W.C.T.U. CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 65, 17 March 1903, Page 4

W.C.T.U. CONFERENCE.

PER PRK3S ASSOCIATION. ( Ddnkdin, March 16. | The Women's Obristian Temperance Conference carried a resolution urging the Premier to introduce a Bill raising the age of protestion to 21 years ; also protesting against the employment of barmaids, aid urging the immediaie i repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act. ( Mrs A. R. Atkinson, Wellington, was elected president; Mrs Schanb rg. t Auckland, vice-president. Miss M. S. f Powell, Ohris'church, coirespondine i secretary ; Mis? Maunder, Hawera, recording secretary ; Mrs Hill, Napier, ] treasurer. The session of the W.O.T.U. Coa- I Tuition concluded to-day. It was resolved to deplore the increase in gambling, and to briDg the matter of the i abolition of the totalisator before the Unions and M's.HR. for their districts. A letter wa? signed by all the members and forwarded to the Minister of Justice piotesting against the disgracefully inadequate sentences inflicted on men for criminal assault upon girls of tender years. Other resolutions affirmed (1) principle of Government by bars majority on all questions; (2) necessity for amendment of Factory Act in direction of removing restrictions placed upon women; (3) the desirability of women occupying seats upon all local bodies ; (4) placing the municipal franchise upon the Fame basis as the parliamentary franchise. ! The 1904 meeting is to be at Blenheim. The colony will be represented at the Geneva Convention by Metdames Newton, Napier, and Kirkland, the latter to be entrusted with New Zealand banner.