NATIONAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 226, 24 September 1929, Page 9

NATIONAL COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Auckland branch of the National Council oi Women was held last evening, when Miss L'arnachan, president, presided over a large attendance of members. In welcoming Miss Wagner and Mrs. Prasor, of the Interhouse Girls' Club, Miss Carnachan referred to the splendid community and team work they were doing. A welcome was also extended to Mrs. Goff, of Gisborne, and Mrs. Kaihau, from the Akarana Association.

A report was made by deputation which had been investigating the conditions of Maori girls employed by Chinese market gardeners, and Miss Melville outlined the discussions that had taken place. It was suggested, she said, that the girls should be trained for agriculture. The Maoris were an agricultural people, and if the Chinese could grow vegetables, why could not the Maoris ?

A great deal of discussion took place with regard to the erection of oneroomed flats in the city. A request was brought forward by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children that the National Council support the action of the City Council in refusing sanction of the proposed 'building of flats, it was passed unanimously that the National Council support the council's action. It was held that such a scheme should be condemned on account of the air space, the impossibility of adequate supervision, and of insufficiency of cross-ventilation as shown, in the proposed plans. Ono speaker asserted that the erection' of such a building would lead to slums later on. There was no need in a place like Auckland, where there, were plenty of vacant housing allotments, to crowd the city witJi unhealthy buildings. The following resolution was passed: That the National Council of Women supports the City Council in its refusal to allow the erection of flats of the type proposed in city areas. It was also proposed and carried that the National Council of Women urges the Appeal Board under the Town Planning Board to support the council in its refusal to grant a permit to erect oneroom flflats of the type specified. _ Mrs. John Cook was authorised to convey the greetings of the council to the Convention of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which began its sittings yesterday. Mrs. Ruby Watson, representing the Institute of Horticulture, spoke on the necessity for the establishment of agricultural high schools. Those people who really wanted to go on the land should be given the benefit of the most up-to-date methods, she said. In such schools there would be professors who understood chemistry, veterinary work, and the workings of th soil, and there would be 30 acres of land on which to do practical work. Children from the age of 12 years would be taken. The development of the land was one of the keys to the unemployment question, and should be given every support. As regards the punishment of defaulters to compulsory military training, the following resolution was passed: That the system which obtained in previous years of sending lads convicted of failure to attend military drill to a military camp for detention be reverted to instead of the present procedure of sending them to a prison. Objection was made to the attitude of the Minister of Justice in his repeated refusals to approve of the appointment of women police. The following resolution on the matter was passed: That this branch of the National Council of Women make representation to the Dominion Executive asking that an appeal be made to the Prime Minister to support the request of the National Council for the necessary alteration to the law for the anppointment of women police with the powers of constable.