CANTERBURY.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 293, 18 November 1919, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

The Canterbury Provincial Convention was held in Lyttelton on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 28th and 2Qth. Mrs Lill presided in the absence of the President, Mrs T. E. Taylor. The Executive met in St. John’s Presbyterian Church Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Twenty delegates answered the roll call, and a programme of work was arranged for the following day. In the evening a public, meeting was held in the Excelsior Hall, when the Kev. Frost introduced Mrs Wheeler, of California, whose portrait appeared on the front page of the October “V.hitc Riblion.” .Mrs Wheeler gave a recitation and a monologue, and then followed with a splendid address on the American and New Zealand Hags, telling the story of the Prohibition movement in the Cnited States of America. After January tst, 1020, there will be 110,000,000 people in the States living under Prohibition. To keep the drink traffic meant the destruction of mo,ooo young men and 60,000 girls every year. The brewers driven out of the States were building large breweries in other places, and sending their goods to other parts of the world. Miss Thorpe, of Lyttelton, sang a solo, and Mr Lester, the Mayor, extended a hearty welcome to the Cnion delegates. On Wednesday Convention met at Q. 30 a. 111., when devotional exercises were conducted by Mrs W. J. Williams, of Sumner. It was then arranged to present Mrs Wheeler with a New Zealand flag as a souvenir of her visit to Canterbury. Votes of sympathy were passed to several absent members. En. couraging reports were then read from Tinwald, Ashburton. Christchurch, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Winchmore, Rakaia, New Brighton, Lyttelton, and Oxford Cnions.

An excellent address was delivered bv Miss McCorkindale, Organising Secretary of the “Strength of Empire League,” of Queensland, who has come to help in the coming campaign.

She emphasised the need of scientific temperance instruction in State Schools, stating that Prohibition was maintained in America through the right training of the rising generation. The delegates were entertained at luncheon by the Lyttelton Cnion, and the afternoon session opened at 2.30 p.m. Mrs W. T. Todd, of Lyttelton, led the devotional exercises, after which Miss Henderson moved the following resolutions, which were passed, to be forwarded to Parliament: — (1) “The Canterbury Provincial Convention of the Women’s Christian temperance Cnion learns with plea--11 re that it is the intention of Govertiment to provide this session for an uurease in widows’ pensions.”

12) This Convention desires to record its gratification at the passing of the Women’s Parliamentary Rights Extension Bill, whereby women have been mad * eligible for election to the House of Representatives.” (3) “This Convention resolves to

make an earnest endeavour to secure the billowing reforms in the administiation of the same in regard to cases where women and children are concerned: —fil The api>ointment of women Justices of the Peace; (2) the ap|K>intnient of women on juries; (3) the employment of women police.” (4) This Convention strongly feels that the law relating to the guardianship of children should bo amended in the direction of giving the mother equal rights of guardianship with the father.”

(5) “That this Convention is of the opinion that the present system of altering the boundaries of electorates after taking the census is opposed to the community of interests, which is the mainspring of an intelligent participation in public affairs." (6) “That this Convention urges that I he Government should adopt a ver\ liberal policy in regard to th*' establishment of Maternity Hospitals, and considers that in this matter very special consideration should be given to the claims of mothers in country districts, and that in their interest a maternity hospital should be estab-

lished in every centre of population.” A paper, entitled “The Woman of Yesterday, To-day, and To-morrow,” written by Mrs Garrett, of Invercargill, was read by Mrs Lill. An invitation to hold the next Convention at New Brighton was gratefully accepted.

The election ol officers resulted in .Mrs 1. E. Taylor being elected President, and Mrs Kippenberger Secretary and Treasurer. Votes of thanks were passed to the members 01 the Lyttelton Cnion and the hostesses for their kind hospitality, and the singing of the Temperance Doxology and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought to a close a very happy and profitable Convention.