N.Z. COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 2

N.Z. COUNCIL OF WOMEN

MRS G. H. ROSS OPENS CONFERENCE

(New Zealand Press Association) PARAPARAUMU, October 7.. “The women of this countrv have a long way to go in the field of national politics,” said the Minister of Social Welfare (Mrs G. H. Ross) when she officially opened the conference of the National Council of Women this afternoon. “Women are making their presense felt more than in the past, but most of their effort is in local rather than national politics. Women are handicapped as far as Parliament is concerned because of the ties of home and family.” Mrs Ross said she considered that the council did a great deal to enable women to have more influence in national life. The council, which should be “a sort of a clearing-house,” had increased in stature.

“Ten or 15 years ago women were afraid to get up and give their opinions,” she said. “Today you can’t get them to stop.” Thanking Mrs Ross on behalf of the conference, Mrs W. Mackay (Christchurch) said; “If we are going to emerge from these difficult days, we can t go on very much longer depending altogether on the intelligence of the men. I feel that it has got to be men and women together—with growing emphasis on good, Christian women.”