W.C.T.U.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 7 October 1933, Page 11

W.C.T.U.

MONTHLY MEETING. Miss M. Moore occupied the chair at the monthly meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union yesterday. Mrs Ritchie conducted devotional exercises and gave the scientific fact:, which was an appeal on behalf of the children by Evangeline Booth, of the Salvation Army. Arrangements were made for the next meeting to take the form of a “pay-up” social when outstanding subscriptions would be received, and it would also be social afternoon for the children of tiro cradle, roll department and their mothers to whom an invitation to be present was' to be sent by letter. There would be musical items, also games for the children, and Mrs Hodder as “Mother Hubbard,” would present each child with a small gift which Mrs J. Clausen had very kindly promised to give. In connection . with the Bible-in-Schools League, Mrs Dorreen and Mrs A. W. Thompson were appointed representatives. With Miss Moore and Mrs Hodder they would make the number of W.ChT.U. representatives up to four. Various resolutions passed at the district convention were read by the secretary and comment on each was made by the president. After afternoon tea had been handed round by Mrs Allen and Mrs Mullon, reports on the district convention recently held in Feilding were given by Mrs Ram and Mrs Sorensen. Mrs Ram

reported on the meeting held on the Wednesday afternoon at which Miss Kirk, J.P., of Wellington, had been the speaker. Miss Kirk had said that work for prohibition was only a small part of the W.C.T.U. platform. Th-Qjr efforts were chiefly directed towards the welfare of women and children and the home generally. At one time, small children used to be present in Court as witnesses. Through the efforts of the VV .C.T.U. it was now illegal for children to give evidence in Court under the age of 16 years. In former years only one parent, the father, had the legal guardianship of children. It had been evident that fathers of intemperate habits were often unfitted for this high privilege. The W.C.T. IT. had been instrumental in having the law changed so that both parents now had the legal guardianship of their children. It had been through the W.C.T.U., headed by Mrs Sheppard, that the franchise had been granted to women, and the W.C.T.U. had also had a share in the bringing about of 6 o’clock closing of hotel bars. Mrs Sorensen gave an account of convention proceedings on the Thursday, which had consisted of reports from the various branches in, the Manawatu, with a discussion on them, also the appointment of district'.officers for the ensuing year. Out of nine branches, six had been represented, while four presidents had been present. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mrs Ram and Mrs Sorensen for the trouble, they had taken in compiling the reports. Duirng the afternoon Miss Moore said that everybody would be very pleased to hear that Mrs Willson and Mrs Dallas were improving. She was sure that their recovery had been a direct answer to prayer. The meeting closed with the singing of the Doxology.

RABBIT BREEDERS’ SOCIAL

The first social evening of the Manawatu Commercial Rabbit Breeders’ Association was held on Thursday, and it proved to be very successful. The programme of items was as follows: Highland dancing, Miss Rosa Proctor (a pupil of Miss Jean Scott); guitar selections, Mr A. Sundborn; reel, Misses I. Hall, L. Cronin, 1. McKenzie and Ethne Hemmingsen ; song, Mrs Lena; musical monologue, Heather Proctor ; tap dance, Miss Jean Scott; songs, Mrs Coupe; Highland fling, Misses Peterana, V. Hemmingsen and B. Ebbett; military dance, Phyllis Kellow. A competition, was won by Misses Litchfield and Miss Rowlands, and an imaginary aeroplane ride by three young ladies created much amusement. Following an enjoyable supper, dancing was enjoyed, Mr Cooper being the M.C.