WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 9

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

NATIONAL ,COUNCIL

REMITS CONSIDERED "

The conference of the>"ational Coun»" cil of Women' of New Zealand todajr considered remits from; Jhe various branches. t' A remit from A'ew Plymouth urging the Government to amend "the statute governing the election of parents' representatives to the boards '_ of postprimary schools so as to. secure equitable voting power to both the parents (if qualified) or the guardian of auy child was deferred until the next conference._ ■ ~ The president (Miss B. E. Caruachan) said that at the present time the father, only had the power of v votine. It was thought that if a child bad no parents, the guardian should have two votes in order that such a child should not be at a disadvantage. Afters some discussion a remit from feouUi Canterbury. - urging- that tha Government should .be- asked to niuka provision for - the employment of travelling .teachers in districts whera low-grade schools i had been closed, necessitating children travelling lone distances to school, or being taueht by correspondence, thus helping the backblock, mother and child, was lost Miss E. Melville (Auckland) said that it was useless -to ask the Government, which had closed these school's as an economy measure, to act on such a suggestion. She considered that consolidated schools vere a better remedy. . ' "" One delegate;said that the employment of travelling teachers would cost the Government more than' reinstating the schools. Also, itinerant teachers would not have the same-personal contact With the children as would teachers in consolidated schools. There was a division of opinion o'a a remit urging that the need for still more careful supervision of the women patients in mental hospitals and the need for the- introduction of creative occupation, for women should be. pointed out. to tha Minister of Health;, After a considerable amount of discussion Drde la Mare (Hamilton) moved, the following amendment which was earned: "That the National Council of Women hereby agrees to the need for more creative occupation for the women mental patients, and desires to approach the.Health Department with a view to inquiring in what wav the CounciUof Women may be of assistance to- staffs of mental hospitals." Other remits carried recommended: That the* Daylight Saving Bill b» amended so as to extend the daylight saving period to April-30 of each year. (Auckland.) That no chemist or person should sell contraceptives to any young persons, under the age of seventeen: H» should be liable to a penalty of £100. (Auckland.) , : "' - That more severe punjghinent •bd ■given to motoristsl wlio,.when to any degree under the influence'of : alcohoiy are responsible for accidents or death. (Dunedin.) : Greater privacy in Courts * whera affiliation, matrimonial, and maintenance cases are heard. .. • That the age limit' for marriages be raised to sixteen years. (Wellington.) That- in all mortuaries or places where inquests or post-mortem examinations are held, a woman,.preferably.' a nurse, shall be.in. attendance'to ensure; the Teverent care of the. dead. (Timaru.) That steps be taken ..to make if a'mle that at all inquests, on women there should bs a nurse or other woman officer present. (Weliington^aa.i Dunedin.)