CITIZENS' INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1259, 16 April 1896, Page 32

CITIZENS' INSTITUTE.

The Citizens' Institute met on Monday in the Exchange Buildings. There was a large and representative attendance. Mr C. T. Richardson occupied the chair. Miss Leo delivered an interesting and carefully prepared paper on " The Extension of the Municipal Franchise and How it Will Affect Woman." Tho essayist contended that the same privileges of manhood suffrage appertaining to Parliament ary life should apply to local government ; that those who paid rates paid taxes, and that it was an outrageous anomaly to permit the common sense of the country to rule its highest destinies, and to withhold it from corporations and local bodies. Tho provisions of the Local Government Bill before Parliament last session wore exhaustively commented on, and its facilities for effecting reform in tho direction of establishing markets, cottages for worker.., demolishing disreputable tenements, Ac.,. warmly commended. By this Bill market gardens could be established on a municipal basis, and as women were suited to this occupation, a largo amount of surplus female labour would be absorbed. The building of workers' cottage's would destroy the high and ruinous rents prevailing in Wellington. The tssayLt deplored tho existence of ijauneii.-ing and demoralising charitable aid, and warned the workers of the fierce competition it engendered. Instances had come to her notice of charitable recipients undercut ling, by virtue of r-ucli aid, others engaged in similar occupations. The establishment of municipal workshops (voidd hud to lessen the evil, and ren:o\o the stigma of beggary from those

who were unfortunate enough to bo out of work. The question of the acquisition of trams, electric lighting, fire insurance would follow, until we were placed in the samo position as such towns as Glasgow.

The returns from these sources would minimise the rates. Each councillor should be placed in charge of a department in the same way as Cabinet Ministers, and should bo paid for their services, if the best men and women wero to bo secured. Tho clause in tho Bill providing for the purchase of land for pleasure grounds, gymnasium, Ac, was not its least important provision. Tho Bill deserved the support of every man and woman in earnest for tho country's welfare. The want of progress in matters municipal was notorious, and it was time for agitation for change. A capital discussion followed, in which several ladies participated, tho majority favouring the views of Alias Leo, to whom, after her reply, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded.