SOUTHERN CROSS SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 47, 23 August 1895, Page 4

SOUTHERN CROSS SOCIETY.

bhanka was passed to Lw ly Stout for her valuable paper. A discussion on a proposa l.by Miss Greenwood to amend the olauses in the oo institution relating to the payment of worn. »n who did work equal to men was alljourned. _ After transaotiug Home routine business the meeting terminated. BESUMPTION OF CHEEEFULNJ 2SS, ♦ Undisturbed and more refreshing alee p, and a hearty appetite, are speedy effeots i :eanlting from t£e nge of Wolfe'a Schnapps. FISCAL BEFORM X-EA.<GK!B» •tO THI IBITOB. Sir— Would be -very pleased if you oould apar^a ootier in your valuabl a paper that it may be widely known to all or ver the whole of Now Zealand the woful foe llure of Protection in every oonntry where it has been tried. It hampers all bußinessa 3 and trades and shuts out capitalists, to tht » great loss of the masses and classes and tt ■ those who hare large families depending 01 t them — the larger the families the greater tb c sufferings. The object of the Fisoal Befon n League is one plank only — a free break) fast table— the entire abolition of Custom) s duties on the necessaries of life and labo nr, and to make good the necessary revenue. , by first, a reasonable increase in the Land Tax, and entire abolition of exemption* by mil, blaok, white, or yellow. We are all subjects of the same orow.ned head, and Trhy not tax everyone aooording to his means, without fear or «wrar P This is 4he rule amongst the most omhsea wrfions of the present day. The \whole inhatif*nts- of New Zealand ought to be equaß* taa:ed, aooording to thoir mea.ns from wnate^ir aouroo. Direct taxation is -jrnat is wanted!. Tien we wonld have a progre. wive country— employment for all over the v> hole of New Zealand. There is room for upwa^s of at\OOO,OOO. But it will only £c when jerrynwod.eriDff and unjnst tariff* , cease, and financ ijl matters are plaoed on * solid afld lound .foundation. This is mncb i waatecf at the present time, and the sooner ' the better for all. Then capital would flow into the country. X^ere would be no more grinding down if ev»ry one was equally taxed to the support of the State, and this knowledge to all would establish a thorongh oontrol over all unnecessary expenditure by any Government that may be in power, and have appointed fo> pnblio positions but those qualified by experience and skill for what waß required, »nd be done with friends and favouritism. I am, to., Bt Onb who Knows. Lower Hntt, August, 1895. Cibtainlt the best medicine known is Sander and Sons' Enoalypti Extract. Teat its eminently powerful effects in ooughs, colds, influenia>-the relief is inatentaneous. In serious oases, SSWaopidents of all kinds, be they wounds, bttrils, soaldings, bruißes, sprains, it is the safest *ntoedy— no swelling, no inflammation. Like" surprising "5?° ta produced in croup, dipiftena, bronohibs, innammation of the lungs, awellings, 4c; diarrhoea, dysentry, diseases of the kidneya and urinary organs. In use at hospital! and medical olinios all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King^of Halt; orowned with medal and dipjorfffi Hi International I Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article': *nd reieot all others.— Advt.

