LETTER FROM DOMINION PRESIDENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 381, 18 April 1927, Page 8

LETTER FROM DOMINION PRESIDENT.

Pear Sisters Convention has nine more come and gone. It was a record one in minders; may the year to follow he a record one in purposeful endeavour. Our hope and prayer is that it may have inspired us to an ever widening vision of high endeavour in the cause of our Master. Strenuous and purposeful work nas been initiated, and must go forward at once. The full voire of the Unions in New Zealand, as represented at Convention, was hearty and unanimous, for what was done? The promotion of a woman s petition for a t wo-issue ballot paper and no extension of polls Is the first, and altogether the most important piece of work undertaken. The whole petition must be put through in less than two months, so that any delay amongst our Unions may prove disastrous. To make excuses to ourselves for inact iv ty on this most vital matter must and will mean that we are false to our own ideals and disloyal to the voice of the Union in Convention assembled. Furthermore, It will mean that our boasted opposition to the handicap of the three-issue ballot paper is one of words only, a pretence or an excuse for work not done in winning votes. 1 have faith to believe that every woman of the many thousands who belong to our Unions is so filled with the spirit of our T»rd. so true to our great reform, and so filled with love for humanity. that she will do her very utmost to make this petition a success, and bring us one step nearer the abolition of the liquor traffic. For 36 years have we struggled against the oppression of this our en-

emy in an unequal fight, first in one form, and then in another. Not in all these years have we on«« had a fair chance to record the wishes of the people of New Zealand for and against this traffic. Here and now is a great and a splendid opportunity for us to show the men who represent us in Parliament and in the Cabinet what mind we are on tinquest ion. Surely, sisters, we as enfranchised women mothers of men mothers of the race, and keepers of the nation — surely we have the right to insist what influences shall surround the lives of our sons and daughters. They are ours. We have l>een made responsible by <;od and by man for their moral, physical, and spiritual well-being. Let us boldly say what shall l»e done with them. Let us not miss this opportinity to help forward the ul<olition of tin* traffic that stands stark across the threshold of life, seeking to turn our youth into the downward byways that lead to the extinction of all high endeavour and noble purpose in life and character. We can make a splendid success of ihis petition if we will. Let us show, with no uncertain sound, what the womanhood of New' Zealand stands for. Let us take our great Master at His word, and work and pray with the faith that passes through impossibilities and cries, “It can be done.” K. B. TAYLOR, Dominion President.