WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 100, 29 April 1898, Page 2

WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL.

(By TelegTaph.-T-Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. At the Women's National Council this morning the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—-President, Mrs Daldy; Secretary, Mrs' SievAvright (Gis-. boihe); Treasurer, Mrs Williamson (Wanganui) ; Vice-Presidents, Mesdames Shephard and Wells (Christchurch), Mrs Tasker (Wellington), Mrs Hatton (Dunedin). A vote of thanks Avas passed to the retiring officers. ; Mrs Daldy. was also elected to committees on finance and On the economic intPependence of Avopien.

EVILS DF GAMBLING. ' ..A communication was received from Mr W. P. Anderson; Secretary of the Young Men's Bible class, calling attention to the evil of gambling, and suggesting means for its suppression. It was- resolved to reply that the Council has no time to deal Avith the subject this session. ;. The adjourned debate was resumed on the motion that in every centre a lady be appointed by. tihe State to act on behalf of neglected: children, such lady to be in communication with the truant officer, Charitable Aid Board officials, police, and philanthropic organisations: (ljvto enforce regular attendance at school, and to provide clothes and books for the children of, merely unfortunate parents; (2) to have the .children of the vicious and criminals committed to Sitate homes.

Mrs Tasker referred to the burden imposed on a poor family through the difference in the books used, at the various schools.

The motion was carried, with an addition that the Government be asked, in making appointments, to consult with the various women's societies in the chief centres. Another addition to the motion was adopted, "That, the staff of industrial schools should consist of men and women of high culture, especially qualified and trained for their work, also that the present school system be extended so as to include Kindergarten schools for children under the present school age."-

ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF MARRIED WOMEN.

, Strangers mustered in great force at the eveningsitting. Bellamy's Avas crowded by ladies. Mrs SievAvright read a paper on " The Economic Independence of Married Women." In the paper she asked-: Was woman's lifelong home-Avork to count for nothing . In the dual establishment, even Avhere the Avoma.n supports both husband and children through her earnings she was not free to manage her OAvn affairs. The existing marriage.law.was a remnant of the original savage state of mankind. -The economic position,of husbands and wives needed re-ad jus tuient. Woman being left Avith an empty purse while the husband's purse is well-iilled is the cause of nine-tenths of the disputes in Avedded life. Men should be compelled during life, and not by will, to provide Avhen tliey could for the economic independence of their wives, as was done by marriage settlements/ . The joint earnings .should form a common treasury, each half protected from the creditors of the other. Despite the Woman's Property Act, it Avas stated by Lord Coleridge that the law of England regarding women is more worthy of a barbarous state than ' a Christian country. Where both man and woman possessed private means at marriage matters shpuld remain as they were, but a woman's claim for services as Avife and mother should also be recognised. At present, hoAveA-er arduous a Avife Avorks, she is entitled only to maintenance in accordance with her husband's income. Woman is often placed under a great disadvantage Avhen left a AvidoAV. Having been legally-placed during all her wedded life, in the.irresponsible position.of lunatic she feels hopelessly in need of a keeper. LaAvyers ana bankers and business men drove her frantic, until she probably hurries with her helpless children back into bondage Avith the first man who'may. happen to fall in love Avith her beauty, accomplishments, or purse. Theresolution did not merely deal with the monetary aspect of the case, it claimed, such dual recognition of economic rights solely as a matter of simple justice, and in order that husband and Avife may share economic liability and responsibility. It has been said that women claimed rights without wishing-to fulfil the corresponding duties. She had never heard such feeling expressed. . / ~ ~.." "

Mrs Seivwright also read a draft Bill prepared by the executive of the Women's Council, the chief, provision of which,is a clause to" abolish coverture, both, as to personal property and the incidence, thereof, and constituting husband and avife separate persons" in regard to property OAvned. at marriage,, oi- subsequently acquired, prpvided that any /women may enter into an agreement in the nature of partnership before marriage, the Av'ages of husband and Avife to be equally divided for the support of the children, etc. It also provided for referring disputes.to the Supreme Court. In conclusion she moved " That legal recognition of the ecoriohiic independence of married Avomenis desirable for the attainment bf justice, and for the furtherance of a truer marriage relationship." " ■ ' i ' Miss Henderson seconded.

Mrs Plunkett scouted the idea that the laAv ; presented ail insuperable barrier against tlie economic independence of women if they choose to act in unison. Mrs Ostle said money Avas not a A'ital difference between men and women. Tlie real # , point Avas that women required ' more . freedom. Every laAv militating against women should be repealed." Wbnien'did'hot tsexpe'ct' to Obtaiii all they ;isk§d of hleti, but there Avere some things Avhieli they must secure against men's opposition. ■■'■"'//.- Mrs Izett argued that coverture should be abolished, even.: if economic independence Avere not achieved. .

Miss Kirk said it would not be fair to protest against creditors' property made over by a husband to his Avife in vieAv of bankruptcy. She instanced the case of a husband dying -intestate, in- Avhich case one-third of ; his: estate Avould go to • his. Avife,'whereas he might make a -will, completely cutting; her out of. property which she had contributed to .by labour of years She moved an amendment,' "That the Council urges upon women's societies to endeavour to educate public opinion to the real money value of; women's Avork as vyife and mother." /-

Miss Wells said economic dependence tended to degrade woman, and, through her, to degrade the race. The President pointed out that Avhereas the idea of women's economic independence Avas formerly ridiculed, many men had since been converted to it.

The amendment Avas negatived by 9 to 4. Mrs Sievwright, in reply, characterised the objections raised as' the old stock arguments: She denied that insurance on a husband's life would settle the difficulty, as in time of emergency he would take the surrender value and spend the money.

- The motion Avas carried by 11 to 4. .Votes of thanks Avere passed to the Reception Committee, and to the Government for the use of the s-oom, the press and House messengers, and the session closed. It AVas resolved that a deputation. wait on the Hon. Hall-Jones with a renifest that the papers read before the Council and the minutes of the proceedings be printed at the Government printing office.

NEXT MEETING AT AUCKLAND. On the invitation of Mrg Daldy it was

resolved that the next a-nrt„-i Mr> Rrkby joined in the ______ ■__ M" .