NATIONAL COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 16

NATIONAL COUNCIL

CONFERENCE REMITS

WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS

There was a good attendance at the is monthly meeting of the Wellington branch of the National Council cf Women last evening. Special interest was taken by members as the remits for the forthcoming conference at Auckland were considered. Mrs. B. L. Dallard (vice-president) presided in the absence of Miss North (president), who is holiday-making out of town. Mention was made of the interest taken at the last meeting of the address given by Dr. Sylvia Chapman, who spoke of the incidence of abortion in New Zealand. A special remit was formulated by Wellington expressing appreciation of the work that was done by the committee which went so thoroughly into this matter. Delegates were appointed to attend conference, these being Mrs. Peryman (leader), Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Forde (Dominion secretary), and Miss Atkinson. Regret was expressed that owing 'to the engagements of council members it was not possible to send the full delegation from Wellington. WELLINGTON REMITS. Wellington remits included the following:—"That in view of the increase of drinking at weekends the Government be strongly" urged to close hotels at noon on Saturday; that in cases where men on sustenance are found to be spending sustenance money in drink that the ( money should'be paid to the wife or some responsible person." Others were in regard to the feeling that women should be members of the Legislative Council; that a,,whole session of the conference should be given to the question of the social evil of abortion; also that Government should be asked to set up a committee of inquiry into maternity services in New Zealand; that Government be urged to prohibit or control the marriage of the mentally. defective;- that power should be given to Courts of summary jurisdiction to make interim orders, to refer appropriate cases to conciliators, that special sessions for domestic cases should be held where practicable, with the exclusion of persons not directly interested. * Wellingto. ■. also sent a summary of the proposed platform of the N.C.W. of New Zealand. JUSTICE AND BORSTAL DEPARTMENTS. There were many remits sent from places far off irom the seat of Government regarding the conduct of the prisons and Borstal institutions. Sur-j prise was expressed by many of those present at the lack of knowledge displayed in these, as so many of the recommendations have long been part of the treatment of inmates of these institutions. It was regarded as a mistake that those sending them forward had not got into touch either with the Department of Justice, the Borstal Association, or had not given more careful study to the Act. The chairman of the Wellington Borstal Association i (Mrs. R. Tait) and Mrs. M. H. Chatfield (who has been a worker at the Borstal < ever since it was established at Point ' Halswell) both spoke to^ these remits, i explaining that even more than was 1 asked was already being done and had i been for some years'. A report from • the Chief Probation Officer (Mr. B. L. ! Dallard) explained clearly all that was I being done for the benefit of the boys ' and young men in Borstals, and also explained clearly the procedure in the J cases which are declared "habitual * criminals." As so much misconception * appeared to be about, the council asked £ that their delegates to conference might c have.a copy of Mr. Dallard's report < to take to conference to aid them in £ explaining why Wellington was not . supporting these remits. Those who ■>■ are working steadily for the benefit of Borstal inmates expressed their objec- , tion to .the institutions being removed c from the care of the Justice Depart- j ment. ,

A remit that was sympathetically received was in regard to health matters. In reference to abortion that remit stated: "While realising fully the ■ responsibility of women in this matter, we feel that not enough accent is laid on the part played by fathers or potential fathers in provoking the crime of abortion." The appeal to women should be followed closely by one to the man-; hood of the nation to refrain from selfish and, unworthy actions; "to treat the women with respect and consideration; to realise the privileges of parenthood." -~

There were many more remits dealing with housing and other important matters, corning from all parts of the Dominion arid showing the keen interest the N.C.W. women, take in affairs connected, with the health and general well-being of the nation.