CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 8

CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

A general meeting of the Canterbury Women's Institu-e was hold on Friday, in the Manchester street Clumbers, *th© president, Mrs Atkinson, occupying the chair. The presidents action in writing a letter ot condolence tr> th© relatives cf the lute .Sir J-cini Hall was ©ndoi>«d. Attention was drawn to tlie number of insanitary dwellings in Christchurch, and the secretary was instructed to write to tne Health Officer, pointing out a t-.p-'cia ly •bad case. A letter was read from tho Hon. \V. Hall-Jones, thanking the institute for its expression of sympauiy in his illness. It was decided that the following motion should be debited at tha next meeting:—-That in tne opinion of this Institute a graduated land-tax does not benefit the mas.e«s, but if the £500 exemption were abol.sheJ, and an equal reduction in the Customs duties made, this would be a movo in the right direction. - ' The Society having waited for some evidence of tho ebullitions at Burnhaiu having been impioved sine© the Royal Commission sat, the met ting was unanimously of opinion that tiie alterat.ons which should bo put into immediate execution should include—la) th© introduction of dual control, th© mat ion being endowed with absolute power in all mattois of a puiefy domestic nature; (b) th© grouping ot suitable members und classes of inmates at meal-times, each in charge 'of an attendant, in small separate dining-rooms, making possible the observance of the amenities of civilised life, and the abolition of tho depressing system of silence now tne rule, which would lead to nicer manners, greater happiness, and a more normal and home-like life of the boys; (c) tho making and enforcing of oeunit© and judicious rules to Iw observed in all cases where punishment is to bo dealt out, especially corporal punishment, such rules to be based on justice, lovo and mercy, in accord with lofty ideas of humanity, and which would ensure good discipline; (d) th© equipment of a sufficient number of cottage homes, ©aeh in charge of a fostermother having no private interests which would prevent nor devoting her time to tho welfare of the boys tinker her charge; (c) the making of the conditions ot the members of tho staff as pleasant as possible, so that each one may bring each dny a whole-hcarteu enthusiasm to bear on his or her wont; (f) tho Board of Advice to bo changed for a Board of Control, and to have tho appointing nnd dismissing of members of th© staff, and to be accessible a-i a personal Board of Appeal in ca&ea of dissatisfaction on tho part of any inmato of tho institution.