REPORT OF DOMINION ORGANISER.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 250, 18 April 1916, Page 13

REPORT OF DOMINION ORGANISER.

Immediately after the last Convention I returned to Otago to finish the work in the South, revisiting the newly organised branches at Sawyer’s Bay and South Invercargill, and further conserving the work, as well as visiting a few of the older Unions. In April I pas>ed on into Canterbury, visiting and holding meetings in Timaru, Ashburton, \\ inchmore, Christchur; h. New Brighton, and the Kaiapoi district. A considerable amount of time was spent 1n visiting in Tinwald and Rakaia, branches being organised in both places. Sickness and patriot c functions prevented further pioneer work in Canterbury. In July the North Island was reached, several home meetings being addressed in Wellington and suburbs, the results being good considering the many other interests occupying the minds of women in war-time. Lower Hutt Union had been for some time in very low water, in spite of the efforts of the District Union. This was nursed for three months, a few days being spent in working up each meeting, with increasingly promising results. An invitation having been received to visit Greytown (\Yairarapa), I spent about a fortnight in calling upon women likely to be interested, and organised a strong branch, returning several times to attend the monthly meeting until it got on its feet. Masterton was also visited twice, and Patea being in a state of collapse, early in October I went out of my way to try and save it, several new members being received and plans laid for inaugurating work among the children. For several months previously October had been promised to Gisborne..

Upon arrival, I found the District Union rather discouraged and almost bankrupt. However, things soon began to improve, the attendance at the meetings being very good, and the sum of nearly being donated in one meeting to cover organising expenses in connection with Tokomaru Bay. Upon arrival at that extremely picturesque locality, like St. Paul, I was “let down in a basket” on to the de< k of the tender, and deposited on the wharf in a slashing shower of rain. Good weather followed, however. I had heard from several quarters that the field was very unpromising, though the need was very great. Somewhat to my surprise, therefore, my mission met with a decidedly warm welcome from the womanhood, and a good Union was organised, which, however, labours under a geographical disadvantage, owing to the fact that the population is located at the extreme ends of the Bay. Sundry other schemes for work in Gisborne district were found impracticable. Hastings had been for some time sending urgent requests for organising work, so thither I next repaired, and worked in semi-tropical heat for about ten days, at the end of which time we had a fine, social gathering. Short visits to Masterton and Greytown concluded the year’s work. After the holidays those two Unions were each given one meeting on the way to Pahiatua. This branch is bravely holding the fort in face of many difficulties. A glance at the balance-sheet will show how nobly they have met all their obligations. Feilding w.*.s my last sphere of work, and here the Union seconded my efforts in every possible way, with the natural result that they benefited considerably. During the year I have travelled 5475 miles by public conveyances on land or sea. 182 new members have been secured, but only 24 subscribers to the paper, while the sales of purity literature are very much below the average. There is little sale for books or papers while so many war funds are clamouring for contributions. Only four new branches have been organised during the year, and two of them I was obliged to leave almost immediately, viz., Tokomaru Bay and Kakaia. I'he latter is, of course, well within reach of the District Union, but Tokomaru Bay is so isolated that it has, practically, to depend upon itself, (ireytown I have been able to nurse thoroughly, the repeated visits involving only short railway journeys. To attempt to form new branches while the war is monopolising attention as at present, is to court failure unless in exceptional cases, where a leader is waiting, all ready-made. But there is scop.* for the energies of several organisers, as well as the District Unions, in conserving the work where the White R bbon nag has already been raised. Our Dominion President has done a vast amount of work in that way in her own neighbourhood, while Wellington District and Palmerston North are worthy of all praise for the way in wh. t h they have visited and helped their auxiliar-

ies. It is not of much use for the Organiser to work up new branches which are then left to live or die —frequently the latter. And in this connection I want to say that those Unions get the benefit from the visit of the Organiser, who will make a special effort to work with her. She may visit around, calling upon sixty or eighty persons in a week, doing her best to explain and interest them in the White Ribbon work, but her efforts have much more effect if backed up by personal invitations by the memLers. Then many officers do not understand how long it takes, to make an impression upon a locality. 1 find the best work is done where 1 am asked to “stay as long as 1 can,” and it is much better to give a month to one struggling Union than to rush around to five or six during the same period. May I here express my hearty thanks to the many friends who have so kindly entertained me during the past year, some of them nursing me for a day or two when necessary. One of the compensations of this homeless life is the many real friendships that are formed —friendships not bounded by lime. I often wish I could make some little return for all this kind hospitality. One thing I can do —remember them in my prayers, and crave God’s richest blessings upon them and theirs. Trusting that our work in the coming year may be greatly blessed. Yours in the Master’s service, M. S. POWELL, Dominion Organiser.

POUTO. Ka tu te hui ate roopu wahine 0 l’outo Maehe 13th, Masefield Kena 1 karakia. Perehitini kua puare te whare kia ora e te roopu. Kei te whakamihi ahau kite roopu ite mea katahi ano ka tu tatatou roopu ite whewhe onga mcma ote roopu i enei marama kataha nei. Kati taku take mote kohi tau tea whaka haerea tautoko tia ana kia ora. Ema. Kia orate roopu. Taku take mote take ate Perehitini mote kohi tau me nuku tenei take mote tahi wa kia ora Whiwhiu: Kia orate roopu me whakahaere te kchi tau nga mea whai moni me kohi kia ora. Te 0: taku take he whaka kaha itatatou roopu kia u kia kaha tautoko hoki i te kohi tau. Ka kohi ahau mote kohi tau 2s 6d, kia ora Perehitini, Ka kohi mana kotaku kotira Perehitini 2s 6d, Te Ata 2s 6d, Pomi Kohi tau 2s 6d, moni awhina 6d, Ngaro Manukau Honore mema keite te tautoko itakoutou roopu kia kaha kia u. Kia maia taku moni awhina 2s ul, kia ora koutou. Maro Kewa taku moni, kohitau 2s 6d. Hori Manukau Honore mema moni awhina 2s. Ronu me whaka hoki atu te peeke kia koutou pooti tia ana te peeke hou ko matekino. Monga moni k.'toa keite ringa o te Peeks 17s 7d, no konci ka hiki te mitini. Ka invitia e Masefield Kena no konei ka puta nga mihi anga mema ote roopu kinga mema ote roopu. Kua ngaro kua mate e nga tuanine aroha i roto e ate karaiti tena koutou i raro itenei

karanga tanga roopu koutou kite wahi kotahi kite wahi kei reira nei to tatou kai whakaora ate karaiti kia kaha te inoi kia tatou tamariki ite pakanganui e whawhai mai nei itera pito oto tatau ao otira kotahi tonu te wahi hei okioki ariki ote karaiti. E nga tuahine kia kaha te turaki kite hoa riri nei ite waipiro e patu nei i nga iwi maha ote ao kia kaha te tuaki kia kaha te whawhai kitenei kia kino kite waipiro. God bless us all.