked for fact' 'e° file. Mr. Herdman had been gup -1 2 Tiff.; information and had put Hjoi .e, j Ytffr Write--mii f -i - *-i 1"• -

files, and since Mien it SMined lie com!! not get it off the flip. Some pressure should be brought to bear 011 the hon. gentleman to assist him in this matter. The right- of women to sit in Parliament was brought forward by lui;s Melville, who moved "That, whereas women had during the present war proved their capacity to fill evc-rv position to which they had been appointed, ami as the right to elect logically carries with it the right to be f'ecieJ, this meeting urges the Government to take, without delay, steps to remove the obstables in the way cf women entering Parliament, and also serving as magistrate', jurors, and justice* of the prcu-c." In an able speech Miss .Melville spoke 0: the need; it remained for the woipen to organise, and place a definite request before the House. Both resolutions were carried unanimously. Convention Sunday was observed by delegates attending the services at the Baptist Tabernacle., the Eev. It. 11. Kempton being the preacher. At the evening service the convention annual sermon was preached the subject being "The Nation's Hurt; Why if, it not Healed?'' At the last session the. election of Dominion oflicors took place, and with various votes oF thanks to all who had helped in making it one of the best conventions held, the convention closed with the Benediction. '