A NEW DEVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20477, 1 December 1934, Page 11

A NEW DEVICE.

Acts as Check on the Long-Winded.

There was an interesting innovation in the control of the proceedings of the National Council of \\ omen at Edinburgh. A timekeeper, Mrs A. F. W. Johnson, was appointed to regulate the length of the speeches. She had in front of her a clock which she set at the time when a speaker took the platform. At the end of the orator's allotted time, she turned on a switch which directed a flaming red light on the speaker. * This was too much for even the most long-winded, and the device acted with complete success. There were many deeply .interesting discussions during the conference, and one outstanding debate was that on the reform of the matrimonial laws. Mrs Helena Norman ton. speaking on behalf of the National Council for Equal Citizenship, pleaded for relief for those who found themselves in intolerable situations, while Mrs Remson 'Ward, of the Mothers’ Union, who opposed. took the line that the marriage vows were indissoluble and that Christian ideals could not be had without a cost. Many other subjects, partieularly those relating to sterilisation and solicitation by men were discussed during the meetings. and the Dowager Lady Xunburnholme, president of the

council, in the chair, saw to it that al the proceedings were conducted with