NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 143, 16 June 1917, Page 16

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

A public meeting of the Civic .League was held on Wednesday evening in their rooms in HaUenetein's Buildings to meet delegates from the women's societies of Auckland, to discuss turther the formation of a branch of the National Council of Women of New Zealand. Mrs. Geddes, the honorary president of the Civic League, explained that a preliminary meeting had been held a month ago to discuss this matter, and asked Miss Melville to take the chair. Miss Melville called on Mrs. Grossmann to shortly explain the aims of the National Council. These aims, Mrs. Grossmann said, were to bring the women's thoughts to bear on the social and political questions of the day and to link together the women's societies in one central j organisation which would have behind J it the power of the mass of the women ' of New Zealand. Delegates were present i from the following bodies: Women Teachers' Association, Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Women's Mutual Aid, Women's Political League. Women's National Reserve, Young Women's Christian Association, ! Girls' Friendly Society, and the Women's j ; Christian Temperance Union. Delegates ' were invited to express their views. In response Mi«s Wilson, president of the' Women Teacher.?' Association, said that her association had diwussert the matter of affiliating with the National j Council, and were delighted to feel that j 'the women of Xew Zealand were work-j ing tn link up throughout the Dominion. I The speaker said that the Women I Teachers' Association knew the good' that comes from combination. But one I i woman who attended their meeting, who i had returned tn New Zealand nfter some ' years, hail called them sl'irkers because she enuM not see more advantage taken of the political power which lay in their hands. The Women Teachers' Anaocm--1 t'lin were emphatically in favour of linking up with n central body of women. Mrs. Yon Stunner expressed hrieflv the i sympathy of the Women's Mutual Aid with the movement. Miss Black spoke for the Woman's Reserve to the samo point. Mrs. Williamson said «he was one of the oniric! worke-s in Xew Zealand in the National Council of Women, when the Council carried the franchise, and she was (rrentlv in favour of its revival. rs it wns tu'i'-h needed. Mrs. Gibson spoke for the National Leamie. The following motion whs moved by Miss Melville end seconded by Mrs. Geddes: "Tl'B* Hii« meeting hereby affirms the ilwirfthilitv o f the formation of a National Council of Women of Xew Zealand having for its object the organisation of nil societies of women for mutual council and co-operation. and the rtftninmont of justice and freedom for women, and for all tlint makes for the pood of humanity. The Council is organiser! in the interest of no one propngnnda and has no power over the organisations which constitute it beyond that of suggestion and sympathy." This I was carried. A discussion then took I place a« to the desirnhility of forming ! a local branch or of sending delegates to the Central hranch from each society. Miss WiUon moved, and Mrs. Baume •pcnnderi. "That this meeting hereby cons' itiitco fin Auckland branch of the National Council of Women." Tills was carried. A further proposition was moved by Mrs. Geddes and seconded by Mrs. Grossmnnn, that a provisional committee be set up consisting of a presi-

dent, a secretary, and a representative j from each organisation to consider the j proposed constitution, amend the same I where advisable, and report to the Auck- I land branch of the National Council at an early date, and also communicate with southern centres where the same movement is in progress. Miss Melville was named as convener.