CONVENTION OF WOMEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 16

CONVENTION OF WOMEN.

The National Council of Wom ui resumed its sittings at Christchurch on Ap'.il 15, Mrs Tasker presiding.

Mrs Blake moved, “That this Council expresses its dissatisfaction with the present system of charitable aid, on the ground that its tendency is to encourage rather than lessen pauperism, and the Council is strongly of opinion that women should 1)0 eligible for seats on all local bodies having to do with the distribution of charitable aid funds.” Mrs Fleming seconded the motion, which, after considerable discussion, was carried unanimously. Mr O’Brycn Iloaro read a paper on some proposed remedies for the evils ot landlordism. Miss Sherrill Bain moved, “ That in the opinion of this Council the land of any country belongs to tho people.” Mrs Sicvwriglit seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, after some discussion. Mrs Tasker moved, and Lady Stout seconded, “ That in the opinion of this Council private ownership of large tracts of land, and that kept locked up by absentees, is a wrong inflicted on the people, and detrimental to progress.” After an animated discussion the motion was carried, twelve delegates voting for it and ono abstaining from voting. In the afternoon the delegates were entertained at a garden party.

At tho evening sitting, Miss A. E. Ilookliam read a paper on “Constructive Socialism” and Airs Siovwright one on “Tho Now Woman.”

The Council resumed on Thursday morning, Airs Daldy presiding. Mrs Schnaekenberg moved, “That this National Council of Women affirms its strong conviction that every political question should bo decided by a majority of the voters that go to the poll, and that any deviation from this rule, as in the present Licensing Act, is subversive of a great political principle and the recognition of the supposed right of government by a minority.” Airs Sheppard seconded the motion. After discussion the motion was amended by the striking out of the words “as in tho present Licensing Act,” and in its amended form it was carried.

Air G. J. Smith, A 1.11.11., gave an address advocating an Elective Executive, tho Referendum, and the reform of the Upper House.

At the afternoon session Airs Siovwright moved, “That this Council is of opinion that the system of party government in New Zealand has many evils connected with it, and is not suited to the circumstances of the Colony.” Airs Alley seconded the motion, which, after some discussion, was carried. Airs Kicvwright moved, “ That this Council approves cf the proposal for an Elective Executive as a remedy for tho evils of party government.”

Tho motion was seconded by Airs Alley, md carried with one dissentient.

Airs Siovwright moved, “ J'hat this Council is strongly of opinion that some reform is necessary in the Constitution of tho Legislative Council.” Airs Alley seconded the motion, which, after a brief discussion, was carried, ono delegate not voting. Airs Siovwright moved, “That this Council heartily supports the system of the Referendum, and trusts that these reforms will be carried out at any early date.” The motion was seconded by Alls Alley, and carried with one dissentient.

Mr J. O’Bryen Iloaro gave an address on the treatment of criminals, and Mrs Hatton moved, “That in tho opinion of this Council there is abundant evidence to show that our present treatment of criminals is not satisfactory, either as regards the criminal or society.”

Miss Sherrill' Bain seconded the motion, which was carried with two dissentients.

Lady Stout moved, “ That no system of treating criminals can be satisfactory which does not distinguish between and classify the different kinds of criminal, and aim at individual reform.”

Mrs Tasker seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mrs Williamson moved, “That all sentences for serious offences should be indeterminate in character, i.c., decided as to duration by the reform of the criminal.” Mrs Siovwright seconded tho motion, which was carried by 0 votes to 4. Airs Isherwood moved, “ That in the opinion of this Council, capital punishment should be abolished.”

Airs Fleming seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A paper on Technical Education was read by Air G. 11. Elliot, headmaster of the School of Arts.

At the sitting of tho Council on Friday morning, Airs Tasker moved, and it was agreed to, “That in the opinion of this Council the treatment of prisoners on remand ought to be modified, and that they ought to be allowed to sec relatives in the presence of a warder seated, instead of standing on one side of an iron grating, and that a copy of this resolution bo forwarded to the Alinister of Justice.”

Lady Stout moved, “ That in tho opinion of this Council a larger measure of technical education in connection with our primary and secondary schools is much to ho desired.” This resolution was carried.

Mrs Tasker moved, and it was agreed to, “ That this Council is in favour of the present system of free, compulsory and secular education.”

AHs Tasker proposed, “That women ho eligible on all juries, but that in all cases where women are being tried for infanticide, and men aro being tried for offences against women and girls, only married women should be eligible.” This was carried.

Professor Bickerton read a paper on “The Problem of Purity,” advocating that women should be financially free, and marriage a union of love. At the afternoon sitting, Airs Tasker read a paper on “Undesirable Immigrant-.” Kho moved, “ That in the opinimi of this Council members of Parliament should 1)0 urged to support the Undesirable Immigrants Bill.” A long discussion followed. Lady Stout opposed the motion, as she considered the Cliine-.o desirable immigrants on account of their honesty, sobriety, industry, thrift and kindness. Airs Daldy thought it would not he just to discriminate against the people of other nations. The motion was lost by 5 voles to 4. Airs Tasker moved, “ That in the opinion of this Council the nation of New Zealand through its representatives should reject the .Japanese Treaty.” The consideration of the motion was postponed. Airs Williamson read a paper on “ Uses which the State might make of women’s Services.” A paper by the Rev Dr Strong, of Alelbourne, on “Land Nationalisation” was read by Bov J. O’Bryen Jloare. At the evening sitting, Mr T. E. Taylor read a paper on eld ago pensions. Airs Isherwood moved, “That with a view to securing for tho people assurance against poverty in old ago, it is desirable that a system of old ago pensions or annuities should he established in this Colony, subject to the following conditions: —(1) The cost to be a charge upon (he consolidated revenue; (2) the qualiiications ot Liie recipients to lie 20 years’ residence in the Colony, and a certified age of bo years.” Airs Sievwrie’io .m.hu tho motion, which was ca.iAa.

