NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14192, 15 October 1906, Page 8

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

LETTER TO THE PREMIER,

The following letter has been forwarded by the National Council, of Women of New Zealand to the Premier:—“To the Honourable Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister of New Zealand. Sir, — I.am instructed by the Executive of the New: Zealand National Council of Women to congratulate you on the generally progressive policy enunciated by ,the new Government, which the'Council considers a happy augury for the futture prosperity of the colony. At the same time, the National Council of Women of New Zealand is surprised land disappointed that, among the many reforms suggested in your programme, no reference has been imad© to the necessity for the rectifying of the many civil and political disabilities, under which women have so long laboured. The National Council desires to point out that the justice of this reform has keen repeatedly urged upon the Legislature during many years past, by the women’s societies of the colony, and 1 that the time has come when we may reasonably expect a practical recognition of our claims. The following are some of the more pressing disabilities which we desire to see removed :—(1) Women are allowed no direct voice in framing the laws by which we are governed; “(2) women have unequal pay and unequal opportunities in the teaching profession and in other branches of the Civil Service; £3) several marriage disabilities still remain; e.g., in connection .with (a) the guardianship of the children, (b) thy? -legal recognition of the economic partnership of husband and wife (at present the wife is legally powerless in all financial transactions affecting herself or her family); (4) women are ineligible to serve as jurors; (5) the so-called privileges in the Factories Acts militate against the best business interests of women, and should be abolished; (6) the Contagious Diseases Acts are still on the Statute Books of the colony, though the Government, by a oontinued/suspension of them, acknowledges that they are useless and unjust. Trusting that the action of the Government in these matters is only delayed.—l am, etc., Sarah Saunders Page, Honorary Secretary N.C.W.N.Z.”