COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 16

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

FIRST MEETING OF YEAR. CANDIDATES FOR PARLIAMENT. Congratulations to the four members of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women, Sirs. Alfred Kidd, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. E. McNair and Sister Esther, who wore recently appointed justices of the pence, were expressed at the meeting of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women held on Monday evening. Miss Ellen Melville, president, presided. It was reported that the Avondale Women's Club had donated a guinea 1o the rooms fund of the council. This, with a previous donation from the club, made its total to date £3 16s for this fund. With regard to the question as to whether a Dominion conference should bo held this year, a letter was read from the Dominion secretary stating that replies had now been received from the various branches and all were unanimously against its taking place in 1932. A meeting of the Dominion executive, however, would be held in Wellington on March 28.

Arising from a letter received from Mrs. McCombs, of Christchurch, who was a candidate for Parliament at the recent elections, a discussion ensued upon proportional representation and it was decided to go into the subject fully at a later meeting of the council, when a debate will be held.

Further discussion upon the representation of women in Parliament followed in connection with the following remits:— "That the members of the Rotorua Women's Club urge the National Council of Women to consider seriously the advisability of trying to get legislation passed with a view to getting a certain number of women into Parliament representing each island, the number to be decided upon by the National* Council. In the event of the council's approval, some scheme be devised whereby affiliated societies subscribe to-a fund to assist the cause."

From the Civic League came the following:—"ln view of the fact that so many women are economically dependent and will remain so until women have the sense to be represented in Parliament by their own sex, many desirable women are prevented from offering their services, and unless some means are devised to secure for them the same help that male candidates receive from their party organisations, the Auckland Civic League is of the opinion that women may go ou indefinitely with the feeble efforts of the past. The proposal that the National Council of Women, through its various affiliated societies, establish a fund to help women candidates who stand absolutely independent of party would bo a forward step, the fund to consist of shilling donations contributed by men and women desirous of seeing women in Parliament."

After considerable discussion the following recommendation, brought forward by Miss Newton, was adopted and will be forwarded to the Dominion executive meeting to be held iu Wellington in March :—"That the timo has arrived when it is desirable to set up an interim committee to investigate the whole question of Parliamentary elections with a view to securing fuller complementary representation of both sexes by both sexes. Miss Vera Ziman was appointed delegate to the council from the Union of Jewish Women of New Zealand (Auckland branch), in place of Mrs. Hnyman, who has resigned. A letter of sympathy in the death of art associate member, Mrs. Julius Heather, is to be sent to her relatives.