National Council of Women.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 35, 1 May 1898, Page 1

National Council of Women.

The Annual Convention of the National Council of Women of New Zealand was this year held at Wellington, andopenedin the room at the Parliamentary Buildings known as Bellamy s on April 20. A meeting of delegates was held in the afternoon, at which routine and other matters were discussed in committee. The following representatives were in attendance : Canterbury Women’s institute, Mrs Blake; Canterbury Women’s Political Association, Mrs Cooper ; Christchurch Women's Social and Political League, Mrs Izett; Progressive Liberal Association, Christchurch, Miss Stella Henderson ; Christchurch and Dunedin Fabian Society, MrsCunnington; New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Mrs Ostler ; Southern Cross Society, Wellington, Miss Kirk ; Women’s Democratic Union, \\ ellington, Mrs Lennox ; Workers’ Union, Wellington, Mrs O’Sullivan ; Wanganui Women’s Political League, Mrs Williamson ; Gisborne Women’s Political League, Mrs Scott; Auckland Women’s Political League, Mrs Daldy; Auckland Women’s Democratic League, Mrs KirkDy ; Philanthropic Association, Wellington, Mrs Hinsch ; Australasian Society of Social Lthics, Mrs Plunkett; Dunedin Tailoresses' Union, Mrs Wells. There were also present the following Executive Officers, viz.:—M rs Sheppard (Christchurch), president; Mrs Tasker (Wellington), vice-president; Mrs Daldy (Auckland), vice-prejident ; Mrs Seivwright (Gisborne), vice-president; Mrs Wells (Christchurch), secretary ; Mrs Kirkby (Auckland), treasurer. At the evening meeting, after the roll call, Mrs Tasker, as local executive officer of the Council, introduced the officers and delegates. In doing so, Mrs Tasker touched on the position, past and present, of women. She also referred to several matters which she

deemed demanded the careful attention of women concerned in the education of themselves, their sons, or their daughters. The President’s Addrfss. Mrs Sheppard then took the chair and delivered the following address : Ladies of the National Council, After the disappointment of last year it is a matter of congratulation that we are now enabled to accept the hospitality of our Wellington friends. It will perhaps be right to at once acknowledge our indebtedness to the courtesy of the authorities who granted us this room for our meetings. And if it be true that coming events cast their shadows before, possibly the advent of woman in Bellamy’s may be looked on as prophetic; a shadow of that coming time when women shall no longer be forbidden to act as representatives of the people. While there would be advantages if we had one fixed place for our annual meeting, there are many reasons why, for some time to come, the National Council should assemble in the several cities in turn. By visiting the various centres we may reasonably hope to create an interest in the work undertaken by the Council, and may also be able to dispel some of the MISAPPREHENSIONS felt concerning its aims. At the General Synod of the Anglican Church recently held in Christchurch, a clerical gentleman from another part of the colony appeared to be in a state of extreme trepidation. He told the Synod how a number of women calling themselves the “ National Council ” had been holding meetings and passing resolutions the meaning of which they had not the slightest conception of, and which resolutions, if carried into effect, would amount to a revolution. Now we should like to calm that gentleman’s fears.

We do not desire revolution. But we do wish for evolution, for growth, for development. And if, in this city of Wellington, there are other gentlemen in a similar state of alarm, we would beg them not to be carried away by a sense of blind fear. \Ve are most of us mothers, and the most rabid among us desires nothing more than the privileges that are freely given to our sons. We ask for fair play between man and woman, for the power to protect our homes and to educate our children, for the right of TAKING OUR SHARE in the work of succouring the weak, the erring, the aged, the sick, and the helpless. Are these requests revolutionary ? Are they not the outcome of the noblest instincts of human nature, the instincts of justice and compassion ? Our hearts are saddened by a sense of the loss sustained by the death of Frances Willard, the most representative woman of our generation. A highly educated and cultured thinker, she was eminently a woman of practical and administrative ability, sympathising w f ith, and taking an intense interest in, every good work in every dim . For over thirty years she devoted the whole of her dauntless energy, her time, and her money, to the UPLIFTING OF HUMANITY. Her example is a bright and stirring one, and her memory a precious possession. The legislative record for the year is a disappointing one. The various measures of reform for which we have hoped have been sacrificed mainly to prejudice and party strife. The struggle for office and the desire to thwart the wishes of the opposite party is apparently considered more important than the welfare of the community. This Council is composed of representatives of almost all shades of political opinion, and I have no wish to hold out the

apple of discord. Vet I cannot refrain from asking whether our present system of party Government is not a huge mistake, a mistake most detrimental to the best interests of the people : I feel convinced that we shall never obtain good Government until we have an Elective Executive, and our representatives are chosen by the Hare system. In the syllabus of work before us you will have to consider a number of difficult and COMPLEX PROBLEMS — problems which it is scarcely likely we shall he able to finally solve this session. W e are, however, hopeful that the discussion and quickening of thought arising from our meeting will result in suggestions which will be steps in the right direction. Without attempting to weary you by dwelling on each of the subjects, there are several to which 1 should like to make reference. We have been reluctantly convinced of the fact that in this new country, with a system of free education, there is an increasingly large class of neglected children growing up, not only without moral training, but in ignorance of the very rudiments of secular education. The streets are their school, their playground, and indeed, almost their home. In a very few years these children will be adults, devoid of shame, of habit:; of industry, of conscience, of any sense of duty. It is no stretch of the imagination to say that a large proportion will become criminal, preying upon, and a menace to society. This evil is most apparent in our large towns. A plan Las been prepared by Sister Frances Tcriesse, of Christchurch, by which these children might be cared for. She suggests that there should be in each of our cities a central office, with a permanent LADY SECRETARY. This secretary should be in touch with the. police, the truant officers, and the various charitable organisations, both official and voluntary, so that there should be no overlapping of work. I3y this means it is hoped to have each individual child classified, and so ascertain which are suffering from the mere poverty of their parents, and which are the victims of neglect caused by the indifference or vicious habits of their guardians. The needy might then be assisted without fear of imposture, and the neglected children might be removed from the control of their parents or guardians who have proved themselves unfit to exercise it, and placed in homes provided by the State. The task seems surrounded by

