PROBLEMS OF WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1924, Page 5

PROBLEMS OF WOMEN.

CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS JJ.’S AND POLICE PATROLS. CARE OF FEEBLE-MINDED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The sixth annual conference of the National Council of Women of New Zealand was held to-day, Mrs. Carmalf Jones presiding over delegates from all parts of the Dominion. It was resolved that the management of the National Council be vested in a Dominion committee, comprising the president and vice-presidents, who will be ex officio presidents of the branches, the hon. secretary and the hon. treasurer. An Auckland remit was adopted that the council urges members of Parliament to support the Bill for superannuation for trained nurses. A lengthy Wellington remit was carried concerning the desirability, of the nationality of British women being held by them on exactly the same terms as the nationality of British men, the following Auckland remit being also incorporated: “That the National Council urges an amendment in the law toi provide that women be(jallowed to retain their own nationality on marriage with an alien if they so elect.” The following motions were carried: That the council continue to urge aa amendment of the lalw, providing for the appointment of women patrols under the Justice Department having the same powers and authority as members of the police force; that the Government be urged to pass legislation on the lines of the British Act, known as the Sex Diequalilfllcation Removal Act, which would throw open to women the positions of J.P.’s, women police and wmen jurors. Petitions with this object in view will be draiwn up by the branches and a message will be sent to the Premier (Mr. W. F. Maesey), asking him to receive a deputation from the council on Thursday week. The conference decided to send a message to the Government, congratulating it on what it had already done in the iffteresta of maternity. Other motion* were; That the Health Department be urged to appoint a woman doctor to th® staff of every district health office; that the Government be urged to proceed forthwith with the provision of such additional accommodation in mental hospitals as will facilitate a better classification of patients; that the early estwbHehment of farm homes for epileptic degenerates and feeble-minded persons be urged with a view to the care and segregation of the unfit; that while congratulating the department on the work already done in connection with the education of subnormal children, the conference urges the need for segregation of sub-normal children in classes, as their presence in ordinary clashes interferes with the progress of normal children; from this the segregation of adults would follow.