CONTROL OF DANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 3

CONTROL OF DANCES

WOMEN POLICE NEEDED NATIONAL COUNCIL'S OPINION SUGGESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT The need for the 'establishment of a corps of women police in New Zealand was emphasised at a meeting of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women last night. Alter a long discussion it was decided to write to the Dominion secretary asking that Dominion officers make representation to the Minister in charge of the Police Department, the Hon. P. Fraser, suggesting that as a preparation for the training of women police officers in New Zealand the Government should communicate with the Government of South Australia, where women police were thoroughly established and where conditions were similar to those in New Zealand cities. Trained Officers The opinion was also expressed that a trained woman police officer should bo loaned to New Zealand to conduct a training school for women police officers. It was also suggested that the Dominion office of the council be asked to make the recommendation a matter of urgency in communication with other branches. "Women police are always considered by our council in close conjunction with the conduct of dance halls and it is felt that they would bo a valuable deterrent to the unseemly conduct that takes place in the dance halls," said Miss Ellen Melville, who presided at the meeting. It was reported that in connection with the council's resolutions on the evils of drinking in dance halls, nightletter telegrams had been sent to tho Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and to the minister in charge of the Police Department, tho Hon. P. Fraser, as follows: — Evils of Drink "The Auckland branch of the National Council of Women, representing 47 womens' organisations, strongly endorses the views recently expressed by Mr. Justice Peed and a. grand jury in Wellington with regard to the evils resulting from drinking in dance balls. The council believes that the most elective means of dealing with this evil is by the appointment of women police and it therefore urges that legislation be passed immediately providing for the training and appointment of women police." A letter was received from the Dominion secretary advising that on the recommendation of the Auckland branch similar telegrams had been sent from the Dominion office. Pernicious Literature A resolution was passed deploring the admission of pernicious literature into the country and urging that stricter control be instituted over theso magazines. It was suggested also that the Dominion office and other branches be urged to adopt a plan whereby, in addition to the Dominion executive waiting upon the Minister of Customs in connection with this matter whenever the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, or the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, were visiting any centre or town where there was a National Council of Wonjen branch, the local branch executive should wait upon the Minister and endorse the protest. Government Housing It was stated that in response to an invitation from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in charge of Housing, Mr. J. A. Lee, a number of members of the National Council had visited the Government houses at Orakei. 'to report to the council upon the visit a sub-committee was set up comprising Mrs. A. D. Campbell, Mrs. H. Colwill, Mrs. J. B. Callan, Mrs. E. McNab, Mrs. Pickett, Mrs. Dyson and Miss B. E. Carnachan. In an endeavour to promote a more international feeling in the council it was decided, in the interests of publicity also, to ask the Dominion secretary to write to the National Council of Women in Australia requesting that all travelling members be furnished with introductions to the National Councils at their ports of call in New Zealand.