NATIONAL MUNCH OF WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 204, 14 September 1903, Page 4

NATIONAL MUNCH OF WOMEN.

AFTERNOON SESSION. The sessions of the Council were continued on Saturday afternoon, when there was a fair attendance. Toe chief business was the formation of a local branch. A number of ladies were present who favoured the proposal, and after several of the members of the Council bad addressed the meeting, it was resolved that a local branch of the Council of New Zealand Women be formed. After some further discussion, Mrs Grey was elected the first Presi- ' dent of the local Council, and routine business having been attended to, the meeting adjourned. EVENING SESSION. PEACE AND ARBITRATION, At the evening session there was a 70od attendance, and Miss Sheriff- " in, of New Plymouth, read an exceedingly interesting paper on peace and arbitration. The paper was written m support of a resolution of the Counoil, passed last year, which deplored the military spirit which was abroad, and urging the settlement of all national disputes by arbitration icstead of by an appeal to arms. After referring to the idanls which have inspired the great thinners of every epcch, enabling them to pioneer a way to present day conditions, it was stated that men and women were beginning to appreciate their common origin and destiny, and would become more tolerant of each other as icdiy viduals and peoples, discovering their good qualities instead of stigmatising their defects. This fesling of universil kinsnip would stimulate them to heroic rivalries in the conquest of catura, thus rendering the earth a bright, temporiry abode for the human race. Tke racial conception of competitiveness might, however, to-day be summed up in the words, " Might is right" in the industrial and political arena, money being the acknowledged I despot of civilisation and educational tyrant, Combines and strikes rung b the ohanges of dread and disaster, and war followed war with ruthless monotony. Arbitration, however, was r the harbinger of better days, aud in in this connection reference was „ made to the recent visit to London of the French Parliamentary party when Mr Balfour foreshadowed i pacific solu'ion of international difficulties, and tbe limitation of armament 8 would be sure to follow. This was matter for rejoicing. It was urged . that the women of the world could in one generation render war impossible ) by influencmg.their children. Educa- • ion was the talisman—tbe knowledge of self—and it was the duty of every State to reorganise its scholastic systems in this direction. There was scope enough in every day life for heroism and valour without the need of militarism, and instances were j quoted to show that peace had its viet tories far above those of war. Tbe maxim of "si vis picem, para bellum " was discussed, its fallacy from a prac--1 tical point of viow demonstrated, and an indictment laid against the sjstfm of militarism. Girls sheuld not praise a martial display but express loathing i, for Foldierdom. Parents should not buy toy cznon for their children, and no , pic.ures should be allowed in cur j homes or schco-s. It was in the advance of science that bet' r days wt.re p.rceived, and by its hide how paltry and futile were the best of conquest and ■ the greed of gold. At tho conclusion of Mips Bain's paper, a very interesting discussion ensusd, considerable d'tt'rence of opinion beir.g expressed, the discussion tieing one of the liveliest and moßj interesting that has taken place throughout the sessions. Eventually, on the motion of Mr Buv : <ress, a very hearty g vote of thanks was accorded to Miss Klin for her excellent paper, and ■.horily afterwards tho New Plymouth s:fsloi.s were bt ought to a elc.evith the usual forinali'kis