difficulties, but it appears to me to be one Oi* the firs* duties of societies of women to look after the uncared-for children. The question of neglected children leads naturally up to that of PRISON REFORM. It is a reproach to us as a community that no attempt has yet been made to change our prison system from a punitive to a remedial one—that a course of imprisonment should but confirm offenders in their evil ways. One small measure of reform that we have asked for, viz : the appointment of women as visiting justices, has not yet been granted. The Government has said, in reply to our request, that special legislation is necessary to enable them to make these appointments. We have had legal opinion to the contrary, and we trust that the Government will either accede to our request without further delay, or give good and definite reasons why it does not do so. The need for the presence and help of women on Charitable Aid boards has been demonstrated repeatedly of late. Efforts have been made to place women on such boards, but they have failed for want of a less complicated system of election and a BROADER FRANCHISE. Some of these boards appear to be mere machines existing solely for the economic distribution of the rates, while the humane and kindly spirit is almost, if not altogether, left out of their administrations. On Hospital boards, also, men and women should be appointed in equal numbers. It is only natural to suppose that when women matrons and nurses have to be engaged and dismissed, and where women and children are among the sick to be supervised and cared for, it would be an advantage if the boards of Management were largely composed of women.

There is another subject on which (distasteful as it is) I feel it my duty to say a lew words. The Statute books of the colony which was the first to enfranchise its women, are still disgraced by the unrepealed C.D. Act Further, during the past year, we have found that, at the instigation of some medical men, an attempt is being made to pass a new Act of the same nature. The proposed Act, while professing to bring both sex»s under its operation, contains the most objectionable provisions of the present Act. It is a matter of regret that those medical gentlemen who are promoting this measure have

not displayed a loftier moral tone and a truer knowledge of HYGIENIC PRINCIPLES. Good morals and good health go together, and it is useless to expect the latter while the former is disregarded. The history of the C D Acts in England and on the Continent of Europe is one continuous record ot failure, and 1 am sure that the enfranchised womanhood of this colony will strenuously and effectually resist any attempt to introduce such measures here I cannot conclude this address without saying how grateful I feel for the forbearance and courtesy shown me during my two years of office. That the Presidential office has been inadequately filled no one knows better than myself. Intermittent health, and the pressuie of other claims upon my time, as well as want of ability, have prevented me from doing ail 1 should have wished to be done. At the same time, I feel that THE FORMATION of the N itional Council was one of the wisest steps ever taken by the women of this colony. The interchange of ideas, the knowledge of each others’ aims and purposes, and above all, the drawing together into one federation lor mutual help and support of Societies containing a large proportion of the most earnest-minded women of New Zealand has been most beneficial. I trust that our present sessions may be helpful and harmonious, that we may be guided by principles of truth and justice, and that in all our deliberations we may seek to attain that righteousness which exalteth a nation. Miss Kirk moved the adoption of the address. This was seconded by Mrs Cunninglon, and carried unanimously. The secretary read ".he report of the work of the Council for the past year. It was adopted. The balance-sheet, showing a credit balance of £$ 9s 3d, was read by the Treasurer. An open letter trom the Hon. W. M. bolt, on the question of Industrial Settlement of Land, and regretting that so much apathy had been shown on the subject, was read by the Secretary. Mrs. O’Sullivan was appointed Recording Secretary. Thursday, April 21. The morning was occupied with committee work. At the afternoon session Mrs Williamson moved—

That in the opinion of thin Council the time has conic when all <lisal>iliti»*H which at present hinder women from as member* in either House of the Legislature, or from lieing elect«*d or appointed to any public office or position in the colony, should be removed, and that with n-irard to all power*, rights, and duties of citizens, absolute equality be the law of the land. She spoke strongly on the need existing for women on Hospital, Charitable Aid, and Education Hoards. The following ladies also spoke to the motion Mesdames Daldy, Cunnington, Blake, Kirby, Ostler, Scott, Cooper, Izett, Tasker, Wells, and Sheppard, and Misses Henderson and Kirk. The motion was unanimously carried, and it was resolved to forward the resolution to the speakers of both Houses, and also to the Government asking that it be made a Government measure. At the Evening Session Mrs Seivwright read an exhaustive address on PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. The speaker prefaced her paper with the remark that the main object of the present Convention was the betterment of humanity, and the first plank in the platform was the restoration of woman to that place in the Cosmos from which she had been too long deposed. Mrs Seiv wright then went on to say that every child, in the words of l)r. Alice Stockham, had a right to a parentage of thoughtful preparation. Men inaugurated kindergartens, schools, and colleges for post natal training, but in no wise did they institute plans and preparations for any pre-natal culture. She advocated, in the words of this lady doctor, the promulgation of a theory of scientific repioduction ; that women, with hearts full of love and intuition, should tenderly lead their sisters to understand a wise and benign appropriation of their creative powers, in which the welfare of offspring should have first consideration. If so, would not the world cease to lie peopled by unloved and undesired children ? Let love be the fulfilment of the law, and there would be a race of men and women that would bless the wisdom, consideration, and deliberation of their progenitors. Citing the case of a hypothetical couple, Mrs Seivwright went on to “ suppose that they had long ago satisfied themselves that there was no blot on either of their escutcheons, no bar sinister of heritable disease, lunacy, or evil passions. These young people know they are a well-assorted, splendid couple. In joy and gladness they may undertake the responsibility of parents.”

