WOMEN’S INSTITUTES’ CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 22957, 1 August 1936, Page 4

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES’ CONFERENCE

MISCELLANEOUS REMITS PASSED. (United Press Association.) Dunedin, July 31. The final sessions of the annual Dominion Conference of Women’s Institutes was held to-day. . The chief discussion centred round a remit from the Waihi Institute, “That the formation be favoured of a National League for the prevention of physical and mental ailments, which would be under the direction of competent medical men. Speakers referred to the vital necessity of rearing healthy children, to build up a young nation, and to the increase in the last 20 years of the number of patients in mental institutions. It was felt that the resolution was so wide in its implications, that it would be advisable not to come to any immediate decision, and an amended resolution, “That the necessity for the formation of a league be considered by institutes” was passed. “The importance of seeing that film entertainments should be only of a cultural nature and of wholesome interest,” was the subject of a resolution from the Helensville Institute. Speakers urged the need for patience, pointing out the great difficulties that lay in the way of those who were endeavouring to cope with this problem. The remit was adopted by the conference. Other remits passed concerned the amendment of the Health Act, in order that local bodies could erect and maintain women’s rest rooms; provision of greater travelling facilities for outlying areas; the desirability of having all children taught to swim, and a proposal that each institute should learn the correct pronunciation of the Maori name of its district, and endeavour to have it generally used as a step towards the preservation of the beauty of the Maori language. At a meeting of the Dominion executive committee, Miss A. Kane (Wellington) was re-elected vice-chair-woman, and Mrs S. C. Chisnall (South Canterbury) treasurer.