1917 CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 259, 18 January 1917, Page 7

1917 CONVENTION.

IMPORTANT NOTICE.

Dear Sisters, — The next Annual Convention "ill open at Auckland on Wednesday, March 21st. District Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurers, New Zealand Superintendents of Departments, Organisers, in addition to the New Zealand officers, have, ex officio, a seat in the Convention. District Presidents have also a seat on the Execulive during Convention, and in the absence of the President from Convention, the District Secretary or Treasurer may take her place. 1 he Executive is to meet on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., and it is desirable that every District Union should be represented. Every Branch may send to Convention one delegate for every 100 or fraction of 100 members, but no delegate can represent more than one Branch. Any Union unable to send a delegate may have a proxy appointed, but for this it is necessary to send me word and to enclose sealed directions as to voting for N.Z. officers, and also as to voting on the notices of motion. Of the latte r there are five, and as they deal with matters of some importance, Unions should make a point of discussing them, if they have not already done so, at their February or March meeting, in order that delegates may be better able to represent the views of their Union. They are as follow: — (1) By Mrs Crabb: “That any Union finding itself unable to send one of its ow n members as delegate to Convention, shall have the power to choose as its representative any member of the W.C.T.U. in its own district. Such representative shall be instructed by the aforesaid Union as to voting for Dominion officers and any amendment to the Constitution. ” It will be remembered that this was moved (in the main) by Mis Crabb (for Mrs Scanlon) at the Wanganui Convention, but it was lost, because there was a second part which, if carried, might, as Mrs Pcryman pointed out, create an impossible position for the entertaining Union. The President ruled that the motion must lie accepted or rejected in its entirety, and it was accordingly lost. Unions now have another opportunity of expressing their wish as to the present

method of providing representation by means of proxies. (2) By Miss Maunder: “That Article 4 of the Constitution be amended by the insertion after the words ‘of the “White Ribbpn” ’ of tlx- words ‘and Superintendents of Departments shall have a seat in the Executive meetings held during the sitting of Convention.' ” (3) By Mrs Moulder: “That Article VI. of the Constitution be amended by omitting the words ‘the N.Z. Superintendents of Departments’ after the words ‘shall nominate,’ and adding after the words ‘officers of Executive’ the words ‘and Superintendents of Departments,’ and in Clause 2 by adding after the words ‘officers of thr Executive’ the words ‘and Superintendents of Departments.’ ” The purpose of this motion is to enable any Union to nominate Superintendents of Departments, just as it can now nominate the Dominion officers, instead of the Superintendents being nominated, as now. by the Executive. Failing nomination by a Union, the Executive would exercise, as now. its power of nominating. (4) By Mrs Evans: “That the N.Z. Vice-President’s travelling expenses to Convention be paid by the National Treasury.’’ (5) By Mrs Evans: “That the* whole or part of the Dominion Superintendents’ travelling expenses to Convention he paid by the National Treasury.’’

In this connection Unions are reminded that at last Convention a small Sub-Committee was set up to revise the titles and scope of the various Departments of our Dominion W .C.T.U. ; and the report of this SubCommittee will be dealt with befor this notice of motion is taken. I would also draw attention to the fact that the motion proposes “the whole or part” of the travelling expenses be paid; that is to say, Convention is asked to affirm or otherwise the desirability of such payment o fexpenses, without committing itself unreservedly to a large expenditure, should the motion be carried. I would again urge all Unions to discuss these matters, and make sure of sending instructions for voting if they are unable to send delegates and desire proxies appointed. East Convention there were several < a-ses of Unions asking for proxies to be appointed, yet failing to send sealed

instructions as requested, or perhaps telegraphing them at the last moment. Let all Secretaries of Unions take note of this, and act in

good time. Still more important is it that each Union should send through its Secretary or otherwise the name and status of its delegate-—or delegates— to me, and also to the Secretary of the Auckland District Union. All that is needed is two post-cards, with name of L T nion and name and status of delegate (President, Secretary, Delegate, etc.), one addressed to Miss N. Dewar, Auckland, and one to me, address given below. Attention to this point will lighten the labours of our Auckland sister, and will prevent disappointment and delay. Let these cards be sent, if possible, immediately after the appointment of th«* delegate. All members of Convention must present their credentials either at the reception or at the first session. With best wishes to each Union for a successful New Year’s work, —I am, yours in the work, KATE M. EVANS, Dominion Recording Secretary. Address: C o Mrs llemus, Moturakau, Pcnsonbv Road, Auckland. January qth, 1917.