Men and women were, she added, beginning to think of these things, and to recognise that what w« re already allimportant considerations in the quality of seed cast into the ground, and in the mating of our domestic animals, could not be of less consequence in the marriage of our sons and daughters. It was not always from the rich that the strongest and handsomest nor yet the best and most intellectual sprang. All our great men of science and literature, our moral heroes, and the strong, selfreliant Jesus, had come from among the pure and good of the great rank and file of humanity. PRE-NATAL CARE. The speaker urged her sisters to jealously guard the matter of parentage. Any woman, she held, was guilty of a very serious offence who faced maternity during any part of her life without having first insured to her child a pure and wholesome birth and childhood. She also dwelt on other responsibilities of mothers, and spoke of environment, obedience, and the training physically, intellectually, and morally of children. THE MORAL ASPECT. On the moral aspect Mrs Seivwright dwelt at some length. There should be a revolt against the present unchaste conditions of society. Knowledge of the meaning of sex with its joys, dangers, and responsibilities was a girl’s right; and a mother’s responsibility in that matter was very great. On the moral education of boys she also dwelt, quoting Besant, Tolstoi, Professor Drummond, and other wellknown writers in support of her arguments. THE SOCIAL SORE. After reference to the dangers of slums and over crowded dwellings, Mrs Seivwright urged her sisters to oppose C.D. Acts, which were to regulate and perpetuate, to protect and nurse and coddle, all filth and crime. “Cleanse these Augean stables of poor unsexed women,” she urged, “ stand forth before them, my indignant sisters, and drive the vile host of men prostitutes back into the light of day. Demand that your sisters and your brothers, but first your sisters, shall have honourable work to do, and that their children, poor, little, distorted, wronged, ribald rags of humanity, shall be saved if even so as by fire. From the slums is a noxious radiation, and the poison is even now infecting our homes Let us strive to make each home in our land a centre of pure health-laden antiseptic radiation, whence our little ones, issuing in due course to form homes of their own, may

bear the germs of all joyous strength and enlarged life to bring forth precious fruit. Do not despise the day of small things ; do not dream that you in your quiet homes can do nothing. George Eliot said— 4 That things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” The address, which occupied an hour in delivery, was loudly applauded at its conclusion. Friday, April 22. Afternoon Session. THE AGE OF PROTECTION. Mrs Cunnington ( Christchurch) moved— That in th« opinion <>f this Council the age of protection of young p* rsous ahoulU lx* rai«o<l to *1 years. There were four classes of children to be dealt with—the children of criminals, illegitimate children, and those of inebriates, and moral imbeciles. Our laws in regard to our children were utterly inadequate. THE PROTECTION OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN. Under our law illegitimate children were protected up to the age of four years; after that the law did not care what became of them —unless they were very much abused, and so could be sent to an industrial school. Even under the Industrial Schools Acts boys and girls could not be touched if they weie 14 years of age. She desired that the protection of children shoulJ be placed under one Act. The Infant Life Protection Act should cover illegitimate children and the children of criminals from the hour of their birth till the age of 21. All orphans, rich and poor, should also be protected by the law till the same age. MORAL IMBECILES AND INFANTICIDES. As for the moral imbeciles who came into the homes with new illegitimate children year after year, these, she urged, should be brought under the influence of the law. There should he homes for this kind of people, similar to those for lunatics—for these were lunatics most dangerous to leave at large. She distinguished infanticide from murder. But for the sake of the unborn the girl who destroyed her child must not lie permitted to go free; she must be sent into some philanthropic home for some period of time. TREATMENT OF INEBRIATES. As for our inebriates, the law treated them in an utterly idiotic way. A woman with 100 previous convictions

would hide away for six months, and then when brought up she was treated as a first offender. These inebriates must be removed from our prisons and sent to homes where they will l>e treated in quite a different way. They were not criminals. All the women in Lyttelton gaol, except one woman convicted of bigamy, were inebriates, so that the gaol, as far as the women criminals were concerned, could be closed. Mrs Cunnington dwelt at length upon the necessity for classifying our prisoners. Above all, the congenital criminals should be kept strictly in a class by themselves. Mesdames Plimmer, Williamson, Wells, Daldy, Plunkett, and Miss Henderson, spoke to the motion, which was afterwards carried unanimously, and copies of the resolution were ordered to be sent to both Houses of the Legislature, while it was resolved to ask the Premier to make the matter a Government measure. On the motion of Mrs Wells, a committee was set up to deal practically with the matter. Evening Session. Miss Henderson read an essay by Miss Saunders (Christchurch) on the subject of Education. OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. The paper, after referring to the value ot education as gauged by its effect on the human race, dealt with the history of the New Zealand Edu cation Act. The work under the Act, it was maintained, had never been really efficiently performed, for each Minister for Education had always had some more engrossing portfolio, and had been tempted to rest in the delusion that his duties were being performed by the Secretary of the Department. Education Hoards, on the other hand, had performed their duties with great assiduity, though often hampered by what Ministers had done and what they had failed to do. Probably, however, the Hoatds had worked with too little originality and too much docility. They had dealt 100 timidly with worthless teachers, too silently with the best, and too mechanically with all. inspectors’ faults. Inspectors had l>een appointed with too much respect for tlmr certificates and not enough attention to their practical qualifications, their selfcontrol, their magnetic power, the confidence they could inspire, and the influence they were capable of exercising over the teachers. Ihe result of

