WOMEN CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 17191, 5 November 1919, Page 8

WOMEN CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING

The first annual general meeting of the Women Citizens’ Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. Assembly Hall last evening. Miss Winifred Isitt (acting president) was in ihe chair.

The annual report reviewed the proceedings of the association since inception in August, 1918. to unite women, to stimnlaie their interest in civic life, and to foster a souse of civic responsibility witly regard to their use of the vote*. Special reference was made to the activities undertaken in connection with the protection of children during the peace celebrations, the “ movies,” the Epidemic Orphans Adoption Act, women patrols, removal of house refuse, the need for amending the Shops and Offices Act to extend its scope to embrace all shops and offices wherein women and girls were employed, so that they might no longer be in danger of working under unhealthy and insanitary conditions, and other matters. The report also gave a list of the add.-rsses delivered during the year. Miss Isitt, in moving the adoo-iion of the report., said that ai.u we e in hue-, that sooner or later they would secure the amendments desired in the Shops and Offices Act. There were far too many exceptions. They had received a lot of encouragement in many quarters. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs S. Clark; vice-presidents— Mrs Benton-Leecli, Mrs E. J. Mirams, Mrs C. E. Statham; committee—Miss De Beer, (Mrs Reed, Mrs Downing, the Misses Hartley (two), Mrs Batchelor, Dr Siedeberg, a member of the girls’ department of th Y.W.C.A. (to be elected by that body),Miss Hopkinson; secretary, Mrs B. Williams ; treasurer, Mrs W. A. Scott. Mrs Benton-Leech delivered an address on the work of women citizens’ associations in England, whence she had recently come. The whole aim of the movement, she said, was education of women to her privileges and her civic responsibilities. She gave some most interesting details of the formation of branches, etc. There was some discussion on the address, Mrs Mirams commenting specially upon the desirability of full representation of _ women in public life. She moved in this connection, and it was resolved—ihat a hearty message of congratulation be sent to" Mrs Baume and Miss .Melville on coming forward as candidates for Parliament, with the sincere hope that they both he returned.”

Miss Isitt, who is leaving on a visit to England, delivered a valedictory address, emphasising the need for service. We in New Zealand, she urged, had to pay for the privilege of living in this land of pleasant surroundings. It was a debt we owed to those who had suffered through the war in surroundings of fear and horror. There was never a period calling as this did for personal service. Training was needed for this service, and they must enter upon it with humility and resoluteness.

• On the motion of Dr Siedeberg a heartv vote ox thanks was accorded Miss Isitt for her service as acting president.