POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

TO-DAY'S CONFERENCE. ADDITIONAL DELEGATES. Tho annual conference of tho New Zealand Political Reform League will be opened in Wellington to-day. In addition to tho delegates mentioned yesterday, tho following aro expected to be present: —Auckland Executive, Mr* John Milne; Auckland West, Mr. J. B< Osmond; Auckland East, Messrs. M. Aj Clarke and L. J. Bagnall; Franklin, Mr. J. G. Rutherford; Eden, Messrs. J. R. Walters and John Bailey j Grey, Lynn, Messrs. W. Garrettv and Joliu , Graingor; Huntly, Mr. R. J. Shukespeare; Hastings, Mr. E. H. \\ lluams 5 Hay or Islands, Mr. G. J. Garland} Manukau/Mr. W., R. Chambers; Rag". Lan, Mrs. A. Campbell and Mrs. H. H. D. Wily; Pukekolio, Mr. J. H. Herw aid; Ohinemuri, Mr. W. Moore; Wat» tomata, Miss Roberts; Waitaki, Mossrs, William Gardiner, jun., and E. C. StudJ holme; Blenheim, Mrs. Fisher; church, Mrs. Ackiand.. Exequtiuo Mooting. A mooting of the Dominion Excoutiv# of the league was held yesterday. Mr., E. W. Alison, of Auckland, presided. Mr. E. Huio, of Christchurch, re* ported that tho Reform hand-book had been compiled and would bo in readiness for presentation to to-day a conference A cordial voto of thanka was passod to Mr. Hine for Mb service# in supervising: the publication. Tho secretary reported that a branch, of the league had been formed at Greymouth, and that women's branches had been formed in Wollington Suburbs, Wellington East, and Wellington North. Appreciation was ospressc-d of the work of officers, especially of Mr. David Jones's service in Canterbury, and in; connection with tho Grey by-elootion j) also, of Mrs. Von Sturmer'a work i» Auckland. Women's Gonfcronoo. Tho women's conferonco in. oonii«w tion with tho league was held In tho' Sydney Street Hall yesterday alternoon. , Tho organising secretary. Mr. A. A» Paapo, called upon Mrs. Hadneld, president of tho Wellington Women's Reform League, and Mrs. Hammond, president of tno Wellington Suburbs Wo* •mens Branch of the, league, to welcome tho delegates. , Mrs. Hadiield moved that Mrs. J. B. Campboll should take the ohaiT. Mis* Hammond seconded tho motion, whiclt was carried unanimously. There wore about '80 delegates pr« sent, and a good deal of bu6inoss was doait witii. , , The following remits were passed rot presentation to tho general conferonco, which opens to-day:— From Christchurch Women s Branchy "That it bo a recommendation to tho Women's Conference to arrango, if possible, for an interchange of speakers and lecturers between Northern and Southern Branches of the Reform, League." v From Wairau Women's Branch (Blenheim) : "That the Government be urged to take steps whereby unfortunate persons who have been committed to mental asylums as harmless mental dot fectives, in order that they may bo subject to control otherwise unobtainable, shall bo treated as a class requiring special distinction from other inmates, and in particular bo removed from all intercourse' whatsoever with suoh othe? inmates." *• , ~ . From Wellington" Women's Reform! League; "(1) That tho league believes that when the State takes charge of married, .drunkards, malo 'or female, these people should recejve scientific as well as moral reformative treatment, and should be made to work, and should be paid at union rates, and that tlioif earnings—after expenses have been duoted —should bo paid to those dependent upon them. (2.) That the Government be asked to see that clause 3 of tho Shops and Offices Act, 1908, which concerns sitting accommodation; for women in shops, be more strictly; carried out, and that employers be instructed that seats must bo placed "beJ hind the counter, and that female enw ployoos he not oxpectcd to pull over and use ohairs whroh ore intended for. customers' use." , -From Wellington Suburbs Women a Branch: "That clause 5, ecction (c) or the Constitution bo amended, so that women's branches of the league snail bo • entitled to send two delegates to tno Dominion Conference, thus placing them on ail equality with the men.