Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/129

 log WORLD OF WOMEN SOCIISTEE^ WKIUCHI HELP WOMEBJ AHD CEIIILBREM No. I. -THE NATIONAL UNION OF WOMAN WORKERS President for igio, the Lady Laura Ridding The "Work oF the Union— It Instigates Legislation — Guards the Welfare and Interest of Woman Workers — Deals with Matters of Education and Promotes Rescue Work — The Union also is a Section of a Vast International Organisation after-care of feeble-minded children on leaving school, and a branch of the National Association for the Fecble-Minded was quickly called into being. Every branch could probably give instances of over- lapping prevented, co-operation brought about, and urgent needs supplied. The work of the centre, under its executive committee, is chiefly carried on by means of sectional committees dealing with nearly all departments of women's work. The members of these committees consist of experts in the subjects dealt with and re- presentatives of local branches. By this means the branches are kept in constant touch with the centre, receive from it expert information, and forward various local particulars which are invaluable to the committee when con- H HThe Objects of the National Union, as defined in its constitution, are : I. To promote sympathy of thought and purpose among the women of Great Britain and Ireland. ' 2. To promote the social, civil, moral, and religious welfare of women. 3. To focus and redistribute information likely to be of service to women workers. 4. To federate women's organisations and to encourage and assist the formation of local councils and unions of women. ORGANISATION OF THE UNION The Union is organised in the interest of no one policy,- and has no power over the organisations which constitute it ; federated societies incur no responsibility on account of an}^ action taken either by the council of the Union or by any other federated society. The N.U.W.W. has forty-two branches in different parts of Eng- land and Scotland, the main object of the branches being to form a common centre for all women engaged in or interested in social, educational, philan- thropic or religious work, and to promote sympathy and co- operation. All societies working for the moral, mental, or physical well-being of women and children are invited to become affiliated to the nearest branch of the N.U.W.W. and to appoint representa- tives to serve on the local committee. In this way the various societies in a town are brought into touch with each other. This prevents over- lapping both in religious and philanthropic work and also makes it possible for the N.U.W.W. to ascertain in what particular direction special help is needed which is not being given. The local branch then endeavours to supply the deficiency. One branch, for instance, found that there was no health society in its town, and at once took steps to form one. Another that there was no The Lady Laura Ridding Photo, Ernest H. Mills sidering all sides of a subject. The Legislation Committee studies all bills brought before Parliament affecting women and children, and on several occa- sions has been able tc bring forward evi- dence which has led to the introduction of a new clause or the sup- pression of one detri- mental to the persons for whose benefit the bill was drafted. The Industrial Committee studies the conditions under which women and girls work and the legislation which has been enacted or is being suggested on their behalf. During 1909 this committee invited the branches to take part in an inquiry into the work of married women which the Women's Industrial Council was conducting. They also appointed representatives to serve — (i) on a deputation to the London County Council, to urge the need for the registration of theatrical agencies ; (2) on a deputation to the President of the Local Government Board and the H9me Secretary, to urge the need for protecting employees at exhibitions ; (3) on the joint committee to assist the Half-Time Council in London to raise the minimum school age up to fourteen