WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11397, 14 April 1899, Page 5

WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL.

(Per United Pkkss Association. ) AUCKLAND, 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 vSheppard, late president of the council. Mrs Daldy said they would still have Leon in. their infa-ncy, ranked witli lunatics'uid criminals, had it not been for Mrs Shcppard, who had been president of. the council from its inception up to the p'.eseni year. They owed her a very heavy debt of gratitude.—(Applause.) 'Dig President (Mrs Daldy) in her opening address said some of their best women

should have seats on all boards which ministered to humanity's needs. Women should also have a share in the government of the State. When Fronting 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 ;forcib\y show the necessity for the presence' of women in Parliament? Could men whose conduct was siieh as to render them unfit associates for women he 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 sons and daughters to live in. The present legislative measures for dealing with vice were utterly inefficient. 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 introduction 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 Sievwright) then read her annual report, which dealt fully with the work of the past year. The Treasurer (Mrs Williamson) stated that the annual balance sheet would bo placed before the council next day. There was nothing in it calling for special 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 when they would be paid for sitting in council as their lords and masters were at present. They would not ask for £240 a year—£4o a year would be enough.— (Laughter.) 'Eventually it was decided that, the delegates should refer the matter of subscriptions to the associations they represented. Mrs Tasker (Wellington) moved that the reports be received. Referring to compulsory vaccination, mentioned in the secretary's report, the speaker, said it was very essential those who objected to the vaccination of their children should be allowed to use 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 i anything poisonous to he inoculated into her children. The motion was carried.

At the afternoon session to-day Mrs Sheppar.d proposed the following motions ro local government reform:—" (1) That our local government franchise should be on the same basis as the parliamentary franchise. (2) That it is desirable that ivomen should occupy seats on all local boards and councils. (3) That effective provision be made for undertaking and maintaining by loca.l bodies of all public services, and also of reproductive work and industries. , In moving the resolutions Mrs Shenpard said all the arguments which obt/ined.in favour of +lie parliamentary franchise should obtain also in municipal franchise. The citizens 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 tbo, community. Mrs Wells seconded the first motion. She urged that the modern tendency was to make .all responsible for the concerns of oil. Mrs Sievwright, in supportint,' the measures, argued that the lesson of to-day was "back to the people/ The following ladies also spoke:—Mesdames Sicvwriaht, .Fletcher, Kirkbv. Williamson, Frazer, and Taskor. 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 earned by a krge majority. The Municipal Chambers in the evening were crowded, when Mrs M rells (Christ-" church) read a paper on " Our Duty to the Unfit." She urged the necessity for a classification of recipients of charitable aid, reproductive works, free kindergartens, further educational facilities, technical education, the establishment of municipal and State industrial co-operative farms, special hospitals for chronic cases, reform' of the treatment of nealected children, etc. A number of resolutions based on the suggestions in the paper were adopted.