Women to meet council

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 9

Women to meet council

Waimairi District councillors’ views on various issues affecting women will be given in February when Women’s Electoral Lobby members will be invited to a council meeting.

The organisation recently sent Waimairi councillors individual questionnaires about their views on issues such as childcare, peace, and other community activities. The questionnaire had been opposed by some councillors because they felt its questions

were too general. The chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, said she felt a personal approach would be better than an “arms-length, impersonal questionnaire.”

Councillors should feel free to reply to the questionnaire, but the W.E.L. would be invited to a council meeting in February so that its members could see personally what the council did. Cr Barbara Stewart said it bothered her that the council and W.E.L. appeared to clash over

the questionnaire. “I think what they (the W.E.L.) are doing with this questionnaire is thoroughly worth while,” Cr Stewart said. The W.E.L.’s brief meant it needed the information requested to do its job — getting into local and national electoral issues.

“I don’t want to think the connection between us and the W.E.L. is going to be soured,” Cr Stewart said. “Inviting them here is a good move.”