OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

White Ribbon, Volume 2, Issue 23, 1 May 1897, Page 9

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

In response to the resolutions forwarded to the Premier and the Speakers of both Houses from the recent Convention, the following replies have been received by the N.Z. Corresponding Secretary: — Premier’s Office, Wellington, April 15th, 1897. Miss Mary S. Powell, Corresponding Secretary, W.C.T.U. of N.Z., Palmerston N. Madam, —The Premier has directed me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, forwarding resolutions passed at the Convention of the Union recently held at Christchurch, relative to the C.D. Act, Divorce, Age of Consent, Equal Wages for men and women, and the removal of civil and political disabilities from women. In reply 1 am to say that all these matters will receive the careful consideration of the Government. Yours obediently, Alex. Willis, Secretary.

House of Representatives,

Wellington, April 10, 1897. Madam, —I an directed by the Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives to acknowledge the receipt from you of a copy of a Resolution passed by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of N.Z., urging the amendment of the law of Divorce, and to inform you that as the present meeting of Parliament is only for the special object of dealing with the visit of the Premier to England, for the purpose of attending

the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession, the matter of the marriage law will not be dealtr with this session. I have the honour to be, madam, Your obedient servant, H. Otterson, Clerk Assistant.

In a letter to Miss Powell, Miss Agnes E. Slack, World’s Correspond, ing Secretary, says :—“ Ido not see any likelihood at present of Lady Henry and Miss Willard going to New Zealand I returned home from America on Dec 26. I had a delightful time there, only it was rather too busy and I did rather too much, the distances were so enormous. 1 expect returning there in August to be ready for the World’s Convention in October. Can you send a delegate from New Zealand ? We should so much like you to be represented, but if that is not possible please let me have a report, not exceeding 2,000 words, of our N.Z. W.C.T.U. Please keep the Convention well to the front in your press as we are anxious the whole world should feel the influence of our great gathering in Canada. Lady Henry has been ill, she is better, but is doing almost no public work.”