MATERNITY BENEFITS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4808, 10 July 1939, Page 5

MATERNITY BENEFITS

WOMEN URGE CHANGES. MINORITY SUPPORT THE ACT. An element of opposition was met with by Mrs. C. Irvine, of Otorohanga, in the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, on Friday afternoon, when she addressed a gathering of nearly 300 women on the maternity provisions of the Social Security Act. There was a good deal of heckling, and the frequent ringing of her bell by the chairman was punctuated by much cross-chat'. Mrs. J. Ward Chapman presided, and explained that she happened, for the time being, to be president of a number of women's institutes, which were non-political organisations. She suggested that it was time women instituted a parliament of their own to consider man-made laws as soon as they were enacted.

Mrs. R. D. Duxfield moved: "That this meeting place before the Minister of Health its opinion that the maternity clauses of the Social Security Act should be amended in such a manner that they would be more beneficial than the method stipulated in the Act. It is therefore suggested that the members of all women's organisations in New Zealand be asked to appoint a committee to draft resolutions giving the alterations deemed necessary." Mrs. T. Collins moved an amendment: "That this meeting supports the Act without reservation, and wishes to see the co-operation of all concerned to ensure its successful working." The amendment was lost, about 20 voting for it. The motion was carried by an overwhelming majority.