Women Jaycees discussed

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 2

Women Jaycees discussed

i.V.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

WHANGAREI. Feb. 6. The president of the New Zealand Jaycee movement (Mr J. J. Nicholls) is determined that the role of women in the movement will be settled this year. Mr Nicholls said he was adamant that the controversy over having women in the Jaycee movement would be resolved at the next national convention in Rotorua ini October.

At the national convention held last October in Nelson, I no-one would take sides over I the issue, and the matter was left in abeyance. THREE OPTIONS Jaycees would have three opinions, Mr Nicholls said the vention: to allow female membership nationally; to bar them altogether; or to let individual chapters make their own minds up about their membership. Claiming “presidential privilege” over his personal opinions, Mr Nichols said the

third option was his prefer-1 ence. Mr Nicholls said it appeared women had gained entry to Jaycee ranks through what he termed “flaws” in individual chapter constitutions. He said the women’s membership had not been accepted completely and there was controversy over whether it should be allowed to continue. New Zealand was one of onlv three countries in the world Javcee movement which had "held out against'

women. Like New Zealand, Australia was “beginning to slip,” but the United States was showing no signs at all of allowing women membership. ALL WOMEN “However, at the world congress in Nice, France, last year I noticed that many nations had competent women members, including Sweden, which has a female national president,” Mr Nicholls said. “I even heard of a chapter in Hong Kong which has a membership composed entirely of women.” 1