THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN AND THE MARRIAGE QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 75, 1 April 1897, Page 4

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN AND THE MARRIAGE QUESTION.

The proceedings ab the National Council of Women reached their most noteworthy, and, we might- add, moat sensational, stage on Monday last, when • the delegates discussed . the marriage question. But from that day we fear must be dated the marked decline of the Assembly in the public estimation. What the councillors may havo gained in notoriety by their handling of that most knotty of problems they havo losb in the sympathy of the majority of their fellow-colonists, There is no question in tho whole area of sociology which a gathoiing of women is more fitted to discuss, and none on which their opinion is more certain of careful consideration. Wo may bo doubtful of the ability of even capable women to range through the length and breadth of colonial politics, as the members of tho Council would probably consider themselves well qualified to do; the subject is one that until very recently has been left entirely in the hands of men ; bun their judgment on our present marriage laws, ana legislation affecting the married, stato should suroly be worth hearing when it is remembered than in thoir eyes " the profession of marriage," as somo ono has called it, ha 9 boon the only ono open tc them. To the discusuon of that groat ftibjecb and all that it involves the -ex chouid be able so bring a greater fund of knowledge and personal and traditional experience than they can to any other; and, if experience tsftclios anything, their utterances should bGar the murks of study, cool reflection, and just appreciation. If the sex does not display good common iseneo in that matter, we shall hesitate to trust their judgment in avenues of life less familiar to them.

To those who share tluß view with us, tho resolutions relating to marriage passed, and passed unanimously, too, by the Council reflect most unfavourably on the reasoning and discriminating powers of bhe sex, and would lead us to ocho the philosopher who said that women boiievo thab imagination can do _he work ot reason and feeling bhe work of science. From this conviction there is but one escape so far as we can see, and it ia in tho assumption that the assembly now gathered in Chris.church does not voice the sentiments of the women of New Zealand. Ono gladly seizes on this opportunity to geb rid of a disagreeable conviction derogatory to the sex. The resolutions to which wo take particular exception are the second and third, which propound the following new and extraordinary doctrine :—■' That in the eye of the law every married woman should be held to share and share alike the earnings or income of her husband, and if she also earn money ib shall go into the common treasury. Thab every facility shall be given to women ab any time requiring ib, either that her share of the joint income should be paid to her separate account, or that her name should be included with that of her husband in their common bank account." If space would permit ua we might easily show bho übberun workableness of such an arrangemenb, and bhe bhousand complicabions ib would give rise to were any legislature so foolish or so weak as to accord ib their consent—unloss, indeed, another law were to be passed compelling tha male creature, willy nilly, bo enter into matrimony. Of course it is quite likely that the ladies of tho Council contemplate even greater changes in relation to marriage than compulsory wedlock, bub it> would be well if they made sure of that last bt-ftre attempting to impose the conditions they now propose. If they proceed in the order they indicate the result mußb be little short of disastrous to the marriage markeb; for although men in love may be blind they will be inclined to open their eyes before they jump into such a purely business contract as the Council would turn marriage into. On all hands we see romance fading out of life and we would fain retain a few bright shreds of it in connection with the honeymoon ab least, but how can we do so if ab the very altar steps bhe bride can and will claim in exchange for her hand half the income of

the bridegroom to spend in any way. she pleases. We have been taught w regard the ladies as the very priestesseß oi romance, the sworn allies of Don Cupid, and we never expected tbem to turn traitors in thab way. Bub, soft, wo do the tax an injustice. They have never said that such things are to be in the future. Ib is only the talk of a small section representing chiefly the talkers themselves, and carriee little weight with ib.

This morning a deputation from a meek ing of the employees of the Colonial Sugar Company at Chelsea waited upon Mr J, C. Firth, as one of the founders and the first Chairman oi the company in New Zealand, and having now no pecuniary interest in the Sugar Company would be therefore impartial, asking him to bring under the notico of the Hon. Mr Saddon before his departure to London, the fact, that owing to the German and French bounties paid on beet sugar exported from those countries, the trade of the Sn<mr Company hero is being eeriously mjured°by the increasing imports of beet eugar into New Zealand. In consequence a large number of workmen have been dismissed, and unless something ie done to protect the local industry more will follow, and this groat enterprise be ultimately ruined.