all this had l»een unfortunate alike for teachers and scholars. The instruction given was fearfully cramped, with the miserable object of keeping it strictly in the narrow groove which the inspectors were expected to follow. Naturally capable inspectors were few and far between, but they should be found, proved and employed at any cost of time and trouble. The ideal inspector should have a knowledge of child nature. For that reason the ideal inspector would be more often found amongst women than amongst men, and the care of women would lie even more beneficial to boys than to girls. THE IDEAL TEACHER. On the whole, the State teachers of the colony were of high attainments and blameless character. Hut there was something more to l>e looked for than these qualities—viz., more love and aptitude for their work, more ani. rnal magnetism, more of the authority that children never disputed, more of I the sympathy that they never mistook, more of the truth and candour that made no pretences, claimed no perfection, frankly admitted its own mistakes, and never threatened, but treated a child’s sensibilities with as much consideration as a ruler’s. Usually, however, mere quickness of brain was the only quality demanded from the wouldbe teacher. THE IDEAL SCHOOL BOOK. The ideal IkxAs should provide interesting lessons on the circulation of the blood, the importance of fresh air, the proper treatment of animals, and on the great national duty of using the suffrage with an honest aim at the national welfare. The High schools and University lectures should l>e made of more living usefulness, and they should also be made available to more of the country settlers. The question was spoken to by a number of delegates. The Industrial School system was passed in review. The necessity for better situations for the homes, classification of the children, and prolonged mental cultivation were emphasized, and it was pointed out that the success of the institutions depended on the earnestness, capacity, and enthusiasm of the masters in charge. The writer, in concluding, advocated scientific instruction for parents in the laws and functions of reproduction, the force of heredity, and the effects of these on the evolution of the race. SOME RESOLUTIONS. At the conclusion of the address, Mrs Wells moved a series of motions, 20 in all, summarising her ideas on the sub-

ject of education. There advocated the giving of more attention in schools to reading and the powers of expression, the esthetics of the schoolroom, the diminishing of number of pupils in a clasr, a higher standard of education than the fourth standard, the establishment of free kindergarten schools, that a committee t>e set up to formulate a scheme to make industrial schools selfsupporting, and other matters. After discussion the resolutions were put seriatim, and all carriedNOTICES OF MOTION. Mrs Daldy gave notice of motion to the effect that a Civil Service Hoard should be formed free from control except by the House of Representatives, to do away with political patronage. Miss Henderson gave notice of a motion urging upon women workers the need for organisation and combination. Tuesday, April 26. Morning Session. THE C.D. ACTS. It was resolved (1) that the C.D. Acts should be immediately repealed on the following grounds :—(1) Hecause they were a glaring violation of constitutional law ; they were an insult to the womanhood jf the colony; they were useless in checking the spread of disease ; and because the Acts actually helped to spread disease by creating a false sense of security ; (2) that instead of the Health Act tecently discussed by the Medical Congress, the Council felt that it was urgently necessary that the Hublic Health and Hospital and Charitable Institutions Acts l>e amende d so as to make provision for the establishment of special wards for admission of persons suffering from venereal disease, and voluntarily presenting themselves for treatment. Further discussion of the subject was adjourned. AFTERNOON SESSION. SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE IN IHKSCHOoI-S. Mrs Ostler moved that the Council should approach the Minister for Education with a view to having scientific temperance included in the examinations for teachers' certificates, and made a compulsory pass subject in the schools. At the suggestion of Miss Henderson, Mrs Ostler accepted as the resolution a motion to the effect that in the opinion of the Council, teaching of scientific temperance in our schools is an urgent necessity, in order that, the injurious effect of alcohol, l>oth physically and morally, on the development of the individual and the race may be clearly

understood by our children. The motion was carried by 9 to 2. REGULATION OF THE DRINK TRAFFIC. Mrs Ostler moved that the Council should urge upon the Government a stricter enforcement of the laws for the regulation of the liquor traffic. On the motion of Mrs Izett it was re* solved to add to the motion, “ and that all places in which intoxicating liquor is vended should be placed under the same regulations as hotels. The motion was carried by 9 to 2 PROHIBITION. Mrs Ostler then moved—“ Whereas the liquor traffi: is declared on undisputed authority to be the cause of much misery, much vice, and much crime, therefore this National Council of Women pledges itself, on humanitarian grounds, to do all in its power to discountenance the importation, manufacture, and sale of alcoholic liquors. —The resolution was carried by 9 to 8. Evening Session. Miss Henderson read a paper upon Local Government. PARLIAMENTARY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Miss Henderson first contrasted the two systems of Parliamentary and local government. In national affairs we adhered to the rule that the opinion of the majority should decide our policy; local matters we suffered to lie controlled by the majority of what was already a small minority of the people interested. ()ur idea of the Parliamentary institution has led us to look to it as the directest means of attaining our end of realising the common good. We had, therefore, to an almost inconceivable extent neglected the smaller bodies that we have called into existence for similar purposes. In New Zealand we had carried our democratic principles far ahead of Britain in matters concerning general government, whilst in our local affairs we were equally far behind her. In New Zealand there was a strong love of locality, but a complete absence of genuine civic spirit. Pride in a place seemed to l»e unaccompanied by any desire to improve it. I here was a total lack of enterprise, and in many cases a total lack of knowledge of what might be done. the minority of ratepayers. The blame was usually thrown on the Councillors. But Councillors were in no sense in touch with the people as a whole. The fault lay in the system of election. Ihe inhabitants of the town paid the town rates, and the management of the towns should be in their hands. The Parliamentary roll formed a good basis for municipal franchise.

