CURRENT PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 16

CURRENT PROBLEMS.

EPSOM-OAK MEETING. At the last meeting of the Epsom-Oak branch of the Labour party, the speaker being Mr. J. S. Stewart, president of the branch, an afternoon of the greatest interest to women was organised. There was a large attendance, Miss A. J. Greville taking the chair by request. Songs were sung by Mrs. Jacobs during the afternoon.

Ten topics of special interest to women at the present time were dealt with in turn by Mr. Stewart, who commented upon each in the light of the Labour party platform and of forthcoming legislation. These were: Motherhood endowment, maternal mortality, abortion, birth control, housing, food prices, superannuation, national health schemes, education and the school age. The health provisions, said Mr. Stewart, would mean much to New Zealand. In the past, countless thousands had'suffered and perhaps died because of not being able to afford to seek medical aid in time; fees could only be paid at the expense of the necessities of life. The superannuation proposals he characterised as revolutionary in two respects —they removed fear and worry about the future, and they enabled a high standard of living to be enjoyed without stint through the working years. With regard to education and the school age, he stressed the value of the nursery school movement. Motherhood endowment provisions were not finalised; it was a very far-reaching problem, and he considered the economic status of the married woman, whefher a mother or not, should be an integral part of the proposals. The afternoon was organised by the secretary of the branch, Mrs. Mere Newton, J.P., and by ladies of the social committee, Mesdames, Booth and Harris. Mrs. Newton proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Stewart for his specially informative address, and to Miss Greville and Mrs. Hurst for their assistance with these enjoyable and educative afternoon meetings.