National Council of Women

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 144, 20 June 1936, Page 14

National Council of Women

The June meeting of tho Alanawatu branch of the National Council of Women was held in the Y.M.C.A. clubrooms on Tuesday and was presided over by tho president, Miss 0. McKenny (Pahiatua). Also present were: Mrs D. Simpson and Miss Simpson (Marton). Mesdames J. A. Harris (Turakina), K. Ross, M. D. Colquhoun, S. McDowell W. Short, A. AlcCorkindale (Feilding), Aynsley, Driden Jones, Neiderer, and Wilson (Palmerston North) and Carson (Ivai Iwi). Apologies for absence were received from Miss Hindle (secretary)), and Mrs McConnon.

A number of remits were received from the Dominion secretary with instructions that they should bo 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 tho General Manager of Railways urging tho installation of paper towels and liquid toilet soap in all trains. Airs Harris brought forward a remit for the Dominion executive meetings recommending that the Dominion executive of the National Council of Women should consist of a representative from each organisation affiliated therewith. This was carried. The Auckland branch of the council forwarded a report on the findings of tho sub-committee dealing with tho 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 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 Airs Briden Jones should approach the newly formed. Terrace End branch of the Alothers’ Union with a view to affiliation with the National Council. In introducing the special subject for study, “The Domestic Worker,” Aliss AlcKenny stressed the need for raising the status of domestic workers, and tho need existing for better education on the part of both employer and employee so that efficiency on tho one hand and goodwill on the other might be reached. A schemo for domestic apprenticeship as suggested by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, in conjunction with Mr G. G. Hancox, 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 to tho Christchurch branch of tho 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 as set forward was investigated and gave rise to an interesting and satisfactory discussion. It was realised, however, as pointed out by Aliss AlcKenny, that whilo some such scheme would undoubtedly make for greater efficiency, there remained that greater problem of tho well-being of tho domestic worker as regards comfortable quarters, consideration and companionship. Further data on the same subject will be before tho council at the July meeting.