NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 107, 9 May 1902, Page 2

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

I PER PBESB ASSOCIATION. I Napjbr, May 7: | At to-day's meeting the duty of the Stat) to neglected and destitu'e ohild- | ren was discussed, the subject being opened by Miss Hendersot, M.A, of Ohristchurch. In the evening a we'l-wri'ten paper on "Culture" was read by Mrs Wells of Ohristchurch.

May B.^ At to-day's meeting considerable discussion took place on the doty of th* State to illegitimate children, and th* following resolutions were unanimously agreed to:—That in view of the hardships annually imposed upon many innocent children by the condition of illegitimacy aid the absolute useless* ness as a det rrent. from immorality rf the Wal disabilities iridic od upoa these children, it is high tim-i that all such legal disqualification* were re* mortally among illeeitimate children, (b) the neglected condition o£ many of thuu, who help to swell tbe ranks of the criminal and diseased, tho council proposes—(l) Thai the Stnte shou'd make generous provision lor the maintenance, supervision, and education of att such child* ren, (2) that parents should be obliged to contribute according to th ir mean to the support of children, (3) that these children (where paternity is proved) shall possess an equal status with those born in wedlock, and shall be registered in the name of the fatbe-. (4) that a publio officer (who May be ft woman) sh.ll bo appointed, whose dutyit would be before the registration of tbe> tinh of an illegitimate child is completed to discover its parentage when ptssibl.', with a view of enforcing propar mainti narco of the child. A paper on " *qual pav for fqual work," draline with the different rates ■■f wages for male and female workers, was r ad i.nd evoked a lengthy discussion.