CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5714, 6 November 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the Committee of the Canterbury Women's Institute was held on Saturday evening in Chancery Lane Hall, Miss Sherriff-Bain in the chair. A letter was received from the Akaroa Town Clerk, slating that the question of nominating a lady for the Charitablo Aid Board would be duly considered by the meeting of representatives appointed to elect a member. The Secretary of the Progressive Liberal Association wrote, saying that his Association was entirely in accord with the Institute in the matter of the appointment of women on the Charitable Aid Board. It was resolved that the sub-committee of the Progressive Liberal Association should be invited to meet the committee of the Canterbury Women's Institute on Saturday, Nov. 7. A communication from the Early Rising Association was also received, and a resolution to the effect that the committee was in accord witb the scheme was passed, to be forwarded to the secretary. The following resolution, to be forwarded to Mr G. J. Smith, was unanimously passed: — "That the Committee of the Canterbury Women's Institute thoroughly endorses the principle of universality advocated by Mr G. J. Smith, in reference to old age pensions. Where all contribute to the State treasury all should havo the choice of benefiting from it, since any kind of class discrimination, must, of necessity, tend to pauperisation." The secretary was instructed to forward the following resolution to the Rev H. Northcote: — "The Canterbury Women's Institute desires to record its hearty appreciation of the RevH. Northcote's resolution moved in Synod, Oct. 21st, 1896 ; it feels that it would be well if his impressive words received attention from all classes of the community." The coniirifctee recorded its sincere regret at the loss of a prominent member Mrs Darling, Avho is removing from Christchurch.

At the general meeting which followed, Mrs Wells opened the discussion on the " Removal of Civil and Political Disabilities from Women " by a paper, in which she acknowledged the debt of women to such men as Shelley, Tennyson, Whitman, John Stuart. Mill, Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. These advocated the complete emancipation of women — domestic, social, civil and political — but they all showed woman must work out her own salvation. The speaker said that as far as marriage was concerned woman might perform equal work with man, but she gained only a traction of the man's wage. If perchance her foothold slipped, the law made her the scape-goat for the sins of her partner. Women were conspicuous by their absence from oitr Charitable Aid Board, Hospital Boards, Education Boards and Councils. On juries, in matters where women and children are concerned, women should serve. In dealing with the class of unfortunates would not a lady Justice of the Peace, as, for instance, Mrs Cunnington, fulfil the position to the satisfaction of all. As was shown in the Parliamentary debate on the Juvenile Depravity Bill, women policemen were needed to take charge of poor girl waifs. Women were also needed in Parliament, for every subject of interest to humanity was of interest to woman^ Several other ladies spoke in favour of the removal of all disabilities from women. The following motion, proposed by Miss Cabot, was unanimously passed — "That the Canterbury Women's Institute endorses the resolution passed by the National Council of Women — 'That all disabilities be removed which at present hinder wonien from sitting as members in either House of the Legislature, or from being elected or appointed to any public office or position in the colony which men may hold, and with regard to all powers, rights, duties and privileges to citizens that absolute equality be declared to be the law of the land for both men and women.' " On the motion of Mrs Blake it was unanimously resolved — "That the Secretary be authorised to forward the resolution to every candidate for Parliamentary honours, asking for an expression of opinion ; also, that every woman's society in New Zealand should be communicated with in regard to putting, this test to candidates in other centres."