COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 75, 30 March 1933, Page 13

COUNCIL OF WOMEN

COMPULSORY VOTING

SEATS IN PARLIAMENT

Tho conference of the National Council of Women of New Zealand waa continued today in tho Dominion Farmers' Institute.

Mis. W. E. Goffo (Gisborue) moved: "That the National Council of Women recommends that compulsory voting should follow compulsory registration."

Mis. Goffo said that many peoplp did not vote. All conference delegates were intent on getting women into Parliament, and compulsory voting would help. There was compulsory voting in New South Wales, with quite a substantial penalty attached for noncompliance. : Another speaker said there was already too much compulsion in a young country such as New Zealand, and in her opinion compufsory registration was wrong. ~■•. .-.;■•. . ;

Another point of viowwna that sonlo pooplo had religious- scrujjles against voting. , V ' . •■ , .;.'. ■

The remit was lost. •,,: \ • Tho- Auckland, branch,: moved tlfat: "The National Council of Women hereby ui'ges that women work heart and soul to put women into Parliament. -.

The remit was carried. , .- The Chrktchurch branch moved that tho council urge that both sexes be placed on equality with regard to nationality.. . .. \

It.was pointed out that this suggestion had .previously been taken to tho Government, which had brought it up at Geneva, but for somo • reason it was deferred there. ■

A delegate- said tho reason why it was deferred at Genova was because of lack of unanimity. . Tho remit was carried.

A remit from Wellington that a woman should not lose her nationality upon marriage was carried.

It was decided that, in futuro, conforenees should be held in turn in each centre where there- is a branch, each conference to appoint the place where tho next conference is to bo held. Invitations wpro received at the meeting from Christchurch. Dunedin, and Gisborne, and it was» decided on the score of cxpenso to hold the next tonforeuco in Christchurch. ■ .

The Wellington branch moved a remit protesting strongly against tho iuadcquato remuneration, for secretaries of women's unemployment committees. It was stated that £2 a week remuneration was insufficient. An amendment that the remuneration, of unemployment officers be left to the local branches was carried.

Discussion on . unemployment among women was taken iv committee.