WOMEN'S DEMOCRATIC UNION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 16

WOMEN'S DEMOCRATIC UNION.

A public meeting- in connection with this institution took place last week in the Psychological Society's room, Ghuzneo street, Mrs Tasker, the president, in the chair. Miss Alice M. Tasker (lion secretary) read the annual report, and the president then read a long and interesting address. The question had often been asked her " Why do women not combine r" Want of time was one reason, but the two chief causes operating- to keep working women bound to isolated toil wore ignorance of their own ability to help themselves, and a certain Conservatism—an unconscious subservience to custom that largely influences the feminine mind. Some, too, were under the mental dominance of their male relatives. To rouse them to a sense of their own power and to educate them to a knowledge of the benefits to ho derived from combination and a sense of their obligations to society at large were the aim and object of this Union. Not a single instance of bickering or quarrelling hud marked the first year's history of the Union ; the utmost good feeling hid prevailed. The gentlemen who were honorary members had been a groat help, and the only way to accomplisli any good was for the meeting to bo open to gentlemen who become honorary members. Women's indirect influence on legislation had been great since their admission to the franchise, and would bo greater in time to come. The most important thing was for women to maintain an attitude of honesty, truthfulness, courtesy and right-mindedness toward every phase of women's aggressive work, political, social, industrial aud physical, and to condemn all that publicly and ostentatiously appealed to the lower side of human nature. Women were no longer driven to marriage as their only " avocation," and that fact alone would do much to redeem marriage

from the degradation into which (as far as women were concerned) it had fallen. Wives ought to be the equals and companions of their husbands, not only] in the home, but in the State. The Rev W. A. Evans moved, " That tins meeting approves of the necessity of a Uni- ' versitj- College for Wellington, and urges the Government to at once face the question and concede to the people of this city a right which is enjoyed by the other cities of the Colony." The motion was seconded by Mr J. A. Connell, and agreed to. It was also resolved on the motion of Mr E. A. Haggen. seconded by Mr Tyrwlnt-Jones, " That" in the interests of women it is desirable that they should support the organisations and societies formed to discuss political and social questions affecting the welfare of the sexes, and administration of State affairs which are necessary to the general welfare of the nation." On the motion of Miss Boughton, seconded by Mrs Livermore, a vote of thanks was passed to the press and to the gentlemen who had assisted at the meeting.

Miss Ci?sie Gill, second daughter of Mr William Gdl, manager of the Alliance Assurance Company, was married on January 29 to Mr Charles E. Rigg, of Messrs "Finn, Rigg and Co., merchants, of this city. The wedding took place at bt. Peter's Church, the Rev 'J'. H. Sprott, incumbent of St. Paul's, pcforming the marriage ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress of blue and grey cloth, trimmed with silk and Maltese lace, with hat of velvet and silk to match ; also a srold watch and chain, and instead of the orthodox flowers she carried a Church Service, bound in white satin, both these being the gift of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids were Misses Lottie, Louie and Ella Gill, who wore dresses of cream serge trimmed with electric blue, with hats to match, and who carried prayerbooks in white satin bags, the gift of the bridegroom. Mr A. M. Burns attended the bridegroom. As the wedding party left the church 1 the " Wedding March " was played by Mr H. Shortt. The wedding breakfast was afterwards served at V/ The Lindens," the residence of the br' 3's parents. A reception was held in ,ernoon. The honeymoonis to" be spent At fN>lson and Mrs thai, place yesterday evening by the Penguin. The bride's travelling dress was of navy serpre, with black hat. Staff-Captain Edwards, of the Salvation Army, was the officiating officer on Sunday when Captain Allison, of Patea, was married to Lieutenant Nolan, of the local branch of the Women's Rescue Homo. There were over SOO people present. Major Saunders, of Melbourne, delivered a suitable address. At the usual weekly mscting of tho 1 Women's Social and Political League on Monday, at their room, No. 6, Exchange Buildings—Miss Seddon in tho chair several new members were elected and nominations received. Two resolutions were laid on the table. It was decided that twe papers by Miss Williams and Mrs Schoch be read next week.

A public meeting under the auspices of tho Women's Social and Political League was held in the Newtown State Schoolroom last week. Mrs R. J. Seddon (president) occupied tho chair, and there was a fair attendance of members and friends. Fourteen new members were cdected. The secretary (Mrs K. A. Schoch) reported that the League had now been registered under tho Unclassified Societies Registration Act, 1895. Miss Williams read a paper entitled " A Few Words to Women," in which she expressed the opinion that so long as women mistrusted each other, as they are now prone to do, they could not hope to make much progress in public or private affairs. No true woman could conscientiously refrain from earnestly taking part in politics, as they were bound to do their utmost to assist in securing the very best Government possible. It was gratif\ r ing to find men were so ready to associate with women and to afford them assistance, but they must not lean upon them too much or they might find themselves neglecting duties peculiarly their own. Mrs Schoch read a paper on "The Political Outlook," in the course of which she combated the idea that women were neglecting their homes because they met together once a week for a couple of hours. The present Govei-nment had a record of reforms which had probably never been beaten in any civilised country, but she contended that tho Government had been considerably handicapped in its endeavours to pass liberal measures by the noisy clamours of the Prohibitionists and tho banking crisis. It was, however, amazing that so much had been achieved by the Government, and she pointed out that further reforms would soon be carried if the public would make iip their minds as to which they wanted, and combine to-

gether for the purpose of getting those reforms. She trusted a large majority of the women would enlist under the Liberal banner, as their instinct of self-preservation clearly shoiyed from which side they might expect jus'ice. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the ladies who had read papers, and to the president.