WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 418, 27 June 1947, Page 5

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Sir--In the early ‘nineties I was e member of the Canterbury Women’s Institute, Christchurch, This organisation had a large membership composed mainly of women who had worked valiantly and successfully in gaining the women’s franchise in New Zealand, Other Women’s Institutes in country districts were connected with ours. Our work was the discussion of social ahd political problems, particularly those relating to the welfare of women and children, prison reform, the sick, and mentally afflicted. Our aim was for, progressive reforms, : In those early days of women’s struggle for the same rights that men enjoyed, the majority of the male sex were hostile to our advancement. Yet we held the respect, encouragement and support of quite gq number of worthy men. Among others, I recall the friendly co-operation and personal interest in our movement shown by Mr. S. Saunders, then editor of the Lyttelton Times, the late Rev, O’Brien Hoare, and the late Mr. W. S. Lovell-Smith. Some, if not all, of the group of politicians known as "The Young New Zealand Party" were definitely interested in the operations of our Institute, giving us praise for our progressive ideas, and welcome advice. Sometimes they discussed . parliamentary issues with our officers, and through them some of the suggestions and decisions of our Institute became embodied. in the legislation of this country. In 1897 I was elected as a delegate to represent the Canterbury Women’s Institute at the National Council of the Women of New Zealand, which that year met in Christchurch, and was held in the Provincial Council Chambers, Durham Street. This Council consisted of its officers and women delegates from unions, institutes, societies, etc., from different parts of this country. (I have a group photograph of the members ‘of that year’s session.) Its purpose was to prepare and present to Parliament sug gested reforms and progressive resolutions for consideration, and hoped-for acceptance. ; In time I concentrated upon a different line of reform work which I still pursue, but about 20 years ago I was invited to attend a function convened by early members of the Canterbury Women’s Institute, at which it was pro« posed to disband that movement. This probably closed a great and important era in the evolution of women’s. rights: in New Zealand,. and maybe formed a: basis for subsequent Women’s Institutes and Councils.

MARY ELIZABETH

SIMPSON

(Christchurch).