International Council of Women.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 250, 19 November 1903, Page 4

International Council of Women.

EXECUTIVE SESSION AT DUESDEN, SEPTEMBER, 1903. The following extracts from the report o fthe International Committee on Laws concerning Domestic Relations for the year,.1902 are published at the request of the International Executive :

Handed in by the Baroness Von Beschwitz, according to the reports of Mrs Edwards, Canada ; Froken Alexandra Skoglund, Sweden ; Mrs Percy Boulnois, England ; Miss Hose Scott, New South Wales ; Madame Boddaert, Holland ; and Mrs Sievwright, New Zealand.

" When in London in 1899 the establishment of the International Committee on Laws concerning Domestic Relations was decided on in consequence of a motion of the German National Council. This was done (1) in order to obtain an idea of the efforts more or less apparent in all civilised countries concerning the ai'iHolition of marital power (:nundiuni) and the economic and moral dependence of woman arising from the power ; (2) w fch the intention of strengthening by the example of the same endeavours the tourage and confidence of women all over tha world in the unavoidable struggle for the recognition of their full rights as individuals."

From Canadian Report :At the request of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, a resolution to prohibit the importation, manufacture, and sale of cigarettes in Canada was brought 'before the Dominion Parliament, and carried by a vote of two to one. A Bill, however, will have to be introduced to give the decision effect. A clause in the Bill to amend the Charter of Montreal asked for power to regulate disorderly houses and houses of ill-frame ; the Board of Trade Council protested against any such power being given ; also, several other societies addressed the Legislature against the regulation of vice. The clause was struck out

In British Columbia during the past winter the members of the local Council of Women have been taking measures to have a Bill passed that makes t!he father of an illegitimate child responsible for its support. Im British Columbia during the past year a woman inspector of iboarded-out children has for the first time been appointed by the Poor Law Board. No less than six members of this Board are women ; they act as guardians of the poor, inspectors of orphanages, of homes for girls and old women, asylums for the houseless, etc.

In the Rigsdag (Lower House) a motion was brought in to send up a Bill concerning the employment of women as factory law inspectors. This was seconded by both Chambers.

A Bill to grant the Parliamentary suffrage to women was rejected in the first Chamber, and received only 63 ayes against 116 noes in the second.

From English Report : An amendment of law as to drunkenness has been passed which imposes ,a penalty on any person being drunk while in charge of a child, and which makes it legal that a husband and wife may be separated if either is a habitual drunkard. It is penal to sell drink to any child under 14 .except in sealed bottles. Anyone sending such a child to a place where liquor is sold is subject to the same penalty. A Woman's Suffrage Bill was again introduced, and again shelved with others for increased care for the welfare of children. The Woman's Locan Government Society, and i.»any other influential agencies, are actively bringing anomalies regarding women before the Legislature, with a view to a just, legal standing being arranged for all women.

From the New South! Wales Report —ln May, 1902, the Franchise Bill passed in the Commonwealth of .Australia ; in August the State Parliament passed the States' Franchise Bill, both fully enfranchising woman' The Stat« Children's Bill passed the Upper House, but .was not got through the Lower. The Infants Protection Bill also failed from lack of time. It is hoped that next session these two Bills may be amalgamatedinto one comprehensive measFrom the -Report of Holland : This report is most interesting, but we confine ourselves to quoting the foling : "A Bill was brought in by the Home Mjinister consenting to the night work of women employed in the business of preserving herrings, during six weeks in spring, up to four hours, between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Though all night work is officially forbidden, it had seemed expedient to allow it tacitly. This Bill was accepted by both Chambers. A violent dispute arose throughout tlie aountry. The Socialists, men and women, would not hear of women being deprived of their night's rest for the benefit of the enterprisers. Many women who are interested in labour legislation agreed with the Socialists. Others argued that a law that was not observed had better be repealed. Others again desired the revocation of this Act, simply because they are averse to every special labour legis.ation for women. These latter desire work to be regulated so as to injure all workers, either male or female, as little as possible. Moreover, they look upon this "protection" of women's "work as upon a guardianship over grown-up women, whtich no one would take the liberty to exercise over men, therefore a' slight upon women in their dignity as citizens—a step backwards. Besides this they fear that women might be deprived of their earnings, as the emphnvrs, finding it inconvenient to reckon with all kinds oi prohibitions for mated into one comprehensive measure. From the New Zealand Report : I here is little of real progress to record. Of the Danish report the same may be said. Of the (.Vrman the same. The members of Committee for the United States failed to send in a report, and other Mini in fed nations have not yet nominated members for the Committee.