COMMERCIAL WASTE. The supreme advantage of the undertaking of any service by the community was that it gave us all the benefits of a monopoly, without its drawbacks. Production by the community would be for use and not for profit; for no one would want to make a profit out of himself, The advantages of monopoly might be summed up in one word—system. It permitted of the employment of the l>est machines and methods, and of the l>est arrangement of workers. At the same time it prevented the tremendous waste that went on under the present system. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN. In all but 19 counties in England and Wales the water supply was under public control. In all the large towns of Scotland and in the city of Dublin the water supply was also in public hands. The gas supply in 203 municipalities in the United Kingdom was in the hands of the local authority. The advantage to the people in the reduction of prices had been enormous. Miss Henderson gave illustrations of the beneficial results of the change to municipal control. In electric light supply as great profits were made as were the results of the control of the gas. The cities which had acquired the tramway system were for the most part finding it a profitable undertaking Glasgow, while improving immeasurably the conditions of work of the tramway employes, and considerably shortening the hours of work, had been able to run at rates 33 per cent, lower than those previously charged by the Tramway Company, and ended the year 1895 6 with a surplus amounting 10^*83,300. PUBLIC WASH HOUSES AND LAUNDRIES. Liverpool had the first j üblic baths and washhouses in the Kingdom, and now maintained eight of these institutions. Glasgow undertook the work of the laundry itself, and the popularity of its work was increasing. Boor drudging housewivescould fora fewpence use the best appliances for their washing at these public laundries. Birmingham had impro ved her slums away by the purchase and destruction of 4000 houses and the building of new dwellings an J the laying out of new streets. Glasgow' had established municipal lodging-houses, which provide cheap lodgings for waifs and strays. The remodelling of the cities at Home showed us that if we were to avoid the necessity for these costly undertakings, we must deal with our cities now. We must let light into the dark alleys of our cities. In most of

the English towns ample provision was made for heaithy, active, outdoor exercise. CONCLUSION. In the direction of the extension of municipal control, little would be done till we had put the power to do these things in the hands of the.people most concerned. It was our duty to awaken public sentiment and set in motion the machinery of local government now rusted by w’ant of use. REPORMS WANTED. Miss Henderson then moved—That an immediate reform of our local government system is imperative, such reform to insure (1) that all men and women entitled to exercise the Parliamentary franchise shall also be entitled to exercise the local franchise, and to occupy seats on all local boards and councils ; (2) that effective provision l>e made for the undertaking and maintaining by local bodies of all possible services and also of reproductive works and industries. Mrs. Izett (Christchurch) seconded the resolutions, and instanced the difficulty now experienced in getting reforms carried. Mesdames Blake, Scott, Williamson, Ostler, Daldy, Hinsch, Cooper, and Miss Kirk spoke to the motion, which was carried by 11 to 5. Wednesday, April 27. Morning Session. On the motion of the President (Mrs Sheppard) committees were set up to deal during the year with specific subjects, and to be prepared with reports to place before the annual meeting, and it was resolved that the committees should have power, u conjunction with the Executive, to deal with subjects of interest to the Council which might happen to be before Parliament. A STATP BANK. Mrs Seivwright spoke on the question of a State Bank. The industries of the colony at present were checked for lack of an adequate gold supply. The only remedy w as the establishment of a State institution w’ith power to regulate the gold supply. State notes should be nia e legal tender. The discussion on the subject was adjourned. A FREE UNIVERSITY FOR TEACHERS. It was resolved that a free University course was essential for all who desired to qualify as teachers. An amendment to include in the motion those who had passed a preliminary examination and desired to benefit by it was negatived.

A WOMAN TKL'ANT OFFICE I. Mrs Wells moved that in every centre a lady should be appointed by the State to act on behalf of neglected children, such lady to l>e in communication with the Truant Officer, Charitable Aid officials, the police, and the philanthropic organisations (i) to enforce regular attendance at school, and to provide clothes and hooks for the children of the merely unfortunate parents ; (2) to have the children of the vicious ard criminal committed to State homes; also that the staffs of our Industrial Schools should consist of men and women of high culture. An amendment, arking the State to grant an annual subsidy of in each of the four centres, the fund to !>e administered by a local committee of ladies, for the purpose of appointing a lady to act on behalf of neglected children, was not pressed, The time having expired, the Council adjourned without carrying the original motion.

Afternoon Session. Mrs. Tasker moved that the present system of State farms and industrial settlements should Ik* amended and further extended. She said that Mr. Le Grove’s scheme of State farms seemed to be the tie it method yet devised in this direction. She quoted at length from Mr. Le Grove’s essay. Mrs. Blake seconded the motion. Mrs. Ostler said it was not advisable that village settlers should be obliged to give a block vote for the Government. Boards of direction should Ik? appointed to obviate this evil.

Miss I lenderson pointed out the n«*cessity for the State turning its attention to forestry. The village settlements could do valuable service in tree planting. This would provide work at a time of the year when other occupations would free a large numl>er of workers. Mrs Daldy favoured municipal farms, to Ik? supervised by the city. Mrs. Plunkett said the root of the whole matter lay in the nationalisation of the land and the nationalisation of machinery. Mrs. Sheppard also spoke in favour of the motion, which was carrieJ. Evening Session. Mrs. W. A. Evans, M A., rea I a paper upon 41 The Treatment of the Criminal.” RISK OF TRISON REFORM. The leading feature of nineteenth century thought is the growth of the spirit of brotherhood amongst men. This spirit has replaced the intense individualism of former times, and finds its expression in various philanthropic works, whose aim is ameliorating the conditions of life for all classes of society, and especially for the poorest and most degraded. In this category come the efforts now made towards scientific prison reform. I he early attempts of John Howard and other philanthropists were almost entirely confined to irnprov. ing the conditions of the prisons, whereas later workers in this field have during the last 25 years directed their energies to the reformation of the criminals themselves. DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY. The work of reform has lK?en carried on along two distinct lines, namely, criminal anthropology or the study of the criminal from physiological and psy. chological standpoints, and the practical treatment of the criminal according to such improved systems as that adopted at Elmira. Italy has been the home of criminal anthropology since the publication of Lombroso’s first volume on the subject in 1876, whereas the United

