Among the Departments

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 11, 1 December 1946, Page 2

Among the Departments

WORK AMONG SEAMEN Would all District Superintendents please send their reports to the Dominion superintendent, at her new address: MRS. GARDINER, 22 Alma Street, Nelson. DEPARTMENT OF MAORI WORK 115 Bassett Road, Remuera, Auckland 5.E.2. Dear Sisters, — The importance of the work among our Maori people has been clearly demonstrated through the Maori Hostel movement. 1; has the approval and assistance of the Government, and it is the privilege of our Union to extend and strengthen the good work. For many years, in <|iiiet ways of prayer, personal contact, organising and planning, the W.C.T.U. has been laying foundations for the Social, Moral, and spiritual improvement of our Maori people. By education of children and youth, we ha\e endeavoured to protect them from the devastating impact of alcohol which has >o seriously threatened, and in many cases spoilt their social and moral life; thus leading to the quenching of their spiritual gifts. In our work for Abolition of the Liquor Traffic, we are seeking to protect the race from this, their deadly foe, which ha* wrought and is working such awful havoc among them in the Past, in the homes and in our great cities, The daily press reports of Maori youths charged with crimes and committed to Borstals ?.nd Prisons should be renewed challenge to us to fight, to pray, to wrestle on until this power of darkness is removed for ever.

Will all secretaries please report to me as soon as possible all work done by Unions in this department. Greetings and best wishes, CATHERINE McLAY. Dominion Superintendent, Maori Department. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS AND SABBATH OBSERVANCE The Dominion Superintendent, Mrs. Paterson, Pukatea Street, Eastbourne, will be glad to receive reports of any work done in these departments, by December 30th.

METHODS DEPARTMENT Dear Sisters, — We are nearing a Dominion Convention. and as the Unions go into recess in November, there is not much time to make an appeal for reports in the “White Ribbon.” lam anxious to present a report showing fully the work done in the above Department at the Convention.

Will you please report to me by the end of December ? The following questions, if answered, will give the work of the Department.

1. Have you formed a Study Group, or had talks on the Aims and Objects of the W.C.T.U., the Duties of Officers or the New Zealand Constitution? 2. Have you formed, or introduced any r.ew methods this year? 3. How many of your members have attended a Study Group or School of Methods? 4. What subjects did you study ? 5. What work have you done with regard to the “Five-fold Plan”? o. What other work have you done under this Department? With warm greetings to all White kibbotuTS, AMY KASPER, Dominion Superintendent. 109 Tamaki Drive, Kohi, Auckland.

SOCIAL AND MORAL HYGIENE Dear Friends, — In August, 1 wrote you about the other half of my Department, Health and Nutrition. This month 1 want t<» say a few words on the above. "Social and Moral Hygiene” is simply purity of thought and deed. Purity of thought, A child’s mind. Look at it. It is very unwise to talk of the funny sayings of a child in front of them. Their minds are automatically, unconsciously receptive. W ithout looking up from their play they may repeat after you what you have just said, almost a> part of thetr game. They learn more quickly through tli** eye than the ear. Taking them to pictures that you want to see is unfair. Choose onl.v suitable ones if you take them at all. Better be the censor yourself than risk anything that is Helping to mould wrongly the character of your child.

Choose good hooks for them and for yourself. Theio is so much trash in our libraries to-day that it is difficult to discriminate between the good and the had. When you find a good book that has been cheering and uplifting to you, tell others. That's how I feel. When 1 r ea<’ a good book, I want to talk abort it. You will find great pleasure in discussing books and music, too. Why do we have this jazz and swing music? The world seems to have gone crazy. Let us at our little gatherings, have the better type of music. Why, they ever, “swing” hymn tunes nowadays. I am not oldfashioned, but a musical evening with good songs and the music of old masters is much preferred by me to

“swing” music. Gambling ! What a waste of money. You seldom benefit. It’s usually the promoter who reaps the profit. Even a bottle of oysters, worth 3/-, was raffled in Auckland recently, for 3d. a ticket by some man—against the law, of course. That’s not the only point. 1 would hate being “bad.” I don’t mind giving money away where a donation is needed, but I will not assist in this gambling. Gambling is like a canker—it grows.

Once more 1 would sav, “Get speakers to address your meetings on the subject.” * R. M. MOUNTJOY, Superimenden NEW SUBSCRIBERS TO “THE WHITE RIBBON” From 10th October to 10th November, 1946. Pun son by, 2; Birkenhead, 1; Henderson, 1; Hamilton, 1; Woodville, 1; Hastings, 1; Riccarton, 3; Opawa, 1 Total, 11. Total number from Ist February to 10th November—l6l. A. 1). GRIGG. “WHITE RIBBON” I to “The White Ribbon" bund, from the mg unions, aic acknowledged with many thanks:— Waianiwa, 5/-; Maungakaramea, 15/9; Teinuka, 10/-; Ponsonby, 10/-; Takapuna. 10/ . Total, 10/9. Total subscriptions to dale, £.14/6/3.