NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 52, 1 March 1919, Page 20

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

I — For a considerable time past the more thoughtful women throughout the Dominion have felt the need of an organised effort to hand together the • women's societies in each centre and affiliate them under an executive which would be empowered to represent them on questions more particularly affecting women and children. As a preliminary step towards this co-opera-tive movement, tiie women's societies J in Auckland. Gisborne. Wellington, Ghrist-hurch and Dunedin formed I local councils composed of representaI tives from these societies. After I correspondence, it was resolved to hold a conference in Wellington last I Easter, to which accredited delegates j from eaoh loon! council were sent. I The result of this conference whs that I a National Council of Women was . I formed, a constitution passed, and , officers elected. Since then Wanganuj , has formed a loe.il council, nnd it is ,| expected that Inverenrgill will be the ' | next to or<_ni.=e. , Briefly, the object of the council is to unite all organised societies ol , women for mutual counsel mid cooperation, and to enable tho various ■ organisations to be more conversant with each other's work and desires. . By its constitution the council has no , power over the branches that consti- ; tute it beyond suggestion, counsel and . sympathy. Its moinberehip consists . of all organised societies of women, or , of men nnd women, which have become . affiliated to the local council. It is , believed that a National Council, representing all organi. _t_ns of women in all parts of the Dominion, will be able to interpret and give expression to the wishes of women in a manner and with an authority that would not otherwise 'be possible. J Among the societies affiliated to the I council are:—The Society for the Pro- ; tection of Women and Children, the | Auckland Trained Nurses' Association. j the Civic League, the Auckland and ; Wellington Women's International | League, the Y.W.C.A., the Auckland } Women's National Reserve, the Auck- ! land Girk' Friendly Society, the j Women Teachers' Association, the Social Hygiene Society, the. Auckland ; Women's Mutual Aid Association, the | Wellington Soft Ooods Employee. j (Drapers' Union), the W.C.T.U., "the ; Auckland Girls' Club, the Social In- , restigation League, the Wellington Kindergarten Union, the Auckland , Mothers' Union. ! Mrs. K. W. Sheppard. of Christchurch, is at present holding the- office •> I of president, while Miss Henderson. , 8.A., of the same cit,, fills the office of j secretary, Either of these ladies will I be pleased to receive communications : j and answer questions about the council and its work. Tlie next meeting of the s \ council will be held in Wellington during ( i the coming session of Parliament, when ] opportunity will be taken to discuss a < number of important topics of special . interest to women. f It may he mentioned that in several * countries, including Great Britain and £

Ireland, the United States of America, Canada, the Australian States, and most of the European countries, National Councils of Women have been established for many years past, and are affiliated to an International Council, of which Lady Aberdeen is president.