States has taken the lead in practical experiments. Since 1876 investigation has been carried on in various civilised lands, and the results arrived at are valuable, though at present partly tentative. CLASSES OK CRIMINALS. Criminals fall under five heads— (1) The political criminal, who scarcely deserves the name, and is not an anti-so-cial living ; (2) the insane criminal, who must Ik? treated as lunatic rather than criminal; (3) the criminal by passion, who is not likely to prove a danger to society except through the punishment society indicts upon him ; (4) the occasional criminal, who is weak but fairly normal; and (5) the habitual and instinctive criminal. The two latter are the subjects of criminal investigation proper It has found by Lombroso and others students that these ciitninals pre. sent abnormal features whether viewed from the physical, intellectual, emotional, or moral point of view. Insensibility, liotli physical and moral, is one of the most striking of these features, and extreme egotism another. SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENT. Hence it is easy to see that the methods of punishment hitherto in vogue are not only inadequate, but even injurious to (>oth criminals and society. The possible objects for which society indicts punishment are -(<r) Vengeance, ( b) Prevention, (c) Protection of Society, (d) Reformation. The first need not Ik? considered, but the other three aie desirable, and most stress is now laid upon the last. The failure of existiny methods to act as deterrents or as means of reformation are amply proved by an analysis of the nature and effects of the systems in vogue. Ihe paper pointed out the nece>sity of more elasticity in order to ensure theapplir «tion tocacli case of its appropriate treatment. Prison warders also should Ik? trained for their v -r k like hospital nurses, and the criminal should Ik* cared for upon lines deduced from our knowledge of the deft els which make him anti social. roaSIHILITY OF REFORMS. The practicability ot reform in this direction is evidenced by the results Achieved at Elmira, whose general method Mrs Evans described in detail, stating that statistics up to the end of 18S9 showed that 83 per cent, of the men who had passed through it were permanently reformed. Scientific treatment, with a view to producing good citizens, Ik s at the root of the principles applied. For the prevention of crime in the broad sense, nothing was so

important as the improvement of the environment of the people. I\DETERMINATE SENTENCES AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Miss Henderson then moved that all sentences for serious offences should be decided as to duration by the reform of the criminal, and limited by the maximum penalty attached to the crime. Carried by to to 2. On the motion of Mrs l)ildy it was resolved that in all punishments the chief object should Ik* the reform of the criminal. Mrs Wells moved that capital punishment should lie abolished. Carried l>y 12 tO 4. Thursday, April 28. Afternoon Session. Gambling. A letter was read from the St. John s Young Men s Bible Class Anti-Gam-bling League, calling attention to the necessity of putting down gambling. | The letter was received, but it was resolved that time would not permit tht subject being dealt w’ith. EDUCATIONAL. The motion brought up on the previous day, urging the appointment of a lady truant officer in each of the lour centres, was carried. On the motion of Mrs Wells, it was resolved that the staffs of our industrial schools should consist of men and women of highest culture, who should lx* esp- ciully qualified and trained for the work. It was also resolved that infant schools should Ik* extended, where necessary, in order to include kindergar ten instruction to children under the present school age. Mrs Sheppard read a paper by Miss Lain upon “ War ami Arbitration.*' The pr. par. dness for war. she said, provoked the warlike spirit as nothing else could. England's Jubilee was followed immediately by increase of armament all over Europe. Our soldiers in England were kept in fighting practice, it was broadly hinted, by purposely fomented disturbances 011 our frontiers. . I rime Minist*rs were but mm burning for predominance, anil soldiers were m« 11 longing for excitement, and piaisc, and promotion. In New Zealand we must have our fortresses that could not possibly defend anything, and Easter encampments that gave our Ih>vs influenza and id« als of murder. England has sp. nt £632,000,000 in the last 20 , ve us on her army and navy, mostly by way of protecting or extending her trade, yet she suffers Germany to outstrip her in technical education. W ar was not good for trade, as trade itself |

was war. She concluded w ith a general reference to the industrial conditions of Spain and America. Mrs Sheppard then moved that the Council deplored the continuous growth of armaments throughout the world. It saw that the peoples were crushed by ever - increasing military expenditure, and that they were alienated from each other by the rivalries of their respective rulers. The Council deprecated any project likely to involve Australasia in participation in warfare, and strenuously protested against an Imperial consideration of th *se colonies as a. recruiting ground for European militarism. Mrs Blake, Miss Henderson, and others spoke, after which the motion was carried. THE NIKI CONVENTION The new Preside:*! (V»ts. Daldy) invited the delegates tv> Sold their next annual session at Auckland 1 he whole four Auckland Leagues concurred in this invitation. Evening Session. ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. Mrs Seivwright read a naper upon 44 Economic Independence. ” Those wives, she said, who were not economically independent were placed in a state of tutelage or prolong** J childhood. The marriage laws relating to coverture w r ere simply remn .nts of our original savage state Sh-i wished to suggest laws suitable not to the year 2000 but to those of 1000, and woman was rather tired of those laws already centuries old. An empty purse, where the husband s was well filled, was the cause of nine-tenths of the disputes which arose in wedded life, and the intolerable sm'ie of injustice from which many a good woman suffi is. It was on her wedding day, and not by will—during her life ami not after his death -that a man should be compelled to give his wife economic independence. \\ hy was a woman at marriage treated as legally incapable, as an infant, lunatic, or criminal ? As long as the mothers of men were so treated progress was impossible. A wife with private means was required by law to maintain her husband, if he was unable to .10 so himself; but concerning her own children <h<* had no more civil re*>p visibility tlun an infant, lunatic, or criminal. THE TUTELAGE < * THE HUSBAND. The joint earnings of husband and wife should form a common treasury, each hah, however, protected from the creditors of the other. According to Lord Ch*ef Justice Coleridge, the law of England regarding woman was more worthy of a barbaric state than of a

