“Women At Disadvantage"

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 3

“Women At Disadvantage"

(From Our Otcn Reporter) GREYMOUTH, April 29. In some ways, women and the organisations representing them were at a tremendous disadvantage when compared with men and their organisations, said Mrs R. M. Dell, senior vicepresident of the National Council of Women, today.

Mrs Dell was opening a seminar on social welfare held by the Greymouth branch to mark its twentyfifth anniversary. More than 100 women, as well as secondary school pupils, attended. “Men can usually devote themselves to and concentrate their efforts on a single

subject. They can pursue even their good works in fairly narrow channels such as providing play-grounds, supporting fellowships or helping the blind. Whole Field “But women, and most particularly the N.C.W., have to cover the whole field of community and individual responsibility and welfare. "We have to concern ourselves in every aspect of the physical and mental well-! being of society and this in-! volves us in everything from, non-inflammable material for. nighties to use of atomic energy for peace; from pro-, tection of women and child-1 ren to the protection and pre- i servation of our nation's re-' sources; from problems of urban transport to those of, rural services and develop-: ment,” she said. "We fight for the rights of the individual as in access to picnic spots and reserves, and for the rights of the community as in the campaign against litter. There is, ini fact, no area of life in which we can afford not to be concerned and therein lies our greatest problem,” said Mrs Dell.