COUNCIL OF WOMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21552, 25 July 1933, Page 3

COUNCIL OF WOMEN

NEED OF OVERSEAS MARKETS RAISING OF SCHOOL AGE A \ ariet.v of reports from its various sub-committees was received at a meettiit. Auckland branch of the National Council of Women, held last o\ cuing. Miss Ellen Melville, president, presided. Reports from other branches concerning the activities carried out during the past month were also presented. Iwo resolutions from the associate members—that psychopathic wards bo provided in public hospitals to give aid to tlio temporarily mentally deranged, and that all St. Helens Hospitals in the Dominion should have a resident medical officer—were handed over to the social welfare sub-committee for investigation. Arising out of a letter from Dr. Doris Gordon, secretary of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society, the following resolution was passed: "That the Government bo urged to erect a modern maternity hospital in Dunedin as part of the half-million building scheme recently announced by it." It was also resolved to ask every society affiliated with the National Council to pass a similar resolution and to forward it to the Minister of Finance; further, that the societies should communicate with their local members of Parliament on the matter. A discussion on ways and means of augmenting the rent fund took place, it was announced that the social welfare sub-committee was making arrangements for a woman doctor to give an address to the council. A report was received from the education sub-committee dealing with the raising of the school entry age from five to six years. The report gave several reasons from the physical, mental and moral aspects as to the harmful effect of raising the school ago and stated that New Zealand stood almost alone among the nations of the world in making the school age six years instead of five years or even lower. A report was received from the Parliamentary representation committee regarding a more equal representation of the sexes in Parliament. The following resolution was also passed, relative to obtaining further markets for New Zealand: "That in order to safeguard the livelihood of the people of New Zealand, there is urgent necessity to secure additional markets overseas for tjie primary and secondary products of the Dominion. With a view to arousing public opinion on this important national question the National Council of Women be asked to approach the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the Auckland Manufacturers' Association and the Agricultural and Pastoral Association to obtain their co-operation in arranging a public meeting of citizens to represent to the Government the serious position that must arise unless steps are taken in the direction indicated." The resolution will be forwarded to the Dominion executive for further action. A protest against the use of unemployment funds in the destruction of the native bush on Waiheke Island was supported.