WOMEN’S COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11231, 31 March 1897, Page 6

WOMEN’S COUNCIL.

ANNUAL CONVENTION

AFTERNOON SITTING. The Convention resumed its sittings at 2.30 yesterday afternoon, Mrs Sievwright occupying the chair. Mrs Louisa Blako read a paper on “Old Age Pensions.” She pointed out that wages were generally cut so low as to render saving impossible, and we were face to face with the fact that while wealth and knowledge increased misery increased also. The trend of modern industry was not only against the aged, but also against the elderly. She thought that of the required age and residence, without distinction of class or wealth, should be entitled to a pension, for surely all were entitled to that towards which all had contributed. The necessary money might be raised—first, by a direct tax; secondly, part might be raised in that way, and part by a tax on laud; thirdly, the State might work mines for the benefit of the aged. The beauty of the old age pension scheme was that its benefits would fall on the Just and unjust alike, and that it would not interfere with the many existing benevolent institutions, or with private charities. Mrs Hendre then moved and Mrs Wells seconded the following resolution: —“ That in the opinion of this Council, with a view of securing to the people an assurance against poverty in old age, it is desirable that a system of old age pensions should be established in the colony, the sole qualification of the recipients to be twentyfive years’ residence in the colony, and a certified age of sixty-five years.” Mrs Wells, in seconding the motion, observed that the old people among some barbarians had at least an honourable exit from life, which our aged had not. Mrs Cunuington moved, and Mrs Tasker seconded, ah amendment to tho effect that the pension should only be payable to those in receipt of less than .£SO per annum. Mesdames Bullock, C. Simpson, Kirkby, Isherwood, Simpson, Daldy, Sheppard and Miss Hookham supported : the resolution, which was carried by 11 to 4, Mesdames Cunuington, Tasker, Bullock and Gunner (proxy) voting against it. Mrs Sheppard, by leave, moved the following resolution, withont notice, which, being seconded by Mrs Bullock, was carried unanimously—“ That, this Council wishes to express to Sir John-Hall, on his departure for England, its grateful remembrance of his efforts on behalf of womanhood suffrage in years past, and trusts that he and Lady Hall will have a very pleasant trip to the Old Country, aud a speedy return.” Mrs Bullock then moved, and Mrs Daldy seconded, the following resolution—“ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that District Court Judges and Stipendiary Magistrates be placed in the same position as Judges of the Higher. Courts in respect to tenure of office and fixity of salary.” Mesdames Sheppard, C. Simpson and Hendre opposed the motion, and Mesdames Shera and Simpson concurred. Mrs Tasker did not understand the question, and would decline to vote on it. . On the motion of Mrs Sheppard, seconded by Airs Bullock, the debate was adjourned at 4.40.

EVENING SITTING. The Convention resumed at eight o’clock, Mrs Sheppard in the chair. The following resolution, arrived at in committee, was confirmed in open Council: “ We, the delegates of the various societies affiliated to the Council feel that it is necessary to refute the charges iu Lady Stout’s protest made against the President and Secretary, believing that in nowise have they failed in, or exceeded, their duty during the past year.” The debate adjourned from the afternoon was then taken up, and Mrs Bullock replied. The motion was lost by six to one. In a paper on “ Equal Pay for Equal Work,” Mrs Hendre pointed out that it was only just that women should receive equal pay with men when they did the same work and did it as .well. There were a large miraher of positions which women were capable of filling as well as men, and work of this nature should he freely thrown open to women. The physical disabilities of women were the sole ground on which the present unjust methods of pay had been founded. The employer also regarded a woman as a temporary or casual rather than as a regular staff hand; and the excellence of a woman’s work forced itself into prominence even then she was only looked on as a leading member of the low-paid class from which she had emerged. The fact that a woman could subsist on less than a man had also been a factor in the low scale of her pay. Another reason for the present unsatisfactory state of women’s labour was the general inability of women to coalesce and insist on a fair wage for their labour. It was this state of mind which had rendered them unable to hold their own in the present organised masses of labour. If woman’s work was done equally well, and physical incapacity was the only drawback, then payment by result would be the only fair mode of treatment. Society had not yet realised the changes of condition and environment which had come about in the. lives of women, who now liad to strike out and get their own living in the same way as their competitor—man. Women had of late come largely into the labour market, and if men were not going to be replaced by this cheap labour, then payment by result would be the only way out of the difficulty. Those interested in the equalisation of wages did not wish to pnll down, but to level up. As reniedies Mrs Hendre advocated raising the standard of women’s work by thorough technical education, and pointed out that they could only enjoy the, full rights of citizenship by means of cohesion and organisation. She moved the following resolution “ That this Council is of opinion that in all callings where men and women are engaged in the same work, either in the employ of the Government or of private individuals, an equal wage should be paid for equal work.” The resolution, being seconded by Mrs Bullock, and spoken to by Mesdames Tasker, Isherwood, Izett, Williamson and Daldy, was carried unanimously. The Convention adjourned at 0.48 p.m., and will re-assemblo at 2.30 this afternoon.