Women's National Council.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7492, 15 April 1899, Page 4

Women's National Council.

(BY TBIiEQBAPH.)

Actckdaitd, April 13. At; the opening of the National Council of Women Mrs May, of Auckland, welcomed the delegates to the city and referred to the good work done by Mrs Sheppard, late president of the Council. Mrs Daldy said they would still have been in their infancy, ranked with lunatics and criminals, had it not been for Mrs Sheppard, who had been president of the Council from Its Inception up to the present year. They owed her a very heavy debt of gratitude.— (Applause.) The President (Mrs Daldy) In her opening address, said that some of their best women should have seats on boards which ministered to humanity's needs. Women should also have a share in the government of the State. When granting the franchise to women in New Zealand a special clause was inserted refusing them a share in the government, giving as one reason the unfitness of the surroundings. Could any reason, she asked, more forcibly show the necessity for the presence of women in Parliament? Could men whose conduct was Buch as to render them unfit associates for women be expected to make laws such as women and children should obey? Why did women want this power ? Because they wanted to make the world a safe place for their soils and daughters to live in. The present legislative measures for dealing with vice were utterly insufficient. The motive power of men's lives was fear, and it had proved a sad failure. She closed with a reference to those iniquitous enactments which plunged desecrated womanhood into still deeper degradation. Mrs Daldy expressed the hope that the introfi notion of woman's influence into the political world would lead to legislation being based on the highest principles on the basis of the golden rule itself. The Secretary (Mrs Sievwrlght) then read her annaal report, which dealt fully with the work of the past year. The Treasurer (Mrs Williamson) stated that annual balance sheet would be placed before the Council next day. There was nothing in it calling for dpecial mention. They had managed to pay their way, although there was not much left over. The President, in the course of a discussion, remarked that the time might come whsn they would be paid for sitting in council as their lords and masters w&re at present. They would not ask for L 240 a year—L4o a year would be enough.— (Laughter.) Eventually it was decided that the delegates should refer the matter of snbscriptions to the associations they represented. Mrs Tasker (Wellington) moved that the reports be received. Referring to compulsory vaccination of their children they should be allowed tonse their own judgment in the matter. Mrs Wells (Christchurch) seconded the motion. On the question of compulsory vaccination, she expressed the opinion that no mother should allow anything poisonous to be inoculated into her children. The motion was carried.

At the afternoon session to-day Mrs Sheppard proposed the following motions re local government reform :—fl) That our local government franchise shonld be on the same basis as the parliamentary franchise. (2) That it is desirable that women should occupy seats on all local boards and councils. (3) That fefiective provision be made for undertaking and maintaining by local bodies of all public services, and also of reproductive work and industries. In mo7ing the resolutions Mrs Sheppard said all the arguments which obtained in favor of the parliamentary franchise shonld obtain also in municipal franchise. The citiz9ns of any community had a right to a voice in selfgovernment. At present the franchise was too much in the hands of a privileged class, consequently representatives were occupied in protecting property rather than in considering the health of the community. Mrs Wells seconded the first motion. She uraed that the modern tendency was to make all responsible for the concerns of all. Mrs Sievwright, in supporting the measures, argued that the lesson of to-day was "back to the people." The following ladies also spoke : Mesdames Sievwright, Fletcher, Kirkby, Williamson, Frazsr, and Tasker. The first motion was carried with two dissentients. The second motion was seconded by Mrs Kirkby and carried unanimously. The third motion was seconded by Mrs Tasker and carried by a large majority. The Municipal Chambers in the evening were crowded, when Mrs Wells, of Chrlstchnrch, read a paper on " Our duty to the Unfit." She urged the necessity for classification of recipients of charitable aid, reproductive works, free kindergartens, further educational facilities, technical education, the establishment of municipal and State industrial co-opera-tive farms, special hospitals for chronic cases, reform of the treatment of neglected children, etc. A number of resolutions based on the suggestions in the paper were adopted.