WOMEN IN COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 8

WOMEN IN COUNCIL

DOMINION MOVEMENT

AIMS OUTLINED

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

In her presidential address today at the annual conference of" the National Council of Women of New Zealand, Miss B. E. Carnachan said that undoubtedly the world was at present faced with problems of greater import, of mightier magnitude, and of deeper intricacy than had ever before confronted the peoples of this globe. Ths old landmarks had been obscured by the fog of perplexity and doubt, and we needed some guiding star to lead us to the haven of prosperity, peace, and happiness. Only by the uso of eharity, sympathy, and international understanding could ' they locate that star. ' • ■ . '■■■ ■-.- ■■■•■-"' -■■■■■■' -

"The pa3t years," said MissCarnachan, "have seen the destruction of most of those things with which wo were familiar. Century-old dynasties have crumbled, Governments have succeeded'one another with unbelievable rapidity ana many of the old loyalties and traditions have vanished. Unfortunately in many cases nothing stabla has taken their place. We. do, not .condemn change, but wo need something definite to replace that which has been discarded. Pessimists can indeed draw ■a gloomy picture of world affairs,-as most nations are. fighting a desperata ngnt for economic and social survival. Without a doubt the welfare of tho worJd is at stake.

"Is it: not, at a timexsuch as this, that we women, can indeed play an important partt • Foolish unfounded optimism creates merely a fool's paradise, but pessimism need not attaia ' complete sway. We are offered a unique opportunity to mould for the future—to mould wisely, if we canbut certainly to mould sympathetically and charitably. The old foundations have crumbled; then ours is the chanceto bvuld new ones so, securely that our society ,s established beyond all chance of. destruction. . NATIONAI, ■UNDEESTANDING. « ' A study of modern affairs shows elearly that the nations of the world are^nextricably bound together, and that we must build our hopis on a common. solution.- To do this we must anHe rt an xn*eniational understanding, S nf \v memberl of e National CouS cal of; Women should take the lead ia bringing this about. Here lies our op-S£W-H Have we theVwU1 ' *&111 S Sn, d p6-. sympathy to grasp it? I •firmly believe that the moaenf people SfSrSt?ifftts?J S S£:

+ n "^ ei. caU:*.° servsee is ringing but to all humanity. ; Unless we forsake our ideals and'prove traitors to otto n^W 3*!? 0' »P«a.»e task offered Jm- kers are needed -willing, earnest worker!, blessed with the greatest of all gifts, sympathy W chanty, and. undemanding We ha™ a duty to posterity, so if behoves ul tagive of our best liberally, i a a ; cau "* which can benefit the whole of civilisation and affect vitally the live^£ P . pmess and opportunities /of 'many fnTt^l ylunborn- We are ™*- spf +w * V fUture ' ana »ay never see the fruits of our .labours, but we Ck 8 -w T ei tKat the effeet* °-w InM U-^ 8 ? ore .colossal th'an we could possibly imagine. We: have our is ?i\»\ d ! Kr strength a nd i purit Srrf tw ea t0 th^ utmost. I.ani sure that our society is working along w/^t 1"16?,' but ™ must realise th? immensity and importance of bur task wSrn 7mUf .\ 6 attemPtea earnest willingly, but humbly.- "' ."Our council has. expressed its desire «to promote greater unity: of li°,? g «,3nd .'ynpatky ana purpose among the women of all nations.' If we holdfast to our aim we. can most materially assist the nations of the world. May I repeat: times have changed." Yes, but change mav be a good thing. The task is difficult, therefore all the more worthy of our efforts If. we exert-our best. qualities in a. sympathetic fashion we should succeed in our aim in bringing about that international understanding without which all other efforts must fail. It has been said that the present is th\j junction where all trains meet. The one we board will determine our destiny." . ■ ,-

GROWTH OE MOVEMENT.; About thirty delegates from all parts of New Zealand are attending the conference. : •

|_ The National Council has sine branches, a membership of 37,600. and there are 164 affiliated societies. -The activities of the council aurins the past year are ontlined in the secretary's report. It is stated that in. many centres the branchos have taken, an active part in assisting unemployed women and girls, Besolutions have been sent to the proper authorities in regard to many matters, including the illicit sale of" liquor, nationality of married women, appointment of a woman on the Unemployment Board, a protest against the sale of pernicious literature, and other subjects. _ The order-paper is a large one, and it is expected that the conference mil last for* several days. The remits-include a reaffirmatioh <Tf a. resolution urging the. Government to see that the Pure Food Act is strictlv administered. The conference will also be asked to reaffirm that the marriage age be raised to sixteen for both, sexes, instead of 12 for. girls and 14 for boys; that women police be appointed; that provision be made -whereby a deserted wife may receive., the • familyallowance without the signature of her husband being necessary; and that a woman be appointed as joint censor of films. There are other.remits relating specially to child welfare. '