WOMEN'S WORK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12428, 18 February 1901, Page 7

WOMEN'S WORK.

. The following summary of the iby the Women's Institute during the jpas!) ~ iyear was read lay the Secretary at tihfi feo* jfeual meeting of the Institute yesteaidays-w [The Canterbury Women's Instatute las,, durmg the past year, as before, strongly the. passing by Paifliament of tine Bill'for the "Removal of all Civil and Political Disabilities from Women." The • ;Instiiue considers ihe Bill to bo a meaisure of the greatest importance, involving, jas it does, the placing of women on gan enjtare equality, with men, legally, pcditicaHjjv jtod socially, to the-end that -the conserioua leyolution of the race may bo more fully •grcmoted' in every direction. : .Illegitimacy, so called, has been under [consideration by the Institute, and! a serial 'of xesolutions have been adopted, demanding the removal of the foarcLshipsi that are JJWW, inflictedl upon innocent oMdren, first «£ all by the ■thoughtlessness of their pariquts, audi second, by legal disqualifications. ,'The Institute considers that tibe State I should 1 make generous provision for the supervision and education of fall children born cut of wedlock; that the ijJareafcs should be compelled to oontdbufe "jto the suppoit of such children; that they •Eouldi bear the father's name, audi have a '• • legjyj rigiht to share in his property m casa of intestacy* and that women officers fijhoold ba appoiateij to make every neoesswy an* !j|Tiiry for the purpose of seeming justice. ; Thie Institute has also warmly advoWbed tihs establishment of " cottage homes ". Ifor the reception of the young children) of >|Mie Stated until old enough tot be passed iiuto technical training schools. ' , . Becommendlations have been made with [regard to the mothers of more than one al[legitimate ■ cMldl to the effect that 'those iihouldl bs .detained in industrial hoinea for- - |sn indeterminate period, sines, wihen free,-jthey-iate a menace to society. ' i '"The nwthodl 08. distributing charitable [jKd''ca3l9 for reform. The system now in farce is felt ito 'be "very unsatisfactory, there ' [being, constant danger of encouraging the [pauper spirit among the worthless, * whilst [others, who are honest and. willing workers, jttaectuig, temporary assistance or work suffer jwutely -owing to the cut-and-driedl way ia vwhidh a great, many cases are. dealt with. 1 ' The Institute earnestly advocates the jelecijeu of all members of public bodies directly by the people. One reason for thi.3 jisthe meed for women on Boards. t' The Arbitration and 1 Conciliation Act has jbeeni considered 1 , with the object 0$ getting itlie benefits of the Act extended to all who are engaged 1 ia industries, distributing <•genci.es, and the public service, i' The Institute found occasion to i thank Dr [Golquhqun for. his humanitarian address on i"Jnebriate Homes," and,is in sympathy [■with the points emphasised in his address [before the medical conference; that the sen[teaces of patients placed in the homes jriwuld terminate with the cure of the . jpaiaeat, that wholesome employment should '=jhe given, and that payment should be ma da ifor work done after deducting cost of main■jteßKttee. "-' The Instatute "has protested against any -j*ttempt9 being made to bring the CD. 'Acta into- force, in this colony, urging that " 'the disetase is a moral one, and cannot ba fcorittolled by the police. It deprecates the !»etting up of a department whose officials •' jwiilld he pecuniarily interested in its mainitenance." The Institute has approved of tha ! Jprovision- made by the Hospital Board for '"the treatment of the special diseases of voluntary patients. ■ ,\ The Institute has strongly recommended .- 1 the employment of'women in all institution*, , ; and also that the matron- of any institution [should not be the wife of the manager. 'The Government has been' advised that an lequal number of men and women official [visitors should be appointed to visit public [institutions. ! TW Government has been urged .to pass -. £Pl*a-3foung Persons .Protection.. Bill- A. ' [constant -source of deep annoyance to the . 'lnstitute is the manner in winch this Bill ; is discussed, especially by the Legislative Council, some members of that body show-' ing by their remarks that they are morally Wat to deal with a question of vital moment 'not only to this country but to the race. The recognition of the responsibility of publicans for those found drunk or in a dying condition on the.r premises, is urged, and the Institute has deprecated the introduction of licensed houses for the sale of ■ intoxicants in the King Countiy.