AUCKLAND DISTRICT W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 294, 18 December 1919, Page 4

AUCKLAND DISTRICT W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

I he District Convention xxas held in 'he Headquarters, on V ednesd iy, November uth. Morning session opened at 10 o’clock. There xxas a large number present. Mrs Cook presided, anil spoke a few words of xxeleome to the delegates Mis Rru ben Bailey conducted the Devotional Meeting, and gave a most inspiring address on Solomor/s prayer at the dedication of the Temple. Reports xxerr received from the folloxxing l"nion>: Auckland, Ponsonbv, Birkenhead, Takapuna, Avondale, Henderson, Eden, Waihi, Tauranga, Onehunga, Otahuhu, Papatoetoe, City “Y,” Eden “Y.” 1 he work liad been principally tn connection with the Prohibition Campaign. Educational meetings had been held, and good cradle roll xxork done. Some In ions had suj plied meals on polling day. l ie “V Branches had linked up with the Young People’s Movement. The reports weie all of a helpful and cn rouraging nature. A nexx “\ ” had been formed during the year at Eden and also at Henderson by Mrs Pirret (Dominion Supt.) Quite a number of White Ribboners had been elected to school committees during the year. Mrs 11. Brown, nexx “Y” Supt., spoke a few words in <onnection with the “Y ’ work. A helpful discussion (tn the xxoik of the I nions brought the morning ss sion to a (lose. Letters of sx m pa thy were sent to Mesdames Thorpe and lloldsxvorth in their illness, also to Mis >orkney on the death of her son. \fternoon session, 2 o’clock. Mis Kinmont gave an inspiring a<l dre v s at the devotional meeting, uig mg all to go forward no slackers. Solos were rendered by Mrs Anstire . nd M i Rimmer. \fternoon tea was dispensed. Mis* Melville, President of National Council of Women, then addressed the meeting on “Women and Politics. In the rouise of her remarks she said it xxas a xxell kn«*xxn fart that the W’.C.T.C. was the pioneer movement in Nexx Zealand for jiolitieal icfnmi. T hex had organised the campaign to petition Parliament tor the franchise, and had always kept to the fore (pies tioris affecting women and children. Women have to obey the laws of the country, and there xxas no law xxhich did n *t affect women, therefore it xvas the logical right of xxnmcn to help to make the laws. The view point of

women differed from that of men, therefore the two view points should lie direc tlx represented. A large number of women listened to Mi >s Melville xxith interest and en thusia-m, and accoicled her a hearty vote of thanks.

Miss Melville is standing for P.o Lament m the Drey Lynn election She 1 s a solic nor in our (ity. and has held .1 scat in the City Council with much credit for several years past. Idle evening session opened at 7.30 under the auspices of the “Y” Branch Miss Sussex took the chair. Mr> H. Blown spoke a fexx xxords urg ing the girls to put earnestness and enthusiasm into their work, and to enter into the inheritance which the pioneers of the W.C.T.I’. movement in the Dominion had left for them. Mrs Brown then read an article dealing with the benefits of Prohibition in British Columbia after two years’ trial, showing improved business, happier home life, and a decrease m crime in the community.

Mrs Hexvett gave an interesting talk on incidents connected with her per - lal work among the Maori**. Two solos were rendered by Mis*, Crane h A paper on the “Art of Seeing the* Beautiful” was read by Miss Vincent, President Eden “Y.” Mrs Cook, District President, spoke a few xxords of encouragement to the young women on the power of prayer. The Convention was them brought to a conclusion by singing the Conse < ration Hymn and the Benediction.