Christian country. The wife was now only entitled to her maintenance by the husltand. Woman asked that h gal provision should Ikj made for her sepa. rate (legal) enjoyment of half the income, she in turn to become jointly liable for the expenses and responsibilities of the home and family. In the vast majority of cases such a change in the law would l>e nothing further than simple enfranchisement of the women from the tutelage of the husband. She did not claim the rights without wishing to fulfil the corresponding duties. If it was agreed that this principle was right, then it should l>e enforced by law. Mrs Seivwiighttben read a Hill, drafted by the executive of the Convention, for the purpose of giving immediate economic independence to al! married women. She then moved that the legal recognition of the economic independence of married women is desirable for the attainment of justice and for the furtherance of a truer marriage relationship. Miss Kirk proposed, as an amendment, that the Council urge upon its ! component societies to eudeavour to educate public opinion as to the real monv y value of * woman’s work as wife and mother The amendment was lost by 9 to 4, and the motion carried. COMPLIMENTARY. Votes of thanks were given to the Reception Committee (specially coupled with Mrs Tasker s name), to the Gowmment for the u»e of Bellamy's room, to the custodians ( Messrs Let ham and Lynch), and to the Press, all carried by acclamation. executive. The following officer? were elected for the present year President, Mrs Daliv; Secretary, Mrs. Suvwrtght; Treasurer, Mis Williamson ; ViceResidents, M< s lam* s Sheppard,Wells, and Hatton. Satmimt. April 23. ArrunNooM Hbmior. Mm« !(«S<l«rwi uvured I. That the ■vreiu of party tlov* rntnent in New Zealand La* many evils connoet-d with it, and in entirely uß«uit«4 to tk'dntiMlaßiig the colony. Thu Council »■ forth**of opinion that each uMMuhrr of *ho Hmaa •honk! »>*• fro** to act aocordiuM to the mmho* of hia constituent* ■md the du <ate* of hi* MSKWao*, and no? ha the m* re aiavo* of Party. 2. That ten* Council view* witn di»«ati*f*cti«>n the manifest i etheieacy of th* New Z aland hulimwtt a* an iiiHtrutnent for obtaining U neticial l«‘tri*lati<>n or aduiini-trati n The C««aril i* of opinion tha* in order to effect any real improvement in Parliamentary moth da. the Ilona* of pren?aftvo* should elect the tucml»en >4 tb* t ah met, who ahould thus Ik* made individually

directly responsible to and removable by the Ink The speakers to the m.rtion were— Metdam* a Italdy, liett, WillkuriM, Tasker. Wells, ■» 1 Oatlar. Miw U<iK)«*nor vigorously combat**! the objections taken «o the first m ti<*n. THt ELRCTIVB UWTTIH. S|*»**king to the mend re* iuti<-n. she »><l the result *4 th# institution of the Llective Exfcstiv • wouM l«* that srsry msoiUr in the House * ould be answerable to hi* const it u toy, and # 4 to his leader. The whole turn* of the Mini-tors «u occupied in pnatrilK their p. sit ion. and not in doing the work of tb« jolony After tom# d**batr th-* ftrst NMlrtiot was carried hy nine vote* t ( ' sir, and th* ncoood l y right to six. Evbmino Se**i**m. Th** followim; notice of motion were hand*! in >For theoontnu oi th»* liqu«*r traffic by the Government on sorie similar system as th** ttothenbuig (Mm Hiuach) t f**r th** trfsirnduni in the case of a hiJi |«**ud hy the Lower l!ou**' having been twi<*« thrown out hy th«* l pp<*r Hona*'. or aft«*r a sr.lLeiently numerous y ►iiraid req unction shall hare U*«n presented to th** Executive (M i** d' id: r. *n) ; for t he MViß|< f all nanra»tiug at elections illegal (Mr* illake) ; tl at thetVut* il is of opinion that cremate *u is a wr.olesone way <*f d»*p sing of th** dead, and that its adopt)**n is advisabl# (Mrs lilake). MIKKUtiK AND IHVoM.’E. Mm Daldy (Auckland) th**n r«*ad a pawr ON * Marriage, Divorce, and Economic ludep«ndeNce.” ** THIw HOTTrsT HENaN OEMKNNA." She ask -d timt whoever thought of telling youD|{ couples the jx ir*tx **l i chaia*'t«*r that would be the •simple ment of one to the of her v Was not a mother better able to distinguish which girl was likely to mak.-a domesticated woman and an industrious and th* ughtful wife than an inexp#nsN«#d young mar. or rw- r*rt : Was it not afal*edelicacy whe n prevented kindly advice being giv* n in such »n>e r Joseph Cook sail, -The inherent |**n*lty of ar. unnn'U'al marriage is fitly characterised as the hottost human Gehenna on this planet, and in* n nested there, worn* n tidied * n that gridiron.are >odo#d likely to claim >ur about their trouble*.. And yet they violated great Nature at first ; came into a red-hot cage, where they m.ght have known ita liars were bla/.ir.g iron, had they but put their bands or eyes cn the grating at tim». We have instinct* whim warn M out of su* h cafes." MOT V nCR/ncT roK NINTH. This most solemn event was made the subject of mirth, instead of th u/ht snd judgment. This one subject. which was the key to •jcous* and happiness, was lef« to chance, «c • p fancy. To both young men and women she said, see to it that there is wm* thing m the individual that oomuiands your r%*pe«tand esteem. hstveiu would ls*ar a greeter strain than k)V*j. A CLAIM OK TH A lUMUXD'i rtK/B. On the subject of #eon«>mic iNdep* ud«*nce, cr equality «>f means, abe aaid that nmuy of their fiHtids thought that wires were eiititled to equal votea And equal fiptudotM cf opini*-n | hut e«|ual with the purae— no, Uev* r. I «*w was it that a man would place his life’s h*p|»iN#»in the I ands of a woman with wh m he dimil n<»t trv.st hi- puree F If all cases . ere as Mr Cow den t'lark's husband, wbodivuled bis purae will, his wife, there would lie no need Nw educaring huabauda to a •* nae of their tnari’al oh-

