ISSUE FOR N.O.W. Meeting on abortion law

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33100, 15 December 1972, Page 5

ISSUE FOR N.O.W. Meeting on abortion law

The Christchurch branch of the National Organisation for Women will hold a general meeting next year to decide its stand on abortion-law reform.

N.O.W. has not yet taken any position on the issue. A meeting in Christchurch on Wednesday evening decided to hold a general meeting and invite speakers for and against the reform of the present laws. N.O.W. would then make up its mind which group it would support.

The meeting also decided to hold a general meeting on the care of children in childcare and after-school play centres. A suggestion was put for-

ward to divide N.O.W. into four area groups within Christchurch, each with its own convenor. Activities, such as child-care arrangements and meetings, would be undertaken within each group, said the Christchurch president of N.O.W. (Mrs Joan Rotherman).

Last week the branch had been visited by the Auckland feminist, Sue Kedgley, who stressed the need for “con-sciousness-raising” meetings within the organisation, she said. “I think these smaller groups would be ideal for this.” Activity summary Since a N.O.W. branch was formed in Christchurch in June, members had participated in varied activities, said the president. They had attended meetings of county councils to register their disapproval of the county voting rights of women, urged women to vote in the General Election, supported contraception instruction to those under 16, made submissions on the Equal Pay Bill and some members had spoken to liberal studies courses in schools.