CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 43, 18 February 1887, Page 11

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

Christchurch, Feb. 12, 1887. The usual weekly meeting of the above Society took place on Tuesday evening Feb. 8. The president, (Mr. B. P. Lonargan) in the cnair, and about thirty members being present. After the passing of the minutes of the previous meeting and the transacting of some other routine business, a motion was brought forward and carried unanimously, that a concert be held on St. Patrick's night fo r the purpose of raising funds in aid of the band just formed in connection with the Society. A committee was appointed to make the usual arrangements.

At this stage of the proceedings the Rev. Father Bowers, Parish Priest of Geraldine, and former president, entered the room . He was suitably welcomed by the Chairman, who thanked him for the very kind interest whish he showed in the welfare of the Society by attending the meetings whenever his business detained him in Christchurch on a meeting night.

A motion introduced by Mr. Cummings to the effect that the library be thrown open to ladies, free of charge, was negatived,

The president was authorised to pay for the repairing of the band instruments out of the funds in hand since the last concert.

The programme for the evening was a debate as to whether the franchise should be extended to women.

Mr. Milner in the course of a well-reasoned, carefully prepared speech, opened in the affirmative. One of his strongest points being, that according to political economists, taxation without representation was untning Bhort of tyranny. This was the position, he contended, of a great many women who were taxpayers, but had no voice in the affairs of the country.

Mr. Kennedy, on the negative side, considered the best politics for women was the care of her own household, and the acquisition of those accomplishments, which are far more suitable for feminine minds than the theories of politicians. He further contended that if the franchise were extended, not one out of every ten would take advantage of it.

After some further remarks from other members, the question was put to the meeting, when it was found that those supporting it were in a minority. The meeting was then closed with prayer in the usual manner.