"NOT AN ANTI-MEN ORGANISATION"

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 7

"NOT AN ANTI-MEN ORGANISATION"

——« —, — NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN “The National Council of Women is not an ‘anti-men’ organisation as I am so often told it is,” said Miss M. G. Havelaar, president of the Christchurch branch of the National Council when speaking yesterday at a meeting of the Parents’ National Educational Union. “On the contrary, it is a society for men, for it lifts many burdens from men’s shoulders; it works for the spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of women and children —it is women’s contribution to the life of the community, where it is a powerful factor lor- good.” The council throughout the world was non-political and non-sectarian. Miss Havelaar traced its history from its modest beginning in Bristol, where Miss Ellice Hopkins, a firm believer in the independence of women, began a small society for befriending girls, who were earning their own living. Now branches of the council were to be found in almost every country of the world and the International Council had celebrated its golden jubilee last year. Its activities had been suppressed in Germany and in Austria in recent years. _ The Christchurch branch, MisS Havelaar said, had 70 members, and tp it were affiliated 43 societies. It had 8 large number of asspeiate members, who did not represent any organisation. These members could attend meetings and take part in discussions, but they were not entitled to vote. But when there were 20 or more of these members, as there were in the Christchurch branch, then they appointed a delegate who had voting power. There were in New Zealand, Miss Havelaar said, 14 branches of the council and representatives of all these branches would attend the Dominion conference to be held in Christchurch during the last week in September. In England, Canada, and in South Africa the Government had frequently enlisted the help of the council in matters relating to women and emmren and had as a basis for legislation, the suggestions put forward by the council. It was hoped that the council would, before long, become equally powerful in other P Mrs H. Wyatt°thanked Miss Havelaar for her address. Mrs L. C. L- Averill presided at the meeting, which was held at the home of Mrs W. H. Claris, Bealey avenue. After the address, members were entertained at tea by Mrs Clark.