THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XX, 19 May 1900, Page 922

THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

The National Council of Women sat in Dunedin last week deliberating and settling a score and more of the knottiest problems of the day. Strange as it may seem their work in this respect excited little comment or interest in the colony generally, and it was owing to quite another circumstance than the fact, that the body had grappled and overthrown a dozen modern hydras that the majority of New Zealanders became aware of its existence. Some proBoer sentiments expressed by one or more of the delegates during the discussion on militarism and arbitration —mere obiter dicta of an excitable orator —offended the patriotic isoul of Dunedin, and the Mayor, who had promised to take he chair at- the Council's conversazione on Saturday, wrote intimating that after the opinions expensed he must decline as a loyal British subject to fulfil that promise. Thereupon a deputation from the Council waited on His Worship and explained that the expressions were those of members and that the body as a whole was not committed to any opinion on the present, crisis. The Mayor, however, was relentless, ami on Saturday before it concluded its lieliberations the Council nedeavoured to soothe its troubled soul and vindicate itself by passing a unanimous resolution to the effect that “the Council of New Zealand Women strongly feel that as every collective body is subject to in dividual differences the people of Dunedin should be nble to recognise that, the utterances of some of the Council's members with regard to the present crisis do not express the convictions of the Council ns a Whole.” Alus mid' ulae-k, true enough though that mny lie, 1 am nfrsid that such sn explanation will not satisfy a pa-

triotic public, which lu spite of it will continue to regard the Council as the nidus of disloyalty. On more than one occasion has the body offended the susceptibilities of the community and provoked its ridicule, and its enemies have been lying in wait to denounce it. Now is their opportunity, and they will not fail to take advantage of it.