CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9438, 9 June 1896, Page 5

CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

A Committee meeting of the Canterbury Women's Institute was held on Saturday evening, the President in the ohair. The political platform by the Progressive Liberal Association was approved of, bat it was resolved to ask the Society to consider planks 3 and 4 as one and add to the plat* form " The removal of all political and civil disabilities from women." The following resolution was nnanismously carried :—•'* That as the Canterbury Women's Institute is a non-party, organisation it cannot see its way to co-operating with the Wellington Women's Social and Political League in the matter of presenting a congratulatory address to the Premier." The Secretary was instructed to forward to the various Social and Political League* throughout New Zealand a copy of the foi. lowing petition for their endorsement:—» " The Hod. the Minister for Justice.—The petition of the Canterbury Women's In» - stitute and Council humbly showeth (1) that prisoners ha.c b.6n treated Coo much as a worthless and hopeless element of the community ; (2) that the -moral as well as the legal responsibility has been held to cease when the prisoners pass outside the prison gates ; (3) that (a) the moral condition in which a large number of prisoners leave the prison, (b) the serious number of re-committals, (o) the well-known lack of classification existing in our prisons, (d) the evil consequences which follow tht imprisonment of first offenders. _*.., the absence of training of the prison staff ia . regard to their duties, &o. point to the faob that there is ample need for a searching inquiry into the main features of the prison system. Xou* p-titloowi pray that) *

anitable Commission may be appointed for this purpose." The Premier's reply to the deputation on Saturday afternoon was considered very un•atiafactory, and it was resolved to continue to agitate on the lines of the following resolution passed by the National Council of the Women of Ne<v Zealand :—"That the establishment of cooperative industrial settlements formed with a farm us a basis, and gradually embracing all kinds of industries would do much to solve the unemployed difficulty. More, indeed, than any remedy that has as yet been applied." A general meeting followed the Commit* tee meeting, when the subject of marriage and divorce was considered. The following resolution was passed :—" That this Institute is in favour of the Hon. Mr McGregor's Bill of 1895, which provides that divorce be granted for adultery or desertion."