Dominion Officers' Meeting

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 7, 1 August 1948, Page 7

Dominion Officers' Meeting

In very beautiful weather, the Dominion Officers assembled at Headquarters on June 30, at 1.30 p.m. One flew, two came by water and one bv train, the rest being “on the spot. M iss Kirk, Dominion President, led the opening Devotions, her subject being the comfort that comes from knowing that “He will show us the way we must go, and the thing we must do,” and that His strength and presence will be with us. Then a great deal of business was begun. It took many hours of careful discussion and nothing was lightly undertaken. Special matters of interest were the position regarding the Headquarters Secretary it is hoped we may ha\e secured ere long. \ arious* steps were agreed upon as the means of finding a suitable lady for this work. If the housing problem were solved, probably this one would also be solved. No one can come to Wellington without knowing where she is to live, so the difficulty <s increased for us. Literature was an interesting subject. The article which appeared in the June issue of the “White Ribbon on “Nationalisation of the Drink Trade” by Mr. Cecil Heath. R.A., President of the United Kingdom Alliance, and the husband of our World Secretary, has been prepared as a pamphlet and arrangements were made for it to be put into the hands of all the Ministers in the Dominion. Other plans for leaflets in preparation for next year’s poll and referendum, with the probable 6 o’clock closing issue to be voted upon, were made. It is strongly felt that the constant use of leaflets has a value well worth the small trouble of distributing them. The idea of each member undertaking to ,7 place” five of these after each monthly meeting is good. Five are no trouble to anyone, but if they are done by every member, every month, real results are likely to follow. “Alcoholics Anonymous” was introduced by correspondence and it was agreed that its work and results* should be the subject'of articles in the “White Ribbon.” An officer was

•June 30 and duly l 9 1013

furnishing the Dominion Library with a copy of an exhaustive study of the organisation, which would arrive within a few months. This would be available for all members who wished to know fuller details of wliat appears to be a genuine solution for many drink victims of their terrible problem. A little complaint was heard coming all the way from Auckland. This was that the “Bulletin” subscriptions arc not always paid up and that the agent. Mrs. Cook, finds herself out of pocket on this account. Wc had better all check up on this and make sure that we are not among the forget ters. It is so easy to let a little matter slip. Finance: Our newly appointed treasurer, true to the tradition that a good treasurer must really “treasure" the money entrusted to her, reminded us that the New' Zealand Fund, from which so much h?s to be done, showed the necessity for this to be assisted by all Unions, according to iiicir .ability. It was pointed out that some Unions which do not send delegates to Convention and who do not hear the appeal made there, are apt to overlook the need for their help in this regard. The small contributions add up to considerable sums, hut they .should come from all Unions. Pledge Cards and Badges tor Bands of Hope and L.T.L.’s were discussed, and it is hoped that these will he on hand shortly. “Beacon”: It was suggested that “The Beacon" might be put into the hands of Bib’.: Class members. The cost is small. 6/- per hundred, not quite Id. each. “Teen-agers" might thus be reached and influenced. Organiser’s Report: Good news from Miss C. M McLay, Dominion Organiser, was received. The Maori and Pakeha Unions formed in cooperation w'ith Sister Nicholls in the King Country were progressing well. Another Union had been formed with the assistance of Mrs. Josephs, President of the Te Kuiti Maori Union, and interest was spreading. Many other matters were touched upon. Perhaps one of the most interesting was the date of Dominion Convention. The visit of Their Majesties and Princess Margaret will make it necessary to hold Convention probably earlier than usual, because of the difficulties of travel and accommodation. It was left for the Corresponding Secretary to make enquiries of the South Canterbury Executive as to suitable dates for them. N.C.VV. Remits were discussed so that Miss Kirk, our Dominion Representative, might know the attitude of the Officers and receive some guidance regarding voting on them. Most of them were left to her own discretion. The meetings closed at 5.10 p.m. on the Ist with the repeating of The Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction.