NATIONAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 149, 27 June 1933, Page 10

NATIONAL COUNCIL.

The Xational Council of Women met last evening in their rooms, Miss E. Melville presiding over a large attendance of delegates and associate members. She welcomed the new delegates and impressed on them that the council did not want silent members. Letters were received from the delegate of the Problem Club stating that it was not in favour ot the Contraceptives Bill. Tlie Dominion secretary wrote stating that greetings had bo-en sent to Lady Aberdeen, and an appreciative reply had been received. The Dominion executive also stated that a condensed report from all branches would be advisable. This was approved. It was moved that a decision as to whether or not a subject should be treated as an emergency question should be allowed to rest with the Dominion officers. The Dunedin branch had brought up the Xew Zealand law in relation to child marriage and asked for the age to be raised to sixteen.

It was suggested by Miss Melville that the birth control question should bo studied, whether the societies approved or not. Better films, Parliamentary representatives and women police, raising the age of consent, and moral literature were questions which it was felt should be fought for by the council throughout New Zealand. A deputation from the Women's Institutes was received, and Mesdames Treby and Irwin were welcomed by Miss. Melville. Mrs. Treby expressed thanks for being able to speak before the council on birth control. A resolution in its favour had been passed almost unanimously at the provincial institute meeting. The lirst birth control clinic was established in 1921 in England, and a large number of public bodies had established them since. It was felt that the New Zealand Health Department could draw up information on this subject. in a suitable manner. Town- women did not understand how country women worked 14 to 10 hours a day. They had a terrible struggle to carry on, and the thought of another child was too often a nightmare. Women in towns also, the wives of men who could not earn enough money to keep their wives and children, • and also the wives of "wasters," needed this knowledge.. It was felt that it was nothing short of criminal for children to be born in ruinous cireulnstances. It was asked that tlie Health Department should issue a clear letter explaining the facts about contraception, and closing with a plain warning against any form of abortion, which was far too common. In 1927 a committee of 13 doctors was appointed, who reported that no attempt should be made to withhold knowledge when the birth of children endangered life, or when the parents were too poor to provide for them. The speaker was thanked for her attendance.

A request that the German Club be allowed to send a delegate to the council was acceded to. A. report was laid on the table in regard to the unemployed women's committee for perusal by any delegate at any time in the council rooms. National and civic, house, educational, social and service committees were set up. A letter was received from the Dominion executive stating that a resolution had been passed that a committee be set up to explore the position of the unemployed women and girls with a desire to make constructive suggestions to the Unemployment Board AS°to relief. Miss Trent, of Christchurch. was made convener, and branch presidents were asked to appoint a member to act on this committee. Mrs. A- D. Campbell was appointed for Auckland.