CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 256, 18 October 1916, Page 8

CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.

Met at New Brighton on September Oth and 7th. A preliminary Executive meeting on Tuesday arranged the business. A reception was held, presided over by the Mayor, on Tuesday evening. Oil Wednesday morning Mrs Trott led devotional proceedings. A letter of sympathy to br sent to the relatives of the late Mrs Oldham. Reported that 19 women were on the School Committees in Canterbury. Mrs Frost read .1 paper on “First Impressions of a No-License District. ’ Miss Roberts spoke on recent legislation. The following officers were elected-Pres., Mrs Watson; Sec., Mrs Lill. Decided to hold next Convention at Ashburton. The following resolutions were passed:— “That this Convention desires to protest against the refusal of Parliament to give effect to the protest" made by women's societies throughout New Zealand against giving the (iovernor-in-Coum il power to make regulations for the treatment of venereal diseases, and preventing prostitution. The Convention is of opinion that in a matter of such importance the measures to be taken should have been stated in an Act of Parliament. u “That, as the nature of the films exhibited by the picture shows is of the utmost importance to mothers, this Convention urges that sonic women should be appointed on the Appeal Board that is being set up in connection with the censorship of picture films/’ “That in this time of world-wide stress and sorrow, when all belligerent nations, including most parts of the British Knipire, are imposing the most stringent restrictions upon the liquor traffic, with a view to preventing waste and maintaining national efficiency, this Convention desires to express its indignation that the New Zealand Parliament has refused the request of all sections of the community that legislation be framed providing for 0 o’( lex k closing of the liquor bars.” “That in a Bill for the protection of the youth of both sexes this Convention of the W.C.T.U Canterbury Unions reiterates the demand for the appointment of women police. ’ “That in view of the representations made at various times in respect to the increase of criminal and indecent

assaults, and the consequent necessity for more drastic punishment of offenders, this Convention deplores the apathy of Parliament in regard to such matters, and recommends the New Zealand Executive to urge the matter upon the attention of all branches of the W.C.T.C., in order that action may be taken when Parliament meets next year." “That this Convention records its intense satisfaction over the fact that Newfoundland has carried total prohibition of the liquor traffic, being the first Sovereign State in the British Empire to do so. While congratulating Newfoundland, it deeply regrets that the action of our legislators, in imposing upon New Zealand the unjust handicap of the three-fifths majority, which has deprived New Zealand of the honour of lending the Knipire in such a magnificent reform." “We also congratulate those three great provinces of Canada which have* during the past year carried prohib’tion of the liquor traffic. W'e deeply appreciate their patriotic devotion to the* best interests of their country.”