NATIONAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 7

NATIONAL COUNCIL.

VARIED FIELD OF WORK. ■ ,•• j* >_ • ■■ " ' -•' The monthly meeting of the National Council of Women was held last evening, the president, Miss Carnachaif, presiding. In opening the meeting the president paid a warm tribute to the work of the secretary, Miss Fiatt, to whom leave of ' absence was granted. Miss Carnachati remarked that few of the great amount of work "Miss Fiatt did for the council- :

I» regard to a letter from Mr. Peter Frasty, M.P., asking the consideration of the council upon certain propositions deal-' ing with the British Women's Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, Miss Melville, who had been deputed to summarise the position, placed her report before the meeting. After some, discussion it was decided that the resolution sent to the council in New Zealand from v the British National Council, of Women be adhered to. It was moved and carried that Miss Melville should draft a letter to be sent to Mr. Fraser upon the matter. Women police again came up for discussion and it was reported the deputation that had waited upon the Minister urging their appointment had been told that legislation would bo brought down this coming session in regard to their appointment. Miss Carnachan suggested (he following questions should be sent to members of Parliament : —(1) Are you in favour of women police? (2) If a bill be brought down to this effect, will you support it ? The suggested board. for the care and control ,of the mentally deficient, the sexually abnormal and the socially inadequate, proposed by Dr. T. G. Gray, In-spector-General of Mental Hospitals, and its personnel, was discussed. This board, it vvas suggested by Dr. Gray, should consist of the Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, the Director of Education, the Controller-General of Prisons, a highly qualified and experienced psychiatrist, who should be a departmental officer, an experienced woman social worker, and a member nominated by voluntary after-care associations. The meeting' considered that a larger local representation upon such a board might ati'd to' its greater efficiency, and it would like to faa-ve the assurance that the, council, wpuld be given the opportunity of having a voipe a? to the personnel. Miss Basten reported upon the arrangements made to date : regarding the visit to Auckland of Miss Maude Hoyden and Dr. Buckley-Turkington reported upon the New Zealand delegation to the Pan-Pacific Conference. This delegation would comprise 11 fully-accredited members, of whom Mrs. Fraer, of Christchurch, Dominion president of the National Council of Women, would be the head. In addition there would be four or 1 ifiV'S accredited visitors. The latter would be neither housed nor accommodated, save at their own expense, nor would they be able to speak or vote at, the conference. It was a matter for gratification that the Government had officially recognised tho delegation.

A report was received from Mrs. Jellia upon the success of open-air schools where they had been tried, and various plans were discussed for advocating them in the Auckland area.

Dr. Buckley-Turkington urged the council to give its support, financially as well as morally, to the Obstetrics Society in its advocacy for a Chair of Obstetrics at the University.