NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 203, 12 September 1903, Page 2

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

AFIERNOON SESSION. The Executive of the National Council of Women met in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Mrs Sievwtight spoke at longth on the question cf illfgit?m\cy. Mesdames Willhmron and Atkinson also spoke. All the speakers urged that thii question was one that must be dealt with by women. The neoessity of Homes for illegitimate children was forcibly urged. The following resolutions were carried; —That, in view of the hardships annually imposed upon mary innocent children by the condition of illegitimacy, and the absolute us< 1 ss ness as a deterrent from immorality of legal disabilities inflicted upon these children, it is high time that all such legal disqualifications were removed ; that considering (a) the great mortal ity among illegitimate children, (b) th* neglected condition of many of them, who help to swull the ranks of the criminal and diseased, the Executive proposes- (1) that the State should make generous provision for the main teaance, supervision, and education of all such children; (2) th'tt parents should be obi ; g dto coutribur.e according to their nuans to the support of their children ; (3) that these children, where paternity is proved, sh ill possess an equal legal status with those born in wedlock, and shall be registered it. the nama of tho fathar ; (4) that a public officer, who mu<t be a woman, be Appointed, whose duty it would he, before the registration of the birth of an illegitimate child ia completed, to discover parentage where possible, with a view to enforcing proper maintenance of the child: that thi Government be urged to establish Homes for illegitimate or destitute infant.