WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 27

WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL.

(Pbb. United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 12. The annual convention of the National Council of Women of New Zealand was opened to-day. There was a good attendance, the delegates meeting in private. In the evening the -President* delivered

her inaugural address to a large attendance of delegates and visitors in the Municipal Chambers, placed at the disposal of the council by the City Council. The President reviewed the subjects which would come before the council for consideration and discussion.

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 p:e£.ent year. They owed her a very heavy debt of gratitude.- 1 - (Applause.) The\ President (Mss Daldy) in her opening address said some of their best women should liave seats on all boards which

ministered •to humanity's needs. Women ■ should also have a share in the government ' of the State. • When granting the fran- • chise 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 such 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 sons and daughters to live I in. The present legislative measures for j k dealing, with vice were utterly inefficient, i 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 be 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 re- - marked that the time might come ,when fhev would be paid for sitting in council as their lords and masters were at t>resent. They would not ask for £240 a j year — £40 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 anything poisonous to be inoculated into her children. The motion was carried. At the afternoon session to-day Mrs Sheppard proposed the following motions ro local government reform: — " (1) That our local government franchise should be on tho same basis as the parliamentary franchise. (2) That it is desirable that women should occupy peats on all local boards and councils. (3) That effective provision -be made for undertaking and maintaining by local bodies of all public services', and also of reproductive work and industries. 'In moving the resolutions Mrs Sheppaid said all the arguments which obtained in favour of f he parliamentary franchise should obtain also in muni-

cipal franchise. The citizens of any community had a right to a voice in self- , government. 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 urged that the modern tendency was to make all responsible for the concerns of all. Mrs Sievwrieht, in supporting the measures, arcued that the lesson of to-day was "back to the people." The following ladies also snoke : — "Nfesdames Sievwright, Fletcher, Kirkbv, Williamson, Frazer, 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 larpre majority. The Municipal Chambers in the evening were crowded, when Mrs Wells (Christchurch) read a paper on " Our Duty to the Unfit." She urged the necessity for a classification of recipients of charitable aid, works, free kindergartens, further educational facilities, tech- ' uical education, the establishment of municipal and State industrial co-operative 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. April 14. At the afternoon session of the National Council of Women, Mrs Williamson moved, and Mrs Wells seconded, the following motion. — "That, this council views with dissatisfaction the manifest inefficiency of the New Zealand Parliament as an instrument for obtaining beneficial legislation or administration." The motion was strongly supported and carried, with four dissentients only. Mrs Wells moved, and Mrs Sievwright Jecrnded. the following resolution, which was carried by a large majority: — "That this council is of oDinion that in order to

effect any, real improvement in parliamentary methods the Hou?e of .Representatives should elect the members of the Cabinet, who shall thus be made individually and directly responsible, and removable by the Hcuse. The council is ■ further of opinion that each member of the House should be free to act according to the wishes of his constituents or the dictates of his conscience, and not be a mere slave of party." At the evening session Mrs Sheppard, of Christchurch, read a paper on " Economic Independence of Married Women," which the writer strongly advocated. A general discussion ensued, the speakers endorsing the views of Mrs Sheppard. It was followed by a resolution moved by Mrs Sheppard, seconded by Mrs Sievwright, and carried unanimously : — " That legal recognition of economic independence of married women is desirable for the attainment ot justice and for the furtherance of a truer married relationship."

April 15. At the National Council of Women of New Zealand at the afternoon session Mrs Daldy proposed and .Mrs Williamson seconded the following motions, re the Upper House : — " That a reform in the method of nomination and appointment of members to the Upper House -is urgentty needed. (2) That this Council recommends that members of the Upper House should be elected directly by the people, the number limited to half the number of the Lower House."

The resolutions were carried by a majority. Mrs Sheppard proposed and Mrs Williamson seconded — " That the members of the Upper House be elected by the Hare system." The motion was adopted.

Mrs Daldy proposed and Airs Dewar seconded — "That to mitigate the evils which arise from the present system of appointments to the civil service a board be appointed directly b} r the House of Representatives, such board to have sole poAver to appoint all civil servants." This motion was also carried by a large majority. Proposed..by Mrs Fletcher, seconded by Mrs Sievwright : — " That the Old-Age Pensions Act be so amended that the sole qualifications of recipients be a 25 years' residence in the colony, and a certified age of 65 years." Carried by a large majority. In the discussion on the resolution condemning party government, Mrs Williamson, who moved the resolution, said it was a relic of a fighting instinct of mankind. Mrs Wells said although we in New Zealand boasted of our representative power, we were, " she held, very far from possessing real representation. Men were elected to oppose or support one man. Mrs Niccol referred to women canvassing at elections, and, strongly deprecated the practice of women canvassing for a pay* of 12s 6d per day. Mrs Daldy said Mrs Niccol's statement was too true. Mrs Fletcher did not consider that any one man should bo given so much power aa a Premier had. Mrs May objected to the present system because a representative was a slave to his party and he was not a free man, therefore not a true man. Mrs Kirkby said she was most emphatically in favour of party government. Mrs Tasker thought the squabble -for the loaves and fishes would bo worse than ever if the party system were done away wkh. The motion was adopted by 16 votes to 4. T-he motion in favour of an elective Executive was carried by 15 to 5.

In the discussion on Mrs Sheppard's paper on the economic independence of married women, the speaker answered some, of the most frequent objections to the proposals for economic independence of women, and claimed that the putting into force ot the principle she advocated would elevate woman to her proper position, and would place her altogether on a more satisfactory footing as regards money matters. Mrs Sievwright read a. draft bill submitted to the council last year, dealing with the economic independence of womon. The bill proposed that every man and- wife should be deemed to be (>P2)arate persons in respect of their estate ; that the husband's earnings should form a common fund for the household expenses, &c, and that the wife could, if she desired, require her share to be paid to her £,epamlely or to her credit in a bank. Miss Garstin (Chri&tchurch) also read a paper on this subject, and in the course of her remarks she said that the proposals for the economic independence would ensure that a woman would be responsible for her own debts, and that a man could not hand property over to his wife so as to avoid paying his liabilities. Mrs Williamson (Wangauui) also spoke, and said she did not tliink the new proposal would interfere much with me"n, except in cases where the husbands inconsiderately spent their money in drink ov in other ways, and left their wives and children without sufficient means of support. Mrs Boyd, Mrs. Tasjker, Mrs Niccol, and Mrs Wells also .spoke. April 17. At the meeting of the National Council of Women a paper was read by Mrs Gibsin on "The Training of Domestic Servants." The following resolution proposed by Mrs Kirkby, seconded by Mrs Tasker, was passed: — "That in the opinion of this council domestic sen-ants should be legally entitled to a weekly half-holiday." Mrs Sievwright read a paper on " Parental Responsibilities " in the evening which evoked a discussion.