Canterbury Women’s Institute.

White Ribbon, Volume 10, Issue 118, 15 March 1905, Page 9

Canterbury Women’s Institute.

A meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Women’s Institute was held on Feb. 24th. The secretary of the National Council attended and stated that the next session of the Council wdl be held in Christchurch, commencing on May Bth, and that Monday, May 15th, the closing day of the session, would be held as “ Peace Day.” The following were suggested by the Institute as subjects for papers or resolutions :—Reform ot Land Tenure, Universal Old Age Pensions, Elective Executive, Initiative and Referendum, Education, Care of the Children by the State, and Provision for Incurables and Mentally Deficient Children, Municipal Reform, including charitable aid, Boards of Control for all Public Institutions, Equal Pay for Equal Work (with special reference to Government appointments), Recognition of the Economic Partnership of Husband and Wife, and Removal of Women’s Disabilites. Some disem. on took place on the Land Commission and on the Conference to be held shortly by the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards with regard to a home for incurables.

At a general meeting held on March 10th, the President, Mrs Wells, referred to the late Mrs Sievwright. Several members spoke, testifying to the high character of her life and work, and the following resolution was adopted: “The Institute wishes to place on record its recognition of the grievous loss which the women’s cause throughout the world has sustained by the passing on of Mrs Sievwright, the President of the National Council of the women of New Zealand.” The meeting then adjourned. At an informal meeting the Institute decided to move in the matter of nominating women for election on school committees. A discussion also took place regarding the proposed rearrangement of matters in connection

with the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Sumner, and it was felt that a great mistake would be made by interfering with the present system of management.