COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 120, 20 April 1934, Page 8

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

REMITS UNDER DISCUSSION. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 19. A discussion of remits ana reports from branches was the main businest of the conference of the National Council of Women to-day. ’the conference carried a remit submitted. by the executive calling upon the Government to honour its undertaking to erect a modern maternity hospital at Dunedin. A remit from Invercargill protested against a reduction of tlie time allowed in schools for the teaching of sewing from two hours to one hour weekly, and urged the Minister to reconsider this matter. The remit was rejected after some discussion. There was a long discussion on a remit from Wellington which, in effect, declared opposition to dual complementary voting by which electorates would return one man and one woman representative, on the ground" that electors should have an unfettered choice of representation in Parliament. The remit came up following a report on dual representation by a sub-committee which reported favourably on the scheme. This report was discussed -in committee and was rejected by an overwhelming majority. A series of remits dealt with the position of unemployed women when it was urged that women should be treated on equality with men. At present, if was stated, the Unemployment Board did not concern itself with workless women and this was not fair to women. It was argued that they should pay a levy as the men did and should have the same right as the men to be provided with relief work. Another clause sought to remove an exemption of wages of domestics from the wages tax. This remit was adopted. After a discussion on film censorship problems in which it was agreed that the standards had improved recently, remits were adopted asking that the censorship be exercised to serve the best interest of the community rather than to pander to the lower tastes of a section; expressing concern at the number of films shown unsuitable for children; and urging a reconstitution of the Board of Appeal to make the censorship more effective, this board to be an independent judicial body presided over by a Stipendiary Magistrate with two associates one of whom should be an educationist of standing and the other a nominee of the Chief Justice. It was also urged that the censorship should extend to posters to see that they indicate the nature of the film and that cinema proprietors be similarly responsible to the censor for advertisements.