ligst. ■'iis. As to the auggestion that wt4u*-n did n«»t the value of ai n* y, and were not |s Is* tn a k «*d with the handling of it. a e referre.l t» cat <mal drkfta, city 1* ana. and church* a—firanci unsound —all niui»,'**<l by m-n The W.t T il waa manage! by women, an«l its jist-»ssud »ialanc***ahe«t showv«l a credit biiatoe ot iflM*. eve.y b.anch «d the Union Iwing in i g«as! fin *nci «l p« site n. Wives might share tn*'ir pH«ilily his p.ensures : why not his pu se F What w**uld lie said of a busino-a fiiui if one pother absolutely it*fuae<i to alhiw the other to ahare in the profits F tn a umiu cr MVoarc he ditor «* Mm lUldy »>oald fi»*d no sufficient ret*' n. Maintge wa a i infinite d«*bt which it r <|Uird »n eternity to «an<el. she next t’at'ed the hist* iv of div**rce frtitti the marriage laws of Korn* «lt*wn to the American State*. Uivcacl AM* MAKSIAUB LAWS. It waa ■!• r»d 4 to defer confide rati* «*f th# •uestiociof e* , <*iioiiiic indep«*nd* nc*. Mm Ikaldy tion moved opin on that the in trriagv l»wa of New Zealtnd an< uld U* render'd reme*lial. not merely |*ailiati\e, of disabilities at pr«#eut grief.,u*ly aff*-*'-ting married women, and that to this eud the whole law relating to mariiage foiimiel on ihe doctrine of p.waeaai-n should l*e rep ale J ; 2. That in the opinion «*f this Council the c udi-ti'-ns of divorce should l*e oisde eipia 1 . The fellow mg holies si**kc t j the motions : Mealatms tastier, Williams- n. I/.ett, S«*ivwright. Plunkett,aar 4 Mia* lleudera«»n. 'I he two motions »ere *he*i carried. Momoat, Ai kii. 2.1 Arrrawu*»M Sss»si«*m. Mm Hlake ni. ve.l —That in the opinion of this Council, with a iiew to secure to the people an aosuraaot again-i p*veity in *.*!d a*e. it isde»inabi*> that a ay-t* u of Old A/*• {Visions !*• «stat*hshed in t*.e 00l ny, the e-le qualifi ati* n *4 the recii iuat to la* <« 2»i years’ r« sid. nee in the *t4oi y, and a wtifiM a;e of )*»o years. The Council is furtler »»f opininn that mck j*ensi.*n* ought t*» !•*• made a pwrma n**ut charg«* on the Conatdi ‘at **i K. renue *»f the colony, as are the jemtions n< a being juid by the said colon/. Hy making the scheme uuiverwxl, Mr* H ake raid, th*-risk of paup u-ing the p **r poopic *o'ild »**„r. ided. It waa itapi»«sibie f**r the State to judge of all the cirt uuodunce- of a |*erson'a life, ao that i. » u t*».- the State to dbcrinnna*# lc?w*-.-n the r«a !y drwrnng and th.* unlestTMng. I'be Ul**ur market woull la* lulu-Vcd of som* rid people, win were a* I** to do only very litr!•- aoik. Mr* B#ivwlight, ir. scatu.d ng the ni *ti-»n. sai it hat many ui - uctt.*a#iu 1 lives were n ts.-lti-h lives. If we had a Mate tmnk, and that kink mad* only half the j r.*fits of five lunk* in the colony dm it g tfi-* lasi -J years. whi«h was nearly £1 IjWO/s*l, th* r# would la* amp!o provision f«>i the ponsmu »ch*'ine. M»isiam«#S;»epp.ir*l. Willumav>n, haldy.and oth*r*> s|s-k** co the motion. The rvaoi’.ition waa carri. d. TNB CAt SBS or *rKOI. *», Mrs, Plankett r« u! a j* p r up n t eennses of reform. Lveiy tre# r*toitu, ike aaoi. proceeded fr m a tru#r and fuller intorpreint of rature. Self-r n-M rvati* n and reprrsluctioN preouutfd t).*-ua*'lv* a to-day as the prol )• ma of |s»v«*rty a;v| mi.v. TVs# w «*re the only two f«»undati« n* of •’I mf. ru.a. Our liv*# wer* det« rm n*d far x*4\* by the ideals wechcgishel than hy the work we did. Nature pvovidod oniy f-»r the

survival of the fittest, but nature plus maa—that was plus pity and ayiupathy—c«il*l do m**re. A more in,|s»r ant question was the birth of the fittest. It wa* the su(f-ring <f hunt .nity, m.ue then anything els.-, tliat had led women this century to cry out f«*r li*«eity to take her at the anle of man to remely this *t-*t« of the world. * CovvansAXioMß. In ti»e evening the We lington as ieties rel»n*«eiit«*l at t h* P«mventi-n ent* rtain**l the delegate# at a axial gttloTing. Ihe chaiv was tak«N by the nn\ t <di .1. K. Itlair), and *h *ct aldn-au* wer* given by Sir Robert st«»ut and Mr Hugg, MII H Munson) items were remlenxi by a nuuiU r of la*li**a aid gentlemen.