CRAZE FOR SLIMMING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 11

CRAZE FOR SLIMMING

DISCUSSION AT CONFERENOE NO ACTION TAKEN ON REMIT Slimming by women was briefly discussed by the conference of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union in Wellington on Friday, a delegate saying that a woman had died in New Zealand through attempting to slim. The following remit was before the conference, but it failed to receive substantial support: —"That we view with alarm the increasing use of weightreducing preparations and urge the Government to have these preparations analysed, and that the sale be prohibited when such preparations are found to be injurious to health." Mrs. J. C. Wickham (Wanganui), who moved the adoption of the remit, said that the Kaetihi branch, in which it had originated, had apparently had brought to its notice some very serious cases of illness caused by drugs intended to make women slim. A delegate said a woman in her district had died through taking a proprietary medicine, and she urged that the Government should prohibit its sale. It was pointed out that there was a law already which prevented the sale of injurious preparations, and that the Government probably had already analysed the ones of which complaint was * made. A speaker said the remit would make them a laughing-stock if they adopted it. No voices were raised in favour when the motion was put. The chairwoman, Mrs. C. K. Wilson (jokingly): Then you want slimming.