COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16949, 13 May 1929, Page 11

COUNCIL OF WOMEN

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE BUSINESS OPENED TO-DAY The biennial conference of the National Council of Women opened this afternoon in the parish hall, 32 delegates from Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Gisborne attending. There were also two visitors not included as delegates and not mentioned in the list announced on Saturday. Mrs. Richards, of Rotorua, and Mrs. Martin, of Auckland. In the absence of the president, Mrs. €'. A. Truer, of Christchurch, Mrs. Henry Smith, of Wellington, was elected to the chair.

The chairwoman stated that Mrs. Walker, of Gisborne, was the senior vice-president, but had maintained she would have her hands full with entertainment matters. The speaker was next in seniority.

The conference opened with a minute's devotional silence followed by the singing of the National Anthem. SECRETARY'S REPORT

'the Dominion secretary, Miss H. K. Lovcll-iSinith, of Christchurch, submitted the following report:— “During this period the council has boet>ttie more firmly established in the minds of the public as a body of reasonable women of various shades of opinion and thought, but having as one common object the welfare of the community. During this period also the number of affiliated societies has increased, and the comparative figures for the past period below will give some indication of the growth, til©'figures at 1927 being given m parentheses: Auckland 34 (31), Gisborne 6 (5), Napier-Ha stings 3 (—). Wellington 12 (13), Christchurch 19 (14), Dunedin 17 (17), Invercargill 6 (—)• Most of these figures are taken as at April 30, 1928. the annual returns for 1929 lmt being yet available “Early in 1929 your president visited Invercargill with the object- of forming a branch there. A provisional committee was set- tip to consider the matter, and I have much pleasure in announcing Diet a branch lias been formed with six. affiliated Societies. “At this executive meeting in March, it was decided to publish an official organ of the National Council; and the Bulletin was launched. Miss L. M. Lovell Smith, who was for some years the associate editor of the White Ribbon, the official organ of the W.C.T.U., was appointed as (he first editor and ably fills the position. “At the last conference it was derided that the National Qotincil should be incorporated under the Incorporated ■Societies’ Act. Upon application being made to the authorities, however, it was found that the constitution, by-lawte and standing orders did not comply with the regulations laid down by the Act, and tlie assistant, registrar wrote to the effect, that the .council could not become an incorporated body. “flic question of the nationality of married wcinc-n is a vital subject with the council, and the National Council was instrumental in seeing that, justice was given to the wife of a naturalised Chinese by permission being given her to reside' with her husband in New Zealand.

“Several deputations hare waited on varioiri Ministers of the Crown as occasions arose, touching such subjects as film censorship, women on juries, women police, various aspects of child welfare, etc. . . .

“The question of women police is to come before this conference and youhave the Minister of Justice’s assurance that he is waiting to hear the decision of the conference before lie will make bis announcement regarding this overdue reform. “The Mental Defectives Amendment Bill has been brought before Parliament and most of the reforms proposed have been accepted by Parliament. Two women have been included on the advisory board. “It, is gratifying to know that the first woman to be appointed to the Prisons Board is our Dominion president. This also has been one of the requests made annually to the Minister of Justice. “There has been a considerable increase in the number of women Justices of the Peace during Ihc last two years. So far little public use has been made of them, but'it is hoped that they will soon occupy more positions on the Children’s Court and in any other places in which their experience and advice will wove valuable. “One of the most important events o. Dm last two years has been the PanI'acifie Conference at Honolulu, and no fewer than 17 delegates attended from New Zealand, the majority of them Lein,t members of the National Council of Women, with the Dominion president as leader of the delegation. “The conference was a great success ami it mav be that the Conference will in future become of more vital interest' to the women of New Zealand than the conference held in European countries. THE FINANCES

The acting Dominion treasurer, Miss ■\ Hasten read the financial statement, which showed that in Urn general account, the income was lid, the expenditure being £6B 17s lOd, with excess of £B4 8s Id of income over expenditure. The credit balances in the Various accounts were shown as follows. (General account £92 4s 6d, capital a. count £lO6 10s 2d, conference expenses account £lO6 10s 2d, The secretary was complimented on the able work she had carried out and the fine report she had presented. The chairman stated that the balance sheet did not disclose that any honorarium had been paid to the soeictaiv, although the last conference had suggested that an amount should lie paid. It was decided that the matter he referred to the executive with a strong recommendation that the honorarium be paid.