WOMEN AT WORK.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 213, 28 May 1918, Page 3

WOMEN AT WORK.

NATIONAL COUNCIL, WELLINGTON BRANCH. The annual mooting of tho Welling ion branch of tho Women's Natiuual Council was held, in the Y.W.C.A. rooms in Manners Street yesterday afternoon. Miss England presided. Tho annual report presented at the meeting stated:— "This organisation is no untried thing. National _ councils of women exist in every civilised' country, and have been important instruments in furthering and defending the interest* of women for over thirty years. Tho object of all' .is the same, viz: to unite nil women's organised societies for mutual counsel and co-operation, and for the attainment of justico and freedom for women and for all that makes for the good of humanity. "New Zealand had a National Council of Women formed at the time that women were eager to get the vote, 'hut when that had been obtained its usefulness appeared to its members to have gone, and it was disbanded. Since the war, however, women of all classes.and all shades of opinion have begun to realiso that their power for servico was greatly hampered by political disabilities. As a result tho Women's National Council was again called into existence. Local branches already exist in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisbonie, and Wellington, and at Easter of this year a small visiting conference, consisting of three delegates from each local executive, met in Wellington and drew up a constitution and elected a Dominion executive. .

"The Wellington branch was formally inaugurated by a meeting of women's societies which was held on I'riday, MarclflG,' 1917. The executive then appointed consisted of a president, threo vice-presidents, two secretaries, and a Ircosuror, who were empowered to conduct all the oxecutive business of tho council, and hold office until the first annual meeting. The work done by this executive may be classed under three heads—organisation, educational, and political. Its first business was to invite all women's societies to affiliate. A circular letter was sent to all those in Wellington city, with tho result that the following societies affiliated:—W.C.T.U., Y.W.C.A., Women's Protection Society, •Kindergarten Association, Women Teachers' Association, Women's Social and Political Investigation League, Women's International. league—all important todies representative of workers and thinkers.

"Twice during the year action has tan taken by the branch in matters of public interest which required representation to the Government. In August a protest-was inado against the holding of a patriotic carnival for raising funds for tho relief of soldiers and their dependants. As a result of the council's action other bodies protested, and sufficient public antagonism was aroused to cause the projected carnival to be dropped. A protest was also made against- tho Medical Club which Miss Bout, has been allowed la open for the use of troops in Hornchurch Convalescent Camp. A stronglyworded resolution was 6ent to Sir James Allen, and the council was represented upon the deputation which wailed upon Mr. Massey. The matter is not yet satisfactorily settled, but in a letter received by the president from the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen said ho proposed sending a copy of tho letter to General Richardson, asking him to ieport upon its contents. The Hon. VV. F. Massey had discussed the matter ivith him, and had expressed his determination to examine tho whole matter when i.i England." The report was adopted by the meeting.

The following committee was appointed:—Mrs. M'Donald and Mrs. S. Evans (representing the W.C.T.U.), Miss Birch (Y.W.C.A.), Lady Stout (Protection of Women), Mrs. A. Andersen and Miss Englaud (Free Kindergarten Union), Miss Bright and Miss Newman (Women Teachers' Association), Miss Nicholls (Women's Social and Political Investigation League), Mrs. Beebi (Women's International League). Miss England was reelected president. Among those present -were representatives of the following societies garten Union, the W.C.T.U.,' Society for Protection of Women and Children, Women's Social Investigation League, the Y.W.C.A., and tho Women's International League. A vote of thanks to Misa England was proposed and carried after various matters relative to the work for the coming year had been discussed.

At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington branch of the Women's National Council, Mrs. JTarveson was elected correspondence secretary, Miss Nicholfo recording secretary, Mies L. Crabb treasurer. After Miss England had been reelected president, the following vice-pre-sidents were appointed: Lady Stout, Mrs. Chapman, and Mrs. M'Donald. Eich of the four centres—Auckland, Wellington, 'Christchurch, and Dunedin—are permitled to elect a vice-president upon the Dominion Council, and Wellington will £6 represented by Lady Stout (V.P.) upon the council.