Govt grant for women's year

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33787, 8 March 1975, Page 3

Govt grant for women's year

(Neu> Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 7

The Government would give $68,000 towards International Women’s Year, the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) announced tonight, on the eve of International Women’s Day.

The money goes towards publicity and other activities directly supporting 1.W.Y., he said in a statement. “The contribution is a further instance of the Government’s concern and active support for the advancement of women,” Mr Rowling said.

The Government has made several officials available to assist and advise the Committee on Women, of which Mrs Miriam Dell is chairman, and which is co-ordinating I.W.Y. activities.

Mr Rowling said New Zealand had some leeway to make up in the advancement of women. To some extent social attitudes which hindered fuller representation of women need to be examined, discussed, and where appropriate changed. Mr Rowling said. “In particular, women themselves must realise what they can do and make a real effort to play a fuller role in the community. If change is desirable it must come, in the New Zealand way, from within and should not be imposed from without. Change originating within the community is the most effective because it is understood and accepted by the peonle,” Mr Rowling said.

“We should remember the international implications of I.W.Y. which actually originated within the United Nations,” he said. “The Government’s contribution includes a grant of $5OOO to the United Nations I.W.Y. fund.”