More union activity urged

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 12

More union activity urged

Making it happen

Union pozver Moves are afoot to encourage local women to play a bigger part in their unions. This month's meeting of the Canterbury Trades Council set up a seven-member women's sub-committee for this purpose. As well as attending to what it perceives as local needs and issues, the. committee will be taking up any recommendations made by the;Advisory Committee on Women's Affairs to’ the Federation of Labour. It. will ensure that these are. brought the the attention of local unions, and will have the status to ensure that action is undertaken. One of its members. Mrs Hilary Jones, of the Caretakers and Cleaners Union, explains that the committee is an off-shoot of the Federation of Labour's Women's Advisory Committee. "Lots’ of women don’t know where to begin with their unions, so we hope to encourage them to participate actively in union affairs. We intend to build up their confidence with seminars and social events." she said. • • • Suca j ssjiil fundraiser A Polish dinner held recently at the Christchurch Young Women’s Christian Association raised sstjt) to assist with the resettling of Polish refugees in New Zealand. The dinner, which was held at the V.W.C.A.'s new headquarters in Bealey Avenue, featured Polish dishes cooked by local Polish women, and was followed by' a talk by the Rev. Brian Turner, of the National Council of Churches, who visited Poland earlier in the year. Suzanne Brocherie performed an energetic- Polish mazurka which added, to the ■ atmosphere of the evening. Finding finance Did you get that finance you wanted 9 Or were you turned down? The Society for Research on Women is conducting a • . systematic research project for the ■ Human Rights Commission . on Women and Access , to ■ Credit and Finance. The pro- ! ject is being convened by, i Jenny Neale of Wellington, j who is working under con- ■ tract to the society. ; The Society for Research on Women is : now researching case studies of women ■ who have endeavoured to , acquire credit or finance. I They are asking for women in the Canterbury region to let them have details of credit transactions, particularly where problems have occurred. S.R.U.W. national president. Judy Whitcombe. says: i "The project has evolved as •, the result of the Human Rights Commission's concern

about complaints received from women who have had difficulties in obtaining credit or finance because of their sex. and also from our publication "Women and Money" published last October. "We want to hear not only from those who suspect they were refused finance because of their sex. but from women who may have been successful. Their contribution is equally important."

Data from finance and credit institutions throughout the country has already been processed and women's case studies are needed now for the second stage of the project.

"I hope women throughout the country will respond

prompliy because this is an important study." says Ms Whitcombe. Ms. Neale says that if they get a quick response, the results will be ready by about July August for publication. All material should be addressed to S.R.O.W. Project Convener. P.O. Box 13-078. Wellington. • » • ® Truns-ciiltuful happening Enjoy! That's the theme for a day of song, dance, arts and crafts, cookery displays, and chat being ' held on Wednesday. June 30. The Women's Committee of the National Council of Churches invites all women to attend. With at least ten ethnic groups participating, the happening is all about bringing women from different cultures closer together - learning to enjoy and understand one another. There's no charge.' and though the programme runs from 9.30 am. to 4 pm.. "droppers-in" are welcome. Children are welcome too. Those who are staying to lunch should bring a plate ot "finger-food" tor sharing. Where's it at? St Paul's Trinity Pacific Church Hall in Madras . Street (opposite Farmers and Haywrights.;

Boards of public companies The Advisory Committee on Women's Affairs is looking for suitable women to recommend as appointees to boards of public companies. Chairman Colleen Dewe says that because the Women's Appointment File held by A.C.W.A. in Wellington is not suitable for nominations to public companies, women who are listed there should contact ■ A.C.W.A.' directly for new curriculum vitae forms.

Applicants should he aged more than 45, with good business sense, and the ability to evaluate financial statements. Enquire to: Advisory Committee on Women’s Affairs. C - State Services Commission. Private Bag. Wellington. © 0 • Research .subjects for PMT Princess Margaret Hospital is looking for volunteers to assist with a study ol pre-menstrual tension shortly to get under way. Women with PMT. aged between 25 and 35. who are not on the pill, are needed to assist over a three-month period. After initial interviews, volunteers are required to provide weekly urine samples and keep records of pre-menstrual tension symptoms. Those interested should contact Dr Glen Metcalf. Endocrinology Department. Princess Margaret Hospital, phone 39-169. © , @ © San Diego-bound Mrs Shirley Rudkin and Mrs Hanny Van Til have been elected by the Zonta Clubs of Christphufch-Can-terbury and. North Christchurch Area respectively as delegates to the Zonta International Convention to be held in San Diego. California in July. Also attending from the Christchurch-Canterbury Club will be District 16 Governor. Miss Jeanne Edgar, and Miss Pru Barker.

They will join more than 2500 delegates and members of 850 Zonta Clubs in 47 countries in conducting the business of this international service organisation of executive women, adopting international service projects and electing new leaders. • « • .S’e.r must be rescued from die traffic beiireen pmcerfiil and powerless, masterful and mastered, sexual and neutral, to become a form of communication between potent, gentle, tender people ...

Germaine Greer. Items for consideration in "Making .lt Happen" should be forwarded to Mrs J. Steincamp. P.O. Box 237. Christchurch.