HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 45, 21 February 1917, Page 8

HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON

The conference of delegates of tlife New Zealand Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children was continued in Wellington to-day, Mrs. Algar Williams, president of the Wellington branch, being in tho chair.

The Hon: G. W. Russell, Minister for Public Health, forwarded a number of suggestions for the consideration of the conference. He suggested that the society should comprise branches as units, also a provincial iinioa of branches and a Dominion council. The provincial onion, should' be responsible for extension of advice to branches in its own territory. It should have the power of recommendation to the Dominion executive of appointments to the service, and should stand between the council and the branches. The Dominion council should have supremo control, make appointments, lay down the responsibilities of the branches, determine what funds the branches should pay over for Dominion purposes, receive statistics, control literature, and generally supervise. The branches, subject to the control of the Dominion council, should have full powers of local self-government. They should be encouraged to assist in establishing new branches in conjunction with the provincial union.' They should pay over (say) one shilling per member annually to the Dominion council for the common fund. The provincial union should meet yearly in the chief town, of the provincial district, and the Dominion council yearly at Wellington. The Dominion council might authorise the subdivision of provincial districts. The Dominion executive to be located at Dunedin, as heretofore, and this to be recognised in the constitution. The property in each case should be the property of the branch, e.g., Karitane hospital, etc., would belong to the Dunedin branch. Other branches should bo encouraged to purchase similar properties. No branch should be allowed to dispose of any real property without the consent of the Minister and of the executive council. Membership of provincial unions should be as follows:—Branches of 100 members and over, 1 member; smaller branches grouped for elective purposes, —. Membership of Dominion council-should be as follows: —Two members each, for Auckland, • Wellington, Canterbury, ■ and Otago;' one; member each for - Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Maryborough, Nelson, Westland, Southland, Gisborne,. to be elected by the provincial union. The Dominion council' should elect the Dominion, executive.

, Mrs. Carr (Dunedin) read correspondence explaining the difficulties; which had been . experienced in co-ordinating the system of accounts and the receiving of subsidies. She also read a letter from. the Hon. G. W. Russell, asking the- society, in view of the war and its contingent expenses, to carry on the work without asking for more money or more nurses. The point of view of the Minister with regard to branches which had a balance of money (in one case about £3000) was that they did not need ' help,. whereas, as some of the branches had spent everything, they might perhaps receive aid. Mrs. Carr thought that the branches should be encouraged to gather money wherever possible, and work economically, and to be rewarded by a subsidy to encourage them, and enable them, to extend their work.. Mrs. Carr paid a tribute to Mr. Russell's interest in the society, and the help he had given in various ways. ! The Government had subsidised the work of the society to the extent ; of £3000, and Mr. Russell suggested » strenuous collecting "campaign throughout the Dominion, to tako place in January, but Mrs. Carr felt that nothing could be done in suck an important matter till the matter had been placed before this, present conference. Mrs. Carr went on to say that Mr. Russell had apparently changed his attitude with regard to the society, and one of the subjects to consider was what was best to be done.

Dr. Truby King spoke on the subject of the difficulty in obtaining nurses, and said that a splendid spirit had been shown altogether. While ready to go forward if absolutely necessary, most of the nurses 1 realised the importance of saving the lives of the little ones, who were more than evfy necessary to the nation, and that this was important patriotic work. It had been arrangedtd ;> accommodate extra nurses in tents, as the accommodation at Karitane was taxed to the utmost. He paid a tribute to the generosity of Mr. Wolf Harris, of London, who had already given generously, and was prepared to help again if necessary. (Proceeding.)