COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 17 June 1936, Page 13

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

AIA X AAV AT U 81l AX( H. The June meeting of the Manawatu branch of the National Council of Women was held in the Y.AV.C.A. clubrooms yesterday and was presided over by the president, Aliss C*. AlcKenny (Pahiatua). Also present were: Airs D. Simpson and Aliss Simpson (Alarton). Alesdames J. A. Harris (Turakina), K. Boss, AI. D. Colqulioun, S. McDowell AY. Short, A. AlcCorkindale (Feilding), Avnsley, Briden Jones. Dorset, Neiderer, and Willson (Palmerston North) and Carson (Kai Iwi). Apologies for absence were received from Aiiss Hindi® (secretary), and Airs AfcConnon. A nuipber of remits were received from the Dominion secretary with instructions that they should he placed before the branch for consideration These dealt with educational, social and health questions, and provoked an interesting discussion. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the General Manager of Railways urging the installation of paper towels and liquid toilet soap in all trains. Mrs Harris brought forward a remit for the Dominion executive meetings recommending that the Dominion executive of the National Council of AVomen should consist of a representative from each organisation affiliated therewith. This was carried. Tho Auckland branch of the council forwarded a report on the findings of the sub-committee dealing with the maintenance of prisoners’ dependants as set forward by the Howard League for Penal Reform.

It was decided that a copy of the minutes of the annual conference, to hand from headquarters, should be circulated among members, together with a report from Mrs Paterson on the National Council meetings at Calcutta, and a copy of the monthly international budget. It was decided that Mrs Briden .Tones should approach the newlvformod Terrace End branch of the Mothers’ Union with a view to affiliation with the National Council.

In introducing the special subject for study, “’The Domestic Worker,” Miss McKcnny stressed the need for raising the status of domestic workers, and the need existing for hotter education on the part of both employer and omliloyco so that efficiency on tho one hand and goodwill on the other might fio reached. A scheme for domestic apprenticeship as suggested by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, in conjunction with Mi- G. CL Hnncox, was submitted to the meeting for consideration and a discussion took place as to the practicability of such a scheme.

Attention was then given to a proposal brought forward by the Christchurch branch of the National Council suggesting that a domestic science college should be established where resident students might qualify for diplomas in all branches of domestic work. The proposal sis set forward was investigated and gave rise to an interesting and satisfactory discussion, ft was realised, however, as pointed out by Miss McKenny, that while some such scheme would undoubtedly make for greater efficiency, there remained that greater problem of the well-being of the domestic worker as regards comfortable quarters, consideration and companionship. Further data on the same subject will fie before the council at the July meeting.