COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 22

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The first issue of the "National Council News" supplies an account of the formation of the original National Council of Women of New Zealand in Christahurch in 1596, and its history.

Early in 1594, following the enfranchisement of the women of this country, Mrs. K. W. Sheppard, of Christchurch, her husband and son, left for Kngland, where she found that the success that had attended the efforts of the women of the Dominion to obtain the vote had excited great attention. There she was brought into contact with many well-known English workers in the women's cause, among them being .Mrs. Era Maclaren, corresponding secretary of the International Council of Women. The desirability of the Xew Zealand women workers forming themselves into a National Council and affiliating with the International Council was strongly pressed upon Mrs. 6heppard and she was urged to take Bteps in that direction on her return to New Zealand.

In the meantime Mrs. Maelaren corresponded with Lady Stout on the subject, and finally the Canterbury Women's Institute called a meeting of the representative women from the centres of the colony, to be held in Christchurch, to confer as to the best means of ■unitedly working for the many objects that were desirable.

A very representative gathering resulted, the meeting being held in the Provincial Council Chambers in Christchurch on April 13, IS9G. Among the women present were Mrs. Schnackenberg and Mrs. Daldy, of Auckland, Mrs. 6ievwright, of Gisborne, Mrs. Williameon, of Wanganui, Lady Stout of Wellington, 'Mrs. Hatton, of Dunedin, and JMiss Jessie Maekay, Mrs. Wells, Miss Sheriff-Bain, of Christehurch. Meetings ■were held during the whole of that week.

After the preliminary opening, !Lady Stout read a paper on "A National Council of Women," followed by the motion: "That this convention Tesolve itself into the National Council of Women of New Zealand," which was carried unanimously. The officers appointed were: Mrs. K. W. Sheppard, president; Lady Stout, Mesdames Sievwright, Schnackenbcrg and Hatton, vice-presidents; Mrs. Wells, general secretary; Mrs. Williamson, corresponding secretary.

The second meeting of the National Council was held in Christchurch in 1597, and the third meeting, 1898, at "Bellamy's" Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, at the close of which Mrs. Daldy was appointed president. The fourth meeting was held in the City Council Chambers, Auckland, in 1599, and the fifth in Dunedin in 1900, the sixth meeting in the Council Chambers, AVanganui, in 1901, and the seventh in 1902 at the Athenaeum Hall, Napier, at which Mr 3. Sievwright presided.

Owing to a variety of circumstances the societies found it difficult to send delegates and on the two succeeding years the executive only met.

In 1017, Miss Henderson, 8.A., of Christehurch, and Mrs. Sheppard formed themselves into a provincial committee of two, with Mrs. Tomlinson as provisional secretary, a post she tilled until the first conference wa3 held, for the purpose of resuscitating the moribund Xational Council. Communications were sent to a number of the women's societies, suggesting the advisability of forming a council. A ready response was made to the proposal and the first meeting was held in Wellington in 1917, when Mrs. Sheppard was appointed president, Miss Henderson secretary, Miss Jackson (Auckland) treasurer. The second meeting was also held in Wellington, when Miss Melville (Auckland) was appointed president, which position she held until last year, when Mrs. Carmalt Jones, of Dunedin, succeeded her.

Within recent times Mrs. Sheppard was made a life-member of th<* Xational Council, aa was Miss Henderson, in recognition of their services for the National Council.