INFLUENCE GROWS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 171, 16 April 1931, Page 5

INFLUENCE GROWS

' National Council of Women ■CONFERENCE OPENED Review of Year’s Activities The tenth conference of the New ■ Zealand National Council of Women opened yesterday afternoon in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute assembly room. A special service of intercession and prayer, attended by the delegates, was held at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in the morning. It was conducted by the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. T. H. Sprott. Special prayers for the King were offered, also a prayer for the National Council of women- The delegates were accorded a civic reception at 1 the Concert Chamber of >' the Town Hall at 10.30 by the Mayor, Mr. G. A..' Troup, and at 11 o’clock a Dominion Executive meeting was held in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute. The afternoon’s business session commenced with one minute’s silence, everyone standing, after which was sung the National Anthem.

“Moro Assured Position.” Mrs. C. A. Fraer, J.P., the Dominion president, addressed the conference, her remarks being received with enthusiasm. “In reviewing the happenings of the . last two years,” Mrs. Fraer said, “there Is much to inspire confidence for the future, and much to depress us, such, for instance, as our failure to ’ obtain women police, women jurors, and many, other things we have asked for persistently for many years. The position of women generally is more assured, and it is now seldom that a board or committee is set up without the Inclusion of some women. I am sure that not only do men recognise that more women must be included in societies for the welfare of humanity generally, but women themselves are taking a more tolerant view ■ of the activities of their sisters. “For the future we must hope and try ■ to interest younger women in the Na- ; tional Council of Women and educate a continuous train of aspirants for office, as we older members retire, not to a lazy indolence, but to a watchful energy, helping to guide the destinies of our council through troubled waters to a safe haven.” Mrs. Fraer thanked one and all for the kindly consideration shown her during her four years of office. She wished the National Council of Women every possible success along the truly sane lines that the International Council of Women pointed: that whs, walking warily, not taking a narrow line of action, but working for the education of the general public on broad lines. New Branches. The secretary’s report was read by Miss Lovell-Smith and adopted. “The influence of the National Council of 'Women," she said, “is being increasingly felt throughout the Dominion, the council now representing 133 women’s societies in New Zealand. Since 1029 two new branches of the council have been formed, one at Timaru and one at New Plymouth. Mrs. Cave is president of the former branch and Miss E. Andrews of the latter. “Since the last conference the constitution has been redrafted and the amendments carried at the Gisborne conference have, been embodied by a sub-com-mittee consisting of Miss Jackson and Miss Melville. Two thousand copies of the constitution have been printed, and I would urge all members of the National Council to procure one of these and keep for reference. Obstetrical Fund. “One of the most important pieces ’ofsocial work organised by the women of New Zealand in 1930 was the raising of £25,000 to establish a chair of obstetrics at the Otago Medical School. While this was not directly organised by the National Council, a great deal of propaganda work had been done, and aU the affiliated societies worked loyally to help in’this task. At the last conference the council decided to donate £5O as a scholarship to the New Zealand Obstetrical Society. This money was raised by the branches as follows: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, £9/5/- each; Hamilton and Gisborne. £3/10/- each; and Timaru and Invercargill, £3 each.” . The secretary mentioned that during her absence . from New Zealand the duties of the secretaryship were undertaken by Miss I. G. Howlett, and carried out with a great deal of ability. Since the last conference Mrs. Walker, of Gisborne, had passed on. Practically one of the earliest members of the National Council of Women, ■ Mrs. Walker had seen many changes in the personnel of the council, and they missed her quiet and gentle presence at the con-, ference. Mrs. Nellie Ferner, the New Zealand member ,of the Standing Committee for Child Welfare, was another delegate who would be missed at the conference. Mrs. Ferner had the interest of the children at heart, and her influence lived on in the work of the Community-Sunshine League in Auckland. The postponement of the conference from March 11 to April 15 was due to the calamity which overtook the people of the Hawke’s Bay district, and to a great extent affected other parts of New Zealand.

(1 Unemployment Among Women. A big task lies ahead of the women of New Zealand in connection with unemployment among women and girls,” added the secretary. “This conference should be the opportunity to discuss the problem from the Dominion standpoint, and it is to be hoped to devise some means of dealing with it, from which the Government might take a lead.” The secretary thanked ail delegates for the help and co-operation she had received from them. treasurer’s report was read by Miss S. E. Jackson, Dominion treasurer and adopted. Votes of appreciation are to be sent by the honorary secretary to Sister Hannah, Auckland, and to Lady Aberdeen in England. Votes of sympathy will be sent to .Mrs Henry Smith in her illness, and to the relations of the .late Mrs. Johu Hannah,, who had been greatly missed by the Wellington society. _ I , t 'S 5 .agreed that her Excellency the Lady BJedisloe should be asked to honour the council by becoming its patroness. A letter was received from the Prime Minister thanking the council for the donation of £2O for the earthquake relief fund. It was decided to revert to holding an annual conference in Wellington. Miss Flatt, Auckland, was appointed minute secretary for the conference. The conference will be continued today;