WOMEN'S INSTITUTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 15

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES.

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED

DISCUSSION OF REMITS.

The final sessions of the annual Dominion conference of Women's Institutes were held yesterday. The 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 cf 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 tc 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 entertainment should be only of a cultural nature and of wholesome interest was the subject 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.

Other remits passed, concerned the amendment of the Health Act in order that local bodies could erect and maintain women's rest rooms; the provision of greater travelling facilities for outlying areas; the desirability of having all children taught to swim; and ft proposal 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 toward the preservation of the beauty of the Maori language.

At a meeting of the Dominion execu tive committee, Miss A. Kane, oJ Wellington, was re-elected vice-chair man, and Mrs. S. C. Chisnall, of Soutl Canterbury, treasurer.