COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19879, 7 May 1936, Page 11

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

-_,_..__o___ HAMILTON BRANCH. ‘ d— ‘ .-. ANNUAL MEETING. l The annual meeting of ihe Hamilton Brauvh of the National Council of \V‘omen was held in the Lyceum Uluh on Tuesday, the president. Mrs A. .\l. lllslcy, presiding over a full Mir-ml-mwe of vambm's. The president welcomed .\il‘S (l. Bury in her m‘w capacity as th‘legaie for the St. George‘s Molhers‘ Union, and Mrs J. \\'. Chapman as lhe new delegate for lhe Hamilton branch of lhe \Vomen‘s Division of lhe Farmers‘ I'nion.

In her opening address the prcsid—‘ ent, Mrs A. )I. Bislev, stated that it was a pleasure to see such :1 large attendam'e of those interested in the national work of the council—a unit of a powerful organisation embracing 40,000,000 women in 40 countries. Sir Alexander Young, than Minister 0! Health. pointed out at the Plunket Conference in Wellington. that, excluding deaths attributed to one particular cause. the rates of maternal mortality had shown a satisfactory downward trend in New Zealand. The nerd i‘or supervision of the reading: matter taken into the. homes “as stressed by Mrs Bisley. :lan the necessity for super— Vision of the type of book sunplicd to libraries, wus urged. The dinicult)‘ or obtaining suita-hic domestic. assistance hy mothers was mentioned by the president. who stated that larger families were required it New Zealand was to progress as it should. The Council was endeavour—ing by helpful suggestions to aSsist to remedy these disabilities under whieh many women and children are labouring. I'n asking if the world desired peace Mrs Bisiey said she doubted whether there had ever been so many individuals in so many countrits convinced of the futility of war. as to-day. On behalf of the Council she had forwarded to headquarters a telegram urging them to ask the Government to forward immediately an indignant protest on behalf of the women of New Zealand against the mustard gas atrocities in Abyssinia. This protest should he voiced through their New Zealand representatives at. Geneva. She stated that the League of Nations seemed at. present, to be under a cloud yet collective security was the only salvation of the nations.

It was ‘inoniioned ihnt, Miss Lilian Edgar, who spoke to members last year on the League of Nations, was coming to Hamilton again on June in, and she hoped that. the speaker would deliver her address lo a Very larlro audience. In concluding Mrs Bisley extended thanks to the office—hearers and mem:bers for their splendid (ac-operation and keenness throughout the year. She was sure that the branch would contlnue to progress. The annual report and balance sheet. was presented. the latter showing a credit balance of £1 19s 6d. Annual Report. “Our membership last. year comprised twelve delegates representing the Trained Nurses Association (2), the Walkato Lyceum Club (2), the South Auckland Provincial Councll of the \V.D.F.U. t2). the South Auckland Federation of \V'omen's Insli—tutes, the Post and Telegraph \Vomen‘s Association, the Waikato Camp League, St. George‘s Mother‘s Union, St. George‘s Guild, the Women's Chris—tian Temperance Union, and 17 asso—ciate members," slated Mrs Bisley in presenting her annual report. “We are always glad to welcome new mem—bers inLerested in the work of the Council."

The annual general conference was held In Dunedin in September, when the Hamilton brunch was represented 'by the secretary. Miss G. Roche, and Dr, de la. Mare. as a delegate member from the S.A.P.G., VV.D.F.U. They returned with interesting reports of the sthects discussed, which will he of great, value to the branch,

In mentioning the need or education for peace Mrs Blsley stated that, the branch and 'hecome a Corporate member of the local branch of the League of Nations‘ Union.

