CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12202, 24 May 1905, Page 2

CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

—_. — Tho committee of the Canterbnry "Women's Institute met last Friday afternoon. The proposals made at a recent health meeting, held under tho auspices of the Physical Culture Society, wero reviewed and the following resolution, to be forwarded to the Society, was unanimously passed:—"That this Institute is of opinion that any endeavour to secure repressive legislation to deal with the present unsatisfactory state of morality, ia unsound in principle, and would, therefore, be pernicious in practice, and as it is convinced that present immoral conditions of society aro largely responsible for the vice of the individual, it urges upon tho Government, and the representatives of the people (1) that the State should exercise supervision over all young persons under the age of 21; (2) that in cases of neglect or irresponsibility on the part of parents, children should bo removed from their care and trained by women of special qualifications in cottage homes, at the enforced charge of the parents; (3) that kindergartens should be established in connection with our publio schools; (4) that specially qualified science teachers be appointed to visit schools, to teach the rudiments of botany, and give instruction to all children on tho laws of health; (5) that free and compulsory .continuation and technical schools and gymnasia be established by the Government; (6) that hot and cold baths be provided by the municipalities; (7) that free publio places of entertainment be established, under the supervision of the municipalities; (8) that all bars be closed; (9) that special domestic training be given to girls attending all schools, and that opportunities for training in technical schools and subsequent registration be afforded by the Government." It was further resolved—"That this Institute protests against the statement made recently by Dr. Symes, that three out of four girls are periodically hysterical." The Institute points to the fact of the largo number of girls working for their daily bread as the best ' refutation of what it believes to be a baseless and undeserved slur upon girlhood. In respect to Mr Taylor's stand with regard to a case of iniquity in Christchurch, tho secrotary was instructed to convey tho best thanks of the Institute to Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., for his manly courage in giving publicity to the tragedy which has lately taken place in Christchurch. Tho secretary was also instructed to forward the congratulations of the Institute to the Socialist Church, in the following resolution :—" That this Institute congratulate the Socialist Church on its worthy endeavour to obtain municipal control of the gas monopoly, and trusts that Christchurch will speedily follow the excellent example already set in many towns by < municipalising this most important publio service." The eeoretary of tho National Council of Women reported that owing to the J death of the president, Mrs M. H. ( Sievwright, the meeting which was to j have been held in May, had been post- ' poned, but it was proposed to hold a * meeting of the Executive early in ] September. ' ' In the matter of the Sievwright memorial, which the Gisborno women ] have initiated, it was announced, tliat I Mrs Ensom, treasurer of the Institute, 1 would be glad to receive subscriptions t at her place of business, Mrs Pope's, j Morten's buildings.