The death is announced of Mr Win,' Clow, of Papakura, at the ago of 83 years, In 1856 Mr Clow erected a flour mill for the natives at Mataitai, and at the outbreak ot the Maori war in 1863 he was obliged to leave the Wairoa South district, and roside in the Papakura district. ...'.,

An accident happened yesterday at the Onenunga Woollen Works, when a \ajinamed Oates got his right hand into a machine, injuring ib so severely that.Dr. Ergon, who was called in, had to remove the forefinger. •

Tho combined Christchurch subcommittees havo decided to recommend schemes for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to tho General Committee in the following order: — Enlargement of the Jubilee Home for the Agod, first; City tepid bath, second; erection ot a municipal clock bower, third.

Tho annual ball given by the Lodge Coromandel to celebrate the installation of the W.M. and officers for tho ensuing twelve months eventuated on Wednesday night in the Caledonian Hall, when ib proved to be an unqualified success in every way and from every point of view well up to former similar functions. The hall waa mosb artistically decorated for the occasion with palms and dags of all nations draped and festooned, while the brilliant lighting was a feature of the evening. From 60 to 70 couples attended and the many and varied drosses formed a really pleasing and boautiful spectacle, Mr S. Inder acted as M.C. and efficiently fulfilled tho duties falling to hit. lot.

Lasb evening a soiree was held in the Franklin Road Primitive Methodist Church, in order to welcome the new minister of the Franklin Road circuit, tho Roy. Mr Sharp, late of Timaru, who was at the Thames 24 years ago. The tea was looked after by Mesdames Booth, Wilson, Noil, Watersworth, Thompson, Blakey, Walmsley, McCabe, Mis-es McCabe and Parker. ,Mr Booth presided ab the after public meeting. Speeches of welcome wore made by Mr Thompson on behalf of the C.E. Society, by Mr David Goldie. for the executive, by Mr Williams for bhe Sunday school, and the Rev. C. E. Ward for the clergy of the denomination. The Rev. Mr Sharp replied in appropriate terms. The choir was under the leadership of Mr Dimmery, and-Mr Wool ley acted as organist. Several musical selections were given during the evening including songs by Mrs Dimmery, Mittes Bouslaill, Smith and Hutching.., and Mro, Smith. . A quartette was also given by few members of the choir. >-...* </'■■%«

A most successful working bee wag h.14 by the inhabitants of Howick yesterday in clearing and preparing tho' reserves near the beach ready for planting in the winter.* The day being fine a large number of people turned out to assist, headed by tha Rev. Father Walter McDonald and the Rev. Mr Boler, both of whom went heartily into the work,.and the work went merrily on, a large amount of clearing, grubbing and hole digging being the result. Another day or two of like work will make a greet improvement to tho surroundings of this charming spot.

The usual quarterly meeting of the Manukau circuit of the Wuelayan Methodist Church was held in the Wesloyan Church, Mangere, yesterday afternoon. Present: Rev*. S. Lawry in bho chair and representatives from Onehunga, Mangere and Otahuhu. Mr Wesbney, the junior circuit steward, road the financial statement, which was of a satisfactory character,, showing an incnoase for the quarter's col* lections of some £10, and reported that nineteen new members had joined the church during the quarter. The Rev. S. Lawry gave an interesting account of the; proceedings at the late Conference at Wellington. Messrs C. C. Fleming, G. H. Douglas*, H. J. Davies, J. Robins, 'F* Norris, J. Harris and H. W. Gilling were appointed a circuit Home Mission Committee. Mr Westney announced that arrangements had been made to hold the soiree of the Mangere Church on Easter Monday in the Mangero Public Hull. A vote of thanks to Mr'and Mrs Westney for their hospitality terminated tho proceedings.

Last e ,r en ; n? h he 31.9b anniversary of the Grafton Road Weslevan Sunday-school was celebrated by a tea in the schoolroom end* a meeting in the church. Tho Rev. H. X-Dews-bury presided. Mr George R. Hut', chinson read bhe annual report, which stated thab the past year had been one of the most-Micceasful in thfe- history oF'the school. Tlie balance-ehaet showed mi school bo be in a Found financial position. During tho evening sacred solo-i were givsn by Miss VVhite, Mis S Layer, Mr.fames and, t-,ho Re*. A. Mitchell, and the Missel Gordon sane a dueb, while bhe choir san?; several antheme. Mr W. Caley acted as organisb, and' Mr E. J. Gatland as conductor.

The Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation of London (Fire and MarineJ. one ol bhe oldest and wealthiest institutions in the world, ha? appointed Mr S. T. Twentym"" to be the manager for the Auckland pr°' yincial district The Corporation was in* corpornted by royal charter 177 years SB*1 - (A.l>. 1720). has funds of over four million!", and has paid over thirty-seven milHonß IB claims since its foundation.

<X^y t Dey -a 6ver an occasion for folly exercise their powerij, and *»^^ ffßg 'no excepbion to bhe rule so ■'•^Auckland is concerned. A rabher fct^iokewas perpetrated to-day on a »»''rtf members of the Stock Exchange k nflßtlß J their accounts ab the Bank of ■*■ #-ttnd and National Bank. Tele* K«* ..sages were senb to bhe brokers' I fi^L pffices stating thab the manager *& Ito see them urgently ab eleven *,!lt. Tbo brokers belephonod to duly o't-lo**; , ab the banks ab the hour • fid only to find thab fchey bad b e«n Ib may be menti°nod thab b*ll' j.» was yearly balance day at bho ■^ f New Zealand and National Bank, wonder that bhe brokers fell •"'"tha trap 80 carefully prepared for ill** ' n- he incident of course was made I*"***' _<i.,m for the innocent brokers to t^tTa lot of chaff. C. preferenco of playgoers for spec- ;° t ' drama illustrating modern "^'tions o- !'fe a3 co-^pafod with co°' , eß n drama was never more shs T demonstrated than in the liL accorded to "Henry V." ■WiThi Lights of London," as per- ' -IbvMr George Ilignold's Company. _f*Aw wero mounted with a i.i, of scenic effects, bub while f l' tendance at "Henry V." rapidly (1 ft large crowd nightly awaits the 1 »«„ of the theatre door during the pro--opB2i of "Tho Liehts of Lo»d°n." the •ti to wbicb Bhowa n 0 aiga of abafco' "qlbseqiie*l** to oar weekly markeb lisb .:„ or inted information was received that 2nd beeß »,educod 10a Per ton' Avoune man named Joseph Motion, t,m conductor on the Newmarket and EL line, had his foot* badl*y cr«shed to* 'JVuironßh slipping off the tram while it Amoving, a wheel going over one of his tot. He was taken home and abtendod bo by»doctor. ft baa been suspected for a long time .ygtygrog-eellinghas boen carried on to .coneiderable extenb nb Kawliia. At the ', held about a fortnight ago, two con* •tables from Auckland, in plain clothes, Idea raid on, bhe district, tho resulb Woe kl)atl seven -nformabionß fo-* sly . roe selling, were laid on Monday L and on Tuesday, Constable Tapp, Led wit-- search warrants, proceeded to Kawhia. where he was joined by ConlUblo Forbes from Hamilton, District* Constable Morgan of Kawhia, and the two Auckland men. The resulb of the search T39aboub 100 bottle.- of boer, stoub, etc.. ID d aboub two gallons of whisky, all of which has been brought into Raglan. Tho informations, with ono exception, aro against natives. flat Thamoa correspondent wires :—" Ib lv been decided by the relatives of the {.jilted man Agnew to spare no expense in in endeavonr to extract tho bullet embedded in his body, and ib is undersbood ttit Dr. Williams will operate with aid of tbeßonbgen Rays."

Those in wanb of a firsb class suburban residence or of a properby suitable for a uperior school or sanatorium should attend liesara Samuel Vaile and Sons.' auction nle to-morrow, when the well known 'l-Rocklsnda" property ab Epsom will be pat ap for Bale. There is nob another property in fche markeb that can compete with this for its many advantages. At the wnesalß, a superior residence with large jirdea at Grafton Road, and farms ab -V_i.a_.gi Valley, Pukekohe and Matahura Valley will be offered,

Themetabera of the City Council Waterworb Committee and other Councillors, Bccompatned by the City Engineer, paid a visit fo the Western Springs yesterday ittsraooa, For soma timo past exploration

work has been going on ab the Springs lith the object ol seeing if water exists uder the presenb level, so thab bhe Bupply from the present source may be augmented nithout going further afield. The visit ia. made to see how the work was pro-

greuing, and to.obtain obher information, and the Waterworks Committee will duly put their report before the Council. The borehole which was put down and recently opened, together with obher developmenb

work, was inspected, while the pump and awiliary plant were also looked over.