The Council shall be called the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

Objects.

I. To unite all organised Societies of Women for mutual counsel and co-operation, and in the attainment of justice and freedom for women, and for all that makes for the good of humanity.

II. To encourage the formation of Societies of Women engaged in trades, professions, and in social and political work in connection with which no organised union at present exists.

National Policy.

This Council is organised in the interest of no one propaganda, and has no power over the organisations which constitute it, beyond that of suggestion and sympathy; therefore, no Society voting to enter this Council shall render itself liable to be interfered with in respect to its complete organic unity, independence, or methods of work, or be committed to any principle or method of any other society, or to any act or utterance of the Council itself, beyond compliance with the terms of the constitution.

Honorary Officers.

The Honorary Officers shall be a President, four Vice-Presidents, an Honorary Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall be ex officio members of all committees, and who shall be elected annually.

Members.

All organised Societies of Women in sympathy with the National Policy, and which shall be invited by the Executive Committee to send representatives.

Honorary Members.

Ladies and gentlemen shall be admitted as honorary members on payment of an annual subscription of 10/6. They shall be allowed to speak at meetings, but no voting power shall be given them.

National Council.

The National Council shall consist of the President, four Vice-Presidents, the Honorary Secretary, and Treasurer, and the delegates representing the various societies.

Delegates.

Delegates shall be appointed by the various societies throughout New Zealand, to attend the meetings of the Council.

Basis of Representation.

Each society represented upon the Council shall be entitled to send one delegate for every one hundred, or fraction of one hundred members; two delegates for every three hundred members; three delegates being the maximum number to be sent from any society however large its membership may be.

Delegates by Proxy.

When a society is unable to send a delegate to the Council meeting! it may appoint a proxy delegate from the tow where the Council meeting is being held. No delegate may re present more than one society.

If an officer acts as proxy delegate, she shall retain her own vote as well as her delegation vote.

Meetings.

The National Council shall meet annually in one of the four centres—viz: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Finance.

The affiliation fee for each society shall be £1 annually, Each society shall pay £1 for every delegate whom it appoints to the National Council.

All moneys payable to the Council shall be paid to the Treasurer, and shall be acknowledged by such form of receipt as the Treasurer shall direct. All accounts shall be authorised by the President and Secretary.

Bye-Laws.

Executive Committee.

I. The Executive Committee shall draw up Regulations for its own guidance in the conduct of its business.

II. The Executive Committee shall have the entire management of the business of the Council, and of the income and property thereof, for the uses, purposes, and benefit of the Council. The Executive Committee shall and may meet together when and as often as they shall think fit, at such times and places as shall be page 3 precribed by their Regulations. Special meetings may be summoned by the Honorary Officers as occasion may require. The Executive Committee may appoint such sub-committees, and delegate to them such duties, as from time to time shall seem expedient.

III. The Executive Committee shall once in every year pre-pare a general report of their proceedings for the year preceding, and shall attach thereto a duly certified statement of accounts, and of the finances of the Council.

IV. The Accounts of the Council shall be audited annually by an auditor, or auditors, who shall be qualified accountants, and shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.

General.

V. No new bye-law shall be made, nor shall any standing bye-law be altered, or annulled, except by a majority of those present at a General Meeting of the Council, nor unless notice of such proposed addition, alteration, or amendment, shall have been placed upon the notice and agenda paper convening the said General Meeting.

VI. Six weeks' notice at the least shall be given of every General Meeting of the Council.

VII. At any meeting of the Council, or of any Committee, or sub-Committee, the person for the time being occupying the chair shall, in case the members voting upon any question are equal on either side, be entitled to give the casting vote.

VIII. The travelling expenses of Honorary Officers shall be paid from the National Fund. Postage, stationery, &c., for correspondence connected with Council work shall also be a charge on the National Fund.

Prior to Convention the following circular was distributed throughout the Colony :—

To Members of the Canterbury Women's Institute, and the Public.

The Programme of a Convention to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, during, the week beginning April 13th, is herewith submitted to your consideration. Each address will be followed by debate.

We, the Executive, cordially invite your attendance:—president : Miss Sherriff Bain. Vice-Presidents : Mrs Sheppard, Mrs Blake, Mrs J. T. Smith, Hon, Secretary : Mrs Ada Wells. Hon. Assist. Secretary : Mrs Ross. Hon. Treasurer : Miss A. E. Hookham. Committee : Misses Atkinson and Garstin, Mesdames Darling, H. Smith, Wallis, Black, and Henderson.