PAPER BY LADY STOUT. A largely-attended meeting of the Southern Cross Society -stub held in the Dresden Company's Booms last evening. Mrs. Plimmer was in the chair, and delivered an able address on the aims and objeots of the society. The eleotion of office-bearers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows :— President, Mrs. Plimmer; Vioe-Presidentß, Lady Stout and Miss Kirk ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Menteath ; Committee, Meadames J. Boss, Sherwood, Isaao Clark, A. E. Newman, Tonka, T. M'Donnell, T. W. Hislop, and Misses Allen and Dnthis, with power to add to their nnmber. Lady Stout read a very interesting paper dealing with the society's objects. She said that at the last meeting there appeared to be a misapprehension as to the objeotß of the sooiety, many seeming to think that a society for the dispensation of charity was being set np. The sooiety had been organised for the purpose of educating women of all olasses and of all shades of opinion to take a wide view of the questions of the day, and to do all in their power to advocate reforms that would tend to benefit women and help to promote the independence and equality of women, and- make life and the conditions of living easier and better for those wom-n who had to depend upon their own exertipns for a livelihood. Dealing seriatim with the objects and aims of the society. Lady Stout said that women required education in Dolilics. It was only lately that they had obtained a voice in politics, and it could scarcely be expected that they conld be qualified to understand the soienoe of politios and political economy without study and thought. To be able to give an opinion on the promotion of purity of administration, both of the General Government and of local bodies, they must understand the working of institutions, and must not be. too ready to jump to conolußions and find fault with administration without good and sound rensonß. In insisting upon high character as an eßßential qualification for eleotion to any public positions, she considered that women would have the very best and fullest scope for action. In her opinion they had the power to raise the standard of uprightness and pnrity of oharaoter in men all in their own bands. Once they anoceeded in securing men of high character and purity, of life for *U public positions, they need have no fear that the administration of Government would bo disgraced by any abuees. They must make it known that no matter how clever a man might be they would not accept him as the women's candidate unless bi i private and public reputation was suoh as to command respeot and reflect credit upon his supporters. Shn feared tbat< the proposal to secure for women equal remuneration with men for equal work would be a source of a food deal of trouble to the Sooiety. Many disagreed with the idea. Her opinion was that where women succeeded in doing the work equally well with men they were by right entitled to equal pay, and where women were found unequal ti cope with the male sex it was better they should fall out of competition and take up a line of work in whioh they wonld be more successful. The proposal to advocate the improvement ot laws particularly relating to women was highly neoessary. bhe thought th»t*U would agree that in making men'stand upon an equality with women as to divorce the society was only insisting upon justice and right in that matter, and in all sooial matters it was necessary for the protection of the weaker to put more rigid restrictions upon the stronger. Not one of 'he originators of the society was in favour of (he candidature of women for seats in ' Parliament, their opinion being that it wonld require some years of education in politios before it would be beooming for them to pome forward as politioians. When the time* came for an able woman to undertake the responsibilities she (Lady Stont) hoped that woman would not be rejeotod for a man who was unsuitable to hold a Beat in the House. The objeot of the society was to have women on Hospital and Boards, School Committees, Charitable Aid Boardß.'and in other positions for whioh they were equally suitable with men. Women without domestic responsibilities who had time and ability to attend to the duties of the positions were required. The sooiety did not intend or wish to organise any form of pharitable aid, but it oonsidered that something should be done to prevent the constant overlappingof charitable aid societies, and to ensure that the deserving poor should receive necessary help without the publioity that was humiliating •o them. If a central board, with distriot boards and visiting committees, were organised, all cases could be properly investigated. Women should be district visitors, and also members of the various board*. It would, she thought, be mnoh easier to raise voluntary subscriptions if the donors were certain their gifts would be expended for the benefit of the worthy and deserving. The idea of the (society was to have a soheme of the sort; tried in Wellington, bat not to oolleat or distribute as a sooiety. Another object of the sooiety was to promote temperanoe and insist on the licensing laws being rigidly carried out. The proposal to afford facilities for meetings for. the study and discussion of political, ' economical, educational, and literary subjeots, and generally to cany on snoh useful work as might be considered suitable sufiU oiently explained itself. The sooiety did not desire to be considered a sooiety for the suppression of mankind. It only desired that the women of the colony should have equal rights with men, and not be debarred by law or prejudice from living the fullest and freest life they might be qualified by eduoation to live. The society would be happy to enrol gentlemen as honorary members, and also to listen to addresses from them. The sooiety hoped that by obtaining equal rights it would, instead of making life harder for men, make it muoh better. Homes would be more happy when the wife was able and willing to take part, and advise her husband in every department of his work, and share his aspirations as well as his daily cares and sorrows. On the motion of Mri. A. K. Newman, seconded by Mr*. T. M'Donnell, a vote of