CANTERBURY WOMENS INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9812, 23 August 1897, Page 6

CANTERBURY WOMENS INSTITUTE.

«_ A general meeting of the Canterbury Women's Institute was held on Friday evening in the Women's Christian Temperance Union rooms, Gloucester street. Correspondence was received on the projected conference on prison reform, to bo held on August 27th ; from the Australasian Society for Social Ethics, asking that delegates might be appointed to attend a meeting for the consideration of an international language. It was decided that the Institute could not at present see its way to cooperate actively, though sympathy with the movement was generally expressed. The consideration of the date of the conference to be held on the Contagious Diseases Acts, and the provision ot a special hospital ward for the treatment of -infectious diseases was postponed till next meeting. The President said that with regard to these and kindred matters, the ideal to be kept in view was a more enlightened parenthood, which would insist on its young people being instructed in the laws which govern their physical organisation. Ignorance was the rock on which so many young lives were stranded. Site trusted the day was not far distant when the subject of biology would be taught in the public schools by teachers specially qualified. Much good might be done by the University if free biological lectures were-- provided for the public. The Institute had moved in this matter some time ago, and it might be well to approach the new Board. Several members spoke as to the desirableness ef such lectures being provided, and the President and Secretary were instructed to draw up a letter to be forwarded to the Board of Governors setting forth the views of the Institute on the subject. The delegates reported tbe result of i.he public meeting to consider the question of Bnrnham. Mrs Blake moved to the effect that, as the matter would be brought up in the next session of Parliament, a Sub-Committee should be appointed to formulate a set of Questions to be submitted by members to arliament as to the methods of management adopted in Industrial Schools. She said that the system alone should be attacked, and that oil personalities should be avoided. The past management of the Industrial Schools had been what society allowed it to be. Five ladies were appointed to prepare a series of questions and to submit them to tho next general meeting, which would deal with the question of homes for neglected children. Miss A. E. Hookham read an interesting address, lately deliveroi in Wellington by Mr E. J. Le Grove, on " The Employment of the People by the People for the People." A short discussion followed, and the following resolution, to be forwarded to Mr Le Grove, was unanimously passed :—" That the Canterbury Women's Institute warmly congratulates Mr Le Grove on his thoughtful scheme for dealing with the unemployed difficulty, and pledges itself to forward such an ideal to a successful issue by all the means in its power." One new member was elected.