Research into the dietaries of New Zeaiand families was conducted by the Faculty of Home Science of the University of Otago, the branch assisting by distributng form‘s among the sfiiliated organisations, while several members forwarded the dietaries of their homes. The results or this research should be of great; value in investigating the average diets of different types of New Zealand homes. The branch was represented hy .\iiss Roche at the church parade and ronsecration of the St. John Ambulance. Assm‘iaiimi on July i. and at. tho eighth hirlhday at’ the Hamilton branch of the \\'.D.F.Ui, on June ‘25. the report. continued.

Copies of the report or the Aunti—land hranvh‘s committee set up to study tho tjhild \\'vlfnrc Art. and In maker rm‘mnmondntion; as to its amnndment. were procured and \\'l“ hi: distributed in delegates for dismisslnn by their organisations Although the National Council of \\'mnen niinml at being a self—supporting hnrly and was reluctant. to seek support. from outside. circumstances arose whlch necessitated the strengthening of the funds. Such necessity was the payment of delegates‘ expenses to attend the cont‘eronca and to this end an enjoyable hrirlge party was held. As it has been decided not in hohl a t‘mnnral (lont‘m-enr‘e this year there should he no strain on the funds. Types of Film; Discussed. “\Ve rnzrct. having to rcrm-rl tho rnsignntimi tit‘ nm‘ 0! our \'it‘(‘»pro_ sidents, Mrs J. .\l. .lonns. JP” owing to hmtlth rt‘nsmis,“ :nhlml Mrs Bisli'y. "’l'lin brunt-h :ilsn (“IK‘l'it‘nt't‘tl t 1 gran? loss in thn tlmth of nun of its must nnthnsinslir mmnlwrs. .\lrs \\‘. ll‘ Allvn, “hose lgr‘on iiilvrost Jll‘tl holnt'n'l sympathy was \wll-knmx’n. 'l‘hn tyt-(‘s nf llhns‘ shtmn tn vhilth'x'n hml t‘nrmml thu suhjt-ut lll.llll'l' of many wrlnus thwussiuns. 'l‘hu lintt‘ntiul \‘nhn‘ nt‘ muliun pit-turns in (‘tlilt‘filii‘n was strt‘ssml antl thn tiuunt-tl rt‘quvstml tho lmrnininn liwvnlivv tn nppl‘nm‘h tht‘ t‘lllit‘utinnnl :illtllul'iltt‘s In nstnhlish :1 Film lnstitntr‘ in Now 7m‘ Inntl In nrtlr'r that (thus. nthr‘r than tllv'lsr‘ t‘tistrihutwl t‘t'uninm‘t‘inlly. Shl‘llill‘ hr‘ :‘nnilahln tn thn «*t'nniiiuliity .\liss llnrhv hml hr‘mi imitm’l by Mrs Ilnl\\itl. \n“ lmlantt l‘v‘m'r‘nfll‘, in JP! (IS le‘t \\'ttil\t.tu rr‘prosr‘ntutiuv on .1 llumini-n‘. )mnnttm' 111 t‘wrnrtrtl .\llllJltlv‘ .\‘mt'ir: us of tht‘ \\\tt'l\ of Bun Zczilitn-ll

youth in arts. crafts and letters, for exhibition at the Belgrade convention this year. Miss A. M. Stops,, noted Institute organiser and member of the N.U.W. of Great Britain. gave a most interesting tall; at the‘ April meeting on the work or \\'onien's Institutes and National flouncils. i “In convlusion I thank the ommhearers for their willing eta—operation land headquarters officials who have I _ . . . *sumnhed all nertlml information. 1 I deeply regret giving up the holding 0|" lomce owing to the pressure of other duties, but, i shall remain a keen menilher," said Mrs Blsley. Election of Officers. The following otth‘ers were raleulet‘ll for the ensuing yeah—President, hr. S R. de [a More; rice—preslth‘nts, Mrs IP. Snell. Mrs G. .11. Holloway, .\irs Stevenson Craig, Mrs 11. H. Ross; ’h‘onorary secretary, Miss G. Roche; hon. treasurer. Mrs A. G. Sanford.