WELLINGTON.

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

WELLINGTON.

The Sixth Annual Wellington Provincial Convention of the W.C.T.C. was held on Wednesday and Thursday, October Bth and qth. A meeting of the Executive w.»s held on the evening of October 7th.

Convention opened at 0.30 a.m. on Wednesday, the President, Mrs Crabb, of Palmerston North, presiding. Delegates were present from Welling ton District, Wellington Central, Greytown, Lower Mutt. Masterton, Petone, Palmerston North, Fcilding, and Woodville. Apologies received from Bunnythorpe, Marton, Pahiatua, and Taoroa. Mrs Ashby, Petone President, welcomed tne visiting delegates, and Mrs Crabb suitably responded. The President’s address was a comprehensive survey of present day conditions, and urged that no member of the Cnion should stand idle. Mrs Neal, Secretary, read replies from various M.P.’s. The President and Organiser of the loeal No License League addressed the Convention. Messrs Beddingfield and Has’am, headmasters of the Petone s« hools, gave addresses >on Education Reform, and the following resolution was passed:- -“That this Convention heartilv supports the following reforms in our educational system:

(i) The standardisation of school hooks; the modernisation of school buildings, including the addition of an assembly hall, and furniture; (;,) free school books and requisites; (4) forty-five children to be the maximum in any class under the charge of one teacher, (5) extension of open air ♦ lasses; ((1) provision for larger playgrounds; (;) free and compulsory medical and dental treatment of children in State schools; (8) a complete and compulsory system of continuation schools up to the age of i.X; (q) consolidation of scrools in rural areas; (10) inclusion, in the training syllabus for teachers, of scientific instruction in sex hygiene and the effects of alcohol on the human body.” The following were also passed:

**A recommendation having been made by the National Efficiency Hoard that weekly lessons should be given in all public schools <>n the history of the Kmpire and our duty to it, with a view to inculcate in the* minds of the children a patriotic and nationaspirit, this Convention of the W.C. T.r. would respectfully suggest to the Minister of Kduration that such lessons should have a wider international hearing, cultivating a sense of their responsibilities and appreciation of their privileges, not only as citizens of the Kmpire, but as members of that wider community of which every nation is but one small part.” ‘‘This Convention desires to express its sympathy with the aims and ideals of the League of Nations Society, and would urge the (internment to take immediate steps to inaugurate such a society in the Dominion, in order to support the Imperial Parliament in the effort which is being made to es tablish a permanent and abiding peace.” ‘‘That in the interests of the women and girls employed as shop assistants throughout the Dominion, this Convention desires to support: (1) a 45 hours’ week; (2) the abolition of the late night ;(M the proper covering of concrete floors in shops; (4) the appointment of women inspectors to look after the requirements of women and girl employees." ‘‘That Government be urged to fix the age at which persons can marry at 18 years of age for both sexes." ‘‘That we press resolutely for the appointment of women police, and that every I’nion be instructed to ask all Parliamentary candidates for their electorate at the coming election whether they support this demand ”

'*(a| That women shall lie granted a scat in the Legislative Council, the House of Representatives, and >n all public bodies on the same terms as it is, or may be, granted to men ; (b) married women shall not be deprived of their nationality against their will; (c) all existing inequalities in the law as between men and women shall lie removed, all offices and employments shall he open to men and women equally, and payment for work shall be independent of -ex ; Id) the moral standard shall be equal for both sexes.”

“It now being recognised that the S»ate should provide for the maintenance of children who arc deprived of their fathers, this Convention, while resolutely standing for purity of life and the absolute sacredness of the marriage tie, would ask that the claims of the children of unmarried mothers may be recognised. T his is asked: Ist, in the interests of the* children, who, coming into the world with a stigma attached to their birth, have more claim on the State, that they may he able to become useful citizens; 2nd, in the interests of the mother, that in the* struggle to lrgcin her self-respect, she may net be hnn dnapprd by the difficulty of providing for herscif and he r child The Convention also passed a resolution placing on record its high ap preciation of the valuable work done by the Wellington Sunday School I’nion examiners, .nd urging the in elusion of the T* mperance Lesson in the examination work. The* question of raising the pen •'ions of widows being before the House of Representatives, it was re solved to immediately send a ropy of the following resolution to every M.P. in the Province: ‘‘That seeing the Government has afreadv admitted, through two of its Departments -the Healtr Department and the Defence Department—that the ordinary widows’ pension is not enough to keep a mother and hci family, unless she either leave her young children to the care of others while she* goes to work, or else resorts to charitable aid for assistance, we would respectfully urge upon their attention the necessity of giving all widows with young children a basis of pension not less than that granted to epidemic widows and the widows of soldiers. We would further venture to point out that it is not in the best interests of the individual or the State that a mother should have to leave her

infant children in the care of others while she works to suppoit them. On the other hand, if she does not do this, part of the maintenance of her family must ultimately fall on the State- or the- community through the’ Education Department (charitable aid), and her children have to carry a stigma from this source, which it should never have been their misfortune to incur.”

At a later session every delegate sent a telegram to the Prime Minister and the* Hon. W. H. Hemes urging

them to make every widow’s jx'nsion equal to the pension of the epidemic

w idow s

Mrs Johnson Wright read a paper, written by Mrs Martha M. Allen World's Superintendent of the Medical Temperance Department, entitled “Whisky an Agent of Death in Influenza and Pneumonia.” Mrs Burd read an instructive paper entitled “The In-between Child in War-time,” by G. Josephine Baker. M.D., D.P.H., calling the* attention of parents to the needs and rights of the child between infancy and school age. Mrs Neal read a paper on “Eugenics," written by Mrs Bogle, M.A., of W anganui, in which was emphasised the fart that the future of the nee depends upon its women. The papers were fully discussed, and it was decided that the* Secretary have them typed and sent to the Education Bureau.

Letters of sympathy to members in illness included the Dominion President (Mrs Don) and Mrs Lee Cowie (World’s Missionary).

Officers elected: Mrs Crabb, Palmerston North, Provincial President; Mrs Neal, Redding, Provincial Secretary; Mis Hurd, Pctonc, Provincial Treasurer.

It was decided to hold the IQ2O Convention in Palmerston North. Votes of thanks were accorded the entertaining Vnion, the C hurch of Christ for the use of their building, hosts and hostesses, and the Press. On Thursday evening a public meeting was held in the Methodist Church. The President, Mrs Crabb, occupied the* crair. Mr J. W. McEwan, Mayor of Petone, in a biicf speech congratulated the W.C.T.I . on the work it had done, and hoped that every success would att°nd its activities in the future.

Mrs A. K. Atkinson, of Wellington, was the principal speaker. Other speakers were the Revs. F, J. Marehal| (representing the Cburrh of

Christ), T. H. Stealey (Church of Finland), A. Blair (Methodist), T. Duff (Presbuenan), Mr Robson (Baptist). Musical items were rendered by Misses Cotton, Godber, Davis, and Row sc, and recitations by Miss I’dy and Mrsd.unes I .owe and Wallstrom. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That this meeting expresses its appreciation of the action of the Government in appointing women patrols in some centres, and its hope that the numljor may be increased, and that a proper preliminary training may In* instituted. It also urges that a properlv cquip|>ed women police force may be established with the least possible delay.’ ’