WOMEN’S SOCIETIES

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 13, 1 July 1896, Page 3

WOMEN’S SOCIETIES

Canterbury Women’s Institute.— A meeting was held in the Chancery, lane Hall on July 3rd, the President in the chair. Letters from Messrs A. Saunders and G. |. Smith, M.U.K.’s were read, and the following resolution was unanimously passed: ‘‘The Canterbury Women's Institute desires to intimate to Mr Saunders its cordial appreciation of his political record. It considers tiiat bis long and staunch adherence to bis principles has largely contributed to the growth of genuine Liberalism within this colony. It is confident he will be rewarded in the development of statesmanship among the representatives of the people, and the consequent ever-increasing well.being of New Zealand.” In supporting this resolution Mis Sheppard said that Mr Saunders had ever been the staunchest friend of women’s suffrage, and had spared no pains to forward that movement in every way. The following resolution was also passed :—“ The Canterbury Women’s In?tit jte expresses its opinion that the contagious Diseases Acts are a disgrace to our civilisation, and a menance to

the liberty of every woman in the colony. It therefore regrets that, despite the fact that a Dill for the repeal of the Acts has been twice passed by our representatives in Parliament, the Legislative Council should persist in retaining them on the Statute-book. It considers that such actions justify the demand for the reform of the Upper House. One of the \ ice-presidents of the National Council forwarded a draft copy of a Bill to insure the economic independence of married women. A ; resolution deploring the existence of sweating was also passed, and the report of the delegates to the lailoresses and Pressers Union was received. A paper on “ State Cooperative Industrial Settlements,” by Mr Horace Bastings, of Dunedin, was read by Mrs Blake. As much the same scheme as Mr B istings urges is embodied in Mr Bolt's Bill, the following resolution, passed by the National Council of Women was endorsed :—“ That the establishment of Co-operative Industrial Settlements, formed with a farm as a basis, and gradually embracing all kinds of industries, would do much to solve the unemployed difficulty—more indeed than any remedy that has yet been applied. The Canterbury Women’s Institute therefore urges on the Government the necessity of immediate legislation on the lines of the Hon. Mr Bolt’s co-operative scheme.” Several new members were elected. A resoluti on of thanks was passed to Mr G. W. Bussell for his endeavours to remove the civil and political disabilities of women. Auckland Women’s Democratic! Union. —A meeting was held on June 30th, at the Wesley Hall. Mrs Cnapman was appointed to fill the office of 1 Recording Secretary, as well as that of Corresponding Secretary now held by her. A telegram was received from the Premier, thanking the Union for its congra l ulation on his fifty-first birthday. A .etter was read from Mrs Wells, hon. Secretary ot the Women's National Council, congratulating the Union on its inauguration, and asking that it should affiliate Four members were appointed as delegates to the “ Eight-hours League.” Miss Summers sent a paper on the “ Chinese Question” which was read by Mrs Chapman. It dealt with both the moral and industrial aspects of the subject. The Chinese were gradually taking possession of the laundries, vegetable gardens, fruit shops, and private baths, and were

doing it so quietly, that the people scarcely realised the fact. It was resolved, “ That the members beg to suggest to the Government the need existing for some preventive measures against the introduction of the Chinese: ” the resolution to be forwarded to the Government. Gisborne Women’s Political Association. — A meeting was held on June 10, Mrs Sievwright being in the chair. A paper on “ The Economic Independence of Women,” written by Miss Lee, of Wellington, was read by the President. This paper was an exhaustive research into the history of the Woman question, and laid down four planks for which women should strive classes with regard to a seat in both Houses; (2.) Equality before the law ; (3.) Equality of pay for equal work; (4.) Equality of Education. The paper was well - written, and showed that the writer had a good grasp of her subject. Mrs Sievwright also read a speech delivered by Sir Jas. Stansfteld, a strong woman’s advocate, on the occasion of a presentation to him by the women of Great Britain on bis retirement from politics. Both papers were listened to with a great deal of interest, and a very instructive evening was spent. It was announced that the subjects of Sweating and Prohibition were next to be dealt with. Malvern Women’s Institute. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Malvern Women’s Institute was held in the Annat schoolroom on June 27. Mrs Alley presided. The platforn. from the Progressive Liberal Association was received and approved of with the exception of one plank, but wished to submit two others for their approval. A communication from the Surplus Labour League was also received, asking the support of the Institute on the resolutions submitted by them, to be forward ed to Parliament this session. The meeting was unanimous in endorsing the resolutions brought forward. The following resolution was also passed:—“ That, in view of the constant thwarting of popular measures passed by the House of Representatives, the Institute would urge upon the Government the necessity of Ringing in a Bill this session to limit the power of the Legislative Council, in order that the measures demanded by the people become law.” After a vote of thanks to the chair the meeting terminated. Southern Cross Socifty. This Society held a meeting Jure 30th, Mrs

Plimmcr in the chair. The members discussed the resolutions passed by the \Y omen’s National Council, voting against those re the Marriage laws, the Co-operative Industrial Settlements, the Nationalisation of the land (although as to this latter they admitted the principle); they agreed that every political question should be selected by a majority vote, and favoured the resolutions supporting an elective Executive and Referendum. The meeting thought there should be some reform in the Upper House, but could not agree as to the direction this reform should take; it supported extending technical education, and maintaining our present system of secular and compulsory education, and agreed with the ptinciple of old-age pensions, of the removal of the political disabilities of women, and of police reform.