NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 77, 3 April 1897, Page 5

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

(BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Christchukch, Fridoy. At the Women's Council this afternoon it waa explained that the ladies who bad voted against the resolutions in favour of arbitration had only opposed the clause proposing general disarmament.

Mra Sievwright moved, "That the mother should be able, equally with the father, to appoint a guardian to act with the surviving parenb wibh regard, to tbe property of the children, but neibher parents should be able to deprive the other of bis or her children unless the Court shall be satisfied that the surviving parenb is incapable of undertaking such guardianship.'' Mrs May seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The following resolutions were also carried unanimously : — Moved by Mrs Sievwrighb, seconded by Mrs "Daldy, "That the conditions of divorce for men and women should be equalised ;" moved by Mrs Bullock, seconded by Mrs Siovwrigbt, "That the domestic servants' halfholiday should be mado universal by legislative enactmenb."

In tho evening Mrs Williamson read a paper on the moral and social aspects of temperance. Mib Shepuard moved, "That this Council considers that morally, scientifically, and economically the consumption of alcoholic liquors is inimical to the besb interoßts of the country." The motion was carried unanimously.

It was decided to register tho Council under tho Unclassified Socioties Acb; also to request affiliated societies to send, early in the first quarter of tho year, a list of subjects for discussion ab the annual conference ; thab during the second quarter a selection from tho list ba mado by the executive, and returned for consideration to tbe affiliated societies six months before bhe annual meeting.

Officers were elected as follows :—President, Mrs Sheppard ; vice - presidents, Me.dame. Sievwrighb, Hatton, Daldy nnd v Taaker ; bon. secretary, Mrs Wells; hon. treasurer, Mrs Kirk by.

It was decided " tbab ib is necessary children should be scientifically instructed in the use and abuse ot alcohol, and that the Education Department be requested to use texb book* on tho subjosb ac reading books in the schools," also " thab industrial homes should bo established,"

Tbo Council ha 3 now closed.