SOUTHERN CROSS SOCIETY.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 3, 1 September 1895, Page 1

SOUTHERN CROSS SOCIETY.

A largely-attendec meeting of this Society was held in Wellington on August 22. Mrs Plimmer presided, and delivered an able address on the aims and objects of the Society. The following officers were elected :—President, Mrs Plimmer; Vice-Presidents, Lady Stout and Miss Kirk ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs Menteath ; Committee, Mesdames J. Ross, Isaac Clark, Sherwood, A K. Newman, Tonks, T. McDonald, T. W. Hislop, and Misses Allan and Duthie. Lady Stout then read an admirable paper, which we have not space to reproduce. She said that the Society had been organised for the purpose of educating '.»umen of all classes and of all shades of opinion to take r wide view of

the questions of the day, and to do all in their power to advocate reforms that would lienefit women and promote their independence, and that would make the conditions of life easier and lietter for those women who had to depend on their own exertions for a livelihood. Reing but recently enfranchised, women required educating in politics. Political economy and the working of institutions must be studied to be able to judge correctly as to the purity of administration. Women had the power to raise the standard of uprightness and purity of character in men who filled public positions. They must make it known that they would not be content with mere cleverness in a candidate. The improvement of laws particularly relating to women was highly necessary. The divorce la vs must be made equal. The founders of the Society believed that some years of education in politics wouid be necessary before it would be becoming for women to offer themselves as candidates for Parliament. \\ hen the proper time did arrive, it was to be hoped that the electors would prefer an able woman to an unsuitable man. Jhe Society hoped to have women on Hospital, Education, and Charitable Aid Boards, on School Committees, and in other positions for which they were equally suitable with men. It would try to prevent the overlapping of Charitable Aid Societies, and to ensure that the deserving poor should receive help without humiliation. Another object of the Society was to promote temperance, and to insist on the licensing laws being rigidly enforced. Ihe Society was not one for the suppression of mankind ; it only desired that women should have equal rights with men, and not be debarred from living the fullest and freest life they might be qualified to live. Home would be happier when wives were competent to advise their husbands in every department, and were able to share their aspirations as well as their cares and sorrows.