WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 25

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

NATIONAL FITNESS

VIEWS OF CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, July .31.

At the final sessions of the annual Dominion conference of women's institutes held today chief discussion centred round a remit from the Waihi institute that the formation be favoured of : a national league for the prevention of physical and mental ailments, which would be under the direction of competent medical men. ;

Speakers referred to the vital necessity of rearing healthy children to build up the young nation- and to the increase in the last 20 years of the number of patients in mental institutions. It was felt that the resolution was so wide in its implications that it would be advisable not to come to an immediate decision, and an amended resolution that the necessity for the formation of the league be considered by the institutes was passed.

The importance of seeing that film entertainments should be onjy of a cultural nature and wholesome interest was thesubject of -a resolution from the Helensville institute, speakers urging the need" for patience and pointing out the great difficulties that lay in the way of those who were endeavouring to cope with this problem. The remit was adopted by the conference.

Other remits passecl concerned an amendment of the Health Act in order that-local bodies ,c spuld Jerfict ;arttisrriairitain. women's rest rooms, the provision of greater travelling facilities for ouilying areas, the desirability of having all children taught to swim, and a pvo^ posal that each .institute should learn the correct pronunciation of the Maori name of its district and endeavour to have it generally used, as a step towards the preservation of the beauty of the Maori language.

At a meeting of the Dominion executive committee Miss A. Kane (Wellington) was re-elected vice-chairman and Mrs. S. C. Chisnall (South Canterbury) treasurer.