NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11870, 20 April 1899, Page 6

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND. April 19.

The National Council of Women met in committee this morniug. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: — President, Mrs Sheppard ; vice-presidents, Mesdames Daldy, Sievwright and Tasker: secretary, Mrs Wells; treasurer, Mr;Williamson (re-elected). It was decided that the next annual convention of the Council should be held in Dunedin. Or, the motion of Mrs Sievwright, seconded by Mrs Schnackenberg, it was resolved—- “ That the National Council of Women of New Zealand depores the continuous growth of armaments throughout the world. It sees that the people are crashed by the ever-increasing military expenditure, and that they are alienated from each other by the rivalries of their respective rulers. The Council deprecates any projects likely to involve Australasia in participation in warfare, and strenuously protests against an imjmrial consideration of those colonies as a recruiting ground for imperial militarism.” Mrs Tasker moved, and Mrs Wells seconded —“ That in the opinion of this Council canvassing at elections should be abolished.” The motion was carried. Mrs Sievwright moved, and Mrs "Wells seconded —“That in the interests of the electors a second ballot at general elections should bo taken.” The motion was carried. It was decided, on the motion of Mrs' Tasker, to forward the resolutions to the Premier.

At the afternoon session the following motion arising from a paper on masters and apprentices was passed:—“That as a substitute for the basic reforms the Council hopes to see inaugurated the Government he asked to make seme legal enactment whereby boys and girls should pass through a period of probation and be adequately protected m disputes; 1 they'Should also be properly taught their trades, with a system of graded payments to he enforced for young people.” A. motion was passed unanimously demanding equal pay for equal work. The following motions, proposed by Mrs Schnackenberg, were passed by a large majority(l) “That the Council urge upon the Government a stricter enforcement of the laws for the regulation of the liquor traffic.” (2) “Whereas the liquor traffic is declared on undisputed authority to he the cause of much misery and crime, the Council pledges itself on humanitarian grounds to do all in its power to discountenance the importation, manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors ” (3) “That this Council reaffirms the great democratic principle of government by a majority on all questions.”

At the evening session Mrs Fletcher read a paper on “ Agricultural Schools,” by Mrs Louisa Blake, of Christchurch. The writer of the paper suggested that such schools should be free to all. A motion embodying the suggestions was carried A paper by Miss Fraser, of the Girls’ College, Wanganui, was read by Mrs Williamson, of Wanganui, Mrs Wells made a number of suggestions embodying, in effect, the proposals in the paper, namely, that technical education should be provided for all, and that the children of the primary schools should go on to the secondary schools in certain cases; also, that increased facilities should be given for study and the training of pupil teachers.