NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 107, 12 May 1902, Page 2

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

m PRESS ASSOCIATION, Nafikk, May 9. At the meeting of the National Council of Women to-day the following rrsolu ions were pass«d:—(l) That the sole qualifications of an old age pension be 25 years residence in the colony, and a certificate that applicant was 65 years of ago, and that the amount of the penaions'bi inoreased to 10s a week; (2) that all sen f encM for serious offences should ba decided as to duration by the reform of the criminal, and should b« limited to the maximum penalty attached to the crims; (3) that woman visiting justices be appointed to our prisons; (4) that capital punishment be abolished. A papir on ".Reform in Government " wss read by Mrs Sheppard, of Ohristchurcfa. Napier, M*y 11. At the jesting yesterday, 'he Council discussed many points connected with a system of State education. The sub-committee on edu&tion set up at last year had submitted a Buries of questions to educationalists others interested in the matter, and i eo*ived a large number of replies. Tim following motions will be submitted to the Council's consideration on the subject: (1) That the bindergart en system be introduced throughout the infant schools of the colony; (2) that pupil teachers should te pup'.l tncb'rs in reality, noting onlr under supervision, >nd having much more fre« tim» for study; (3) that the Educa'ion Ac's hi amende! an 'o m«k" '.he Xtnndard YJ. pass compuls ry, and that special provision be undo f«r the abnormally dull or defiiHnt children to be educr ed separately ; (4) that the staff of industrial sceools ahou'd consist of men and women of high culture; (5) 'hat in the opinion of th ; s Council, a ►ystematio course of moral instrucion should be introduced into our bo«rd schools, and that each delegate be invited to request her society to d'S'U'S the question as ful'f as pqpsible before 'he nest annuil me tin;. (This i' not synonymous with Bible teaching in schools.) Mrs H. Hill, Napier, read a paper on " Men's rights and women's claims," and Mrs SievwrigSt, Oisborne, contributed a paper on " Woman's disablities." T e following resolutions *era passed: —(I) in the opin : on of this < .'ouncil the time lias come v.hen all distbiiiti<s which at pratent binder women from sifinz as members cf either of the Houses of Legislature, or from bring elected or appo'n'ed to any public office or position iu the co'ony should be removed, and that *rith regard to all powers, rulits', and duties of citizens, nbaolute eq iality shuld be the law of the land; (2) that 'he legal recognition of the e-onomio independence of married women iadesirabh for the attainment «>» justice and for the furtherance of a truer marriage reli'ionship.