The Convention was brought to a close by a conversazione on Saturday night. At the afternoon sitting tho following motions proposed by Airs Schnaekenberg' were carried : —“That in tho opinion of this Council the ago of consent should he raised to 21 years.” “That tho time during which charges of criminality may he made should bo extended to three months.” “That in the opinion of this Council it should ho declined illegal and severely punishable to permit any girl or young man Under 21 years of age to be found in a house of ill-fame.” j

Air G. W. Bussell, A 1.11.8., read a paper on the political disabilities of women, and Airs Daldy moved, “That all disabilities bo removed which at present hinder women from sitting as members in either House of Legislature, or from being elected to or appointed to any public office or position in tho Colony which men may hold, and with regard to all powers, rights, duties and privileges of citizens, to declare absolute equality to be the law of tho land for both men and women.”

The motion was seconded by Airs Siovwright, and carried unanimously.

Df.si’ite the strong conviction of the National Council of Women, wo fear that rapidly-moving body will be disappointed in its hope that Brohibition in New Zealand may be made subject to a bare majority vote. That this was the plain meaning of tho bare majority resolution—which reads as if it had been drawn up by Sir Robert Stout—there can be no doubt, because Prohibition is the one exception to the bare majority results oil the day of the general taking of votes political and for local option. Ore may smile at the gentle innocence which so readily took out from the resolution the words which nailed it exclusively to Brohibition. But that procedure imposes on nobody.

Women of Now Zealand —we aro not quite sure, by t he way, that you now assembled in the City of the Plains in all tho glory cf political war-paint, represent all tho womanhood of this great Colony—women of New Zealand, you have been captured in this matter by designing Prohibitionists. Pray do your charming selves the justice to be more careful next time. Ono moment’s reflection would have convinced you that on tho one particular question under your notice there is more solid argument against tho application of the “ great political principle” than has ever been satisfactorily answered, or than perhaps over will ho. Tho next time the politicians try to capture your ingenuous souls do yourselves the justice to reflect, if only for ono moment. Above all things remember this : It is a common device of polemics to brandish weapons which are not so formidable as they look. You have been caught by “a great political principle.” Another time you have simply to reply that tho groat principle has utterly failed under the particular circumstances of tho liquor trade, and failed becauso it deserved; in 'other words, becauso democracy is neither tyranny nor an impracticable desire to be absurd.

As to Party Government and the Referendum, we can see tho touch of the same hand in that matter, and wo can only say that our Parliament is not going to degenerate into a mere debating society, notwithstanding the supposed importance of pulling anybody’s chesnuts out of tho fire. What the women have resolved about the general principle of treatment of criminals wo applaud in tho main. Their insistence upon reform and I reclamation as the justification of punishment and suffering are creditable to their heads and hearts, which is more than can bo said for tho resolution which makes this principle a reason for unlimited periods of imprisonment. AVo should have liked a special reference to the treatment of juvenile offenders and derelicts, on which the women might ha ve said something practical, because it is more within their special sphere; but wo can only regret that enthusiasm and haste ran past the opportunity for a good practical recommendation. On the subject of capital punishment, which is part of the discipline of the prison system, the women are oldfashioned enough to have a feminine horror of allowing any one to he put to death for anything. Before accepting their views we shall only say to the assassins—“ Ladies and gentlemen professors of the fine art of murder, are you ready I<> .-.how the same respect for human life If so, begin.”

Those who have read .Moline have often admired the immortal “ I’rreieuse.s Bulimies.” They know that it lias been laid down by high authority that the adjective

“precieuse,” as therein used, is perfectly untranslatable. “ Affected” is the nearest that any translator has ever got to the meaning, and even he remains separated from tho object of his expression as far as tho unsympathetic Bole is from tho melting Equator. A\ e have, in common with many English-speaking men, been long of the opinion that tie) poverty of the English language in this respect was due to the absence ot any such defect in the woman of our race as those which the great French dramatist found it necessary to chastise so severely in his day. We still hope that the affectation of intuitive omniscience is absent from the women of our race, but the reports of the Convention at Christchurch are daily giving us m:. rearing shocks of doubt on tho subject, 'they cer-

tainly make us think of the other word used by Aioliero in conjunction with the untranslatable adjective. “ Ridicules ” has its equivalent in English. That it is, in fact, the same word we have been long aware. This impression the reports of the Convention aforesaid have certainly confirmed.

Thu la ;t budgets of news from the seat of rapid ominiscieuco are as startling as their predecessors. On the subject of Undesirable Immigration tho Convention stands

against all New Zealand. Having proved their complete unfitness for forming any stable conclusion j these women demand to bo placed on juries for trying cases involving life and liberty. Being assembled together to increase tiie general wellbeing which depends much on the general respect for honourable independence of conduct, they ask for old ago pensions in a form not at all different from the charitable aid which degrades and pauperises.

All we need say is that the judgment which regards the gentle Ah Sin as always without guile, gives him a pitying confidence and sets him upon a pedestal for admiration, may do for China, where nobody lias any franchise, but it will not suit New Zealand, where even the women havo votes. As to tiie jury question, tho demand to servo on juries enables us, if it does nothing else, to understand why tho women premised by asking for the abolition of capital punish,ment. Wo may look upon that practically as ail admission that women are not fit for jury work. The third point does not require auy remark. There is, however, a sort of sense of fitness about it all. The three points took up one day of tho Convention’s time, and they gave the public enough to talk about for twenty-four hours. So tho Convention is, after all, attaining a measure of success.