Women's Progress.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5282, 12 June 1895, Page 4

Women's Progress.

Lady Portsmouth, who - has . identified herself in .several ways with what iB generally known' as the woman movement, recently delivered a very sensible address in London to a couple of hundred -.delegates, from the Young Women's Christian Association. She urged her /hearers- to ' equip themselves, mentally arid physically, for the new responsibilities that! were being placed upon them and to ae'siat one another in every possible way, not only actively, but also by refraining from uncharitable criticism. Above all things she counselled them to avoid pitting themselves against men, since no fraction of good could possibly result from buch a contest with the opposite sex. The tone of her whole address might have been inspired by the advice of Florence Nightingale,

The type, of good Eexoio Womanhood,

who admonishes' the workers of to-day to guard against a struggle for "rights,'' when all they wont is right. Her ladyship appears to be very ably seconded in her efforts on behalf of her less fortunate sisters by the National Council of Canada, whioh, under the presidency of Lady Aberdeen, has already made some impression upon public opinion in the Dominion ruled over by her husband. The Council in the preamble to its constitution declares :

'" We, women of Canada, sincerely believing that the best good of our homes and nation will be advanced by our own greater unity of thought, sympathy and purpose; and that an organised movement of women will best conserve the highest good of the family and the State, do hereby band ourselves together to further the application of the golden rule to society, custom . and law." The male portion of the community has not, we gather from a recent cablegram, yet recognised the advantage of sa far applying the "golden rule" as to extend the franchise to. women, but with such- earnest and temperate advooates as Lady Portsmouth and Lady Aberdeen at the head of the movement, England and Canada must soon follow in the footsteps of New Zealand.