Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4949, 12 May 1894, Page 7

Women's Christian Temperance Union.

The monthly general meeting of the "Women's Christian Temperance Union was hs-ld on Wednesday in the rooms, Manchester Street. Mra Ballantyne presided. The meeting considered the paper on " Social Purity " read by Mrs Hunninga at a former meeting. After very full discussion the following resolutions and recommendations were unanimously pa.se_: !— " (1) That it be an indictable offence I for any woman under twenty-one to be found iv a brothel or earning" money by I prostitution. (2) That steps bo taken to enforce the' Act already on the Statute Eook suppressing brothels, (8) Tbat the age of consent be raised to eighteen. (4) Tbat women be urged to vote for pure men before party men. (5) That tho women of New Zealand demand that their law-makers be law-lreepera. (6)" That rae.na be adopted to have such au Act j placed upon the Statute Book as shall make it compulsory to establish the paternity of illegitimate children." The foregoing proposals will be Eubmitted to a conference oompospdof representatives from the Women's Institute, Jst Saviour's Guild and tbe Women's Christian Temperance Union. Tbe fact that youth, needed protection almost as much as girla wao forcibly ex- ; pressed. The injustice and inequality of j -she divpree laws with regard to women wBTe odc9 more pointed out. What means I c-hould be adopted to secure an alteration in such laws was left for future decision. Tho Secretary of the Prison Gato Mission (Mir Heath) handed in hiß report for the previous month. He made an appeal | for left-off elothirsfj for men, and stated \ that many wero deterred from obtaining I employment and earning an honest liveliI hood through lack of suitable clothing. I Several accounts were parsed for payment, and the meeting closed.