WOMEN AND LEGISLATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2848, 12 August 1916, Page 5

WOMEN AND LEGISLATION

SOWING THE SEED. A meeting was held at Victoria College last evening of women students and others interested in forming a league or association for tlie purpose of inquiring into New Zealand legislation, particularly that legislation, past and present, which directly or indirectly affected the interests and welfal'o of women and children. There was a good Attendance of those interested, the common room, in which the meeting was held, being filled, and Hiss Si. Nicholls, by common consent, was elected chairwoman. In explaining the objects for which this league was to bo formed, Miss Nicholls stated that although women in this country have had the vote for 20 years, as a body they, took very.'littlo interest' in politics, and as a result were "to quite a considerabl extent I ignorant of the laws of the country. With so many of the best men leaving New Zealand to play ijieir part in tho war it meant that there would bo more for the women to do in every direction, and she thought it was for them to see that whatever legislation was pass-, ed should be legislation that would make New Zealand a- country _ even more worth fighting for than before. It was for women to see that no hasty or ill-advised legislation was enacted, particularly at Such times as these, just as much as it was for men. Tliosii women who have already taken n prominent part in the public life of tha country had, Miss Nicholls considered, met with but little support from the younger women, and it was for these now to do their best to remedy that state of affairs. They had enthusiasm, energy, doggedness, and something could surely be accomplished. A university fbrmcd an ideal homo for such a movement as this, as it was a centre from which tho students went forth to every part of tho country, and wherever they were situated thoy could do their best to arouso interest in matters political, social, economic, etc. The idea was, Miss Nicholls explained, to make themselves acquainted with

the laws of the country, particularly R with fchoso aflecfcing women and child- gj reii, to study them, and whero they | tnought it necessary to suggest Amend- | menus. If theso amendments wore I agreed upon by a majority of members & tho association would stand for these 1 relorms,work for tliem by getting into ji touch with otlior centres, speak about ?! thorn, employ every means that could S ho thought of, and uot Icavo off till J .something wag. accomplished. What- j over law was the one most immediately jj needing rclorm, or if one were to bn i brought about which they regarded as 3 undesirable they would fight, for or 5 •against, first. Local members and ij members in other centres would all ij take part in discussing and in making a plans for the desired reform. One of S their great ends would be to work for j> the removal of tho disabilities against s women sitting in Parliament. ? After Miss Nicholls had explained s the aims of tho proposed association, \ the meeting unanimously decided that ? there ivas need for such a body, and 8 after some discussion on various points 5 an executive committee of seven was 1 formed, consisting of the following:— J President (subject to approval), Mrs. s A. R. Atkinson; vice-presidents, Mrs. 3 Hunter and Miss England (tlie auni- a her to be added to later); chairwoman, 1; Miss M. Nicholls; vice-chairwoman, k Miss Goad; secretaries, Miss Crawford \ and Miss Hueston; treasurer, Miss ! Mackenzie; committee members, Miss j Crabbo and Miss Ilnss. 5

At the committee meeting wliicli is to bo held lioxt Tuesday tho constitution of tho league will be drawn up, and will be submitted to a general meeting of the league on tho Tuesday night following. The subscription to be paid by members and other details were also dealt with and settled.

Miss Cooper and Miss Moss acknowledge contributions to their flower stall in Routh's Building from Mrs. Massey, Miss Edith Williams (Napier), Mrs. H. Hadfield, Miss Marebant, Mrs. Paul Hunter, Miss Pollen, Miss Jones (Lower_ Hutt.), Mrs. Hulme (Otaki), Mrs. ICebboll (Ohau), Mrs. Hoaro, Mrs. W. 11. Walton, Mrs. W. Martin, 37rs. Firth, Mrs. Waller (Auckland), Mrs. Rolleston, Miss Skerrett, Miss Meek (Lower Hutt).

On April 23, at the Tcatro Pergola, In 0 Florence, Italy, a. new opera in ono act, S| four 6cenes, "Meraldhena," was produced, p the music by Felix Genoese di Gerra, the |j book by Anton Menotti Buga. The gj opera was applauded heirtily, and there 1 were four calls at tho close for authors K and artists. "Tho llassegna Melodram- K matica" of Milan says of it:—"The sub- B ject is sympathetic and. poetic, and has g been very well handled by the librettists, ft As to the music it cannot be said on the p whole that it is very organic or that in- 6 spiration abounds. There are, however, pi pages that prove tho competence of the K composer in treatment of orchestra and B voices. There were oertain special Ej effects and colourings that proved the K composer to have considerable talent, fj The principal artists were Gina de Mar- H tini, soprano, Cunego, tenor, Barbaro, m mezzo-soprano, and Lusardi, baritone. '