HOUSEWIVES MEET

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 9

HOUSEWIVES MEET

THE WANGANUI ASSOCIATION

Mrs. M. A. Archibald, presided at the meeting of the Housewives’ Association held yesterday afternoon in the main lounge of the Y.M.-Y.W.C.A. Miss A. McCarthy read the correspondence which included a letter from Miss M. Howard M.P., in reply to a resolution sent to her by the association re the wrapping df bread. Miss Howard stated that she would bring the matter before -he House. A reply was received from the Minister ;."f Breadcasting on the question of freedom of speech over the air and referred the association to the letter sent to Mr. J. B. Cotterill.

Discussing the matter, members were of the opinion that, controversial subjects should le allowed at stated hours. It was ('etided to forward anoteei letter to the Minister. A reply to the resolution sent to the Minister re the use of formalin in food and the system of dyeing or colouring substances used for preserving fish instead of the method of smoking as formally used, drew attention to the revised food and drug regulations: These state that where artificial colouring and substances are allowed they must be declared on the label. The use of artificial colouring matter has been further restricted and is no longer permitted in meat pastes. The use of chemicals, preservatives, artificial colouring, flavouring and sweetening substances has been restricted to a few unimportant fancy foods such as syrups. Letters of explanation were received from Dr. Edith Sumerskill and Miss Muriel Stewart, in reply to a letter sent by th e association to England asking for information on the food situation, quotas received, distribution and black marketing. Remits from the N.C.W. were discussed.

Miss McCarthy read an interesting letter from Mrs. Mary Ware, of Bricks, England, founder of the British Feminist Association (with eight point Charter), in which she stated that she was particularly glad o have contact with a branch of the N.Z. Housewives’ Association. Mrs. Ware, who is the leader and organiser of the British Housewives’ National Revolt Campaign, tells in her letter, of the British housewives’ efforts in regard to restriction and levies on their board of trade on the ridiculous permit system and insufficiency of supplies, and quotas covering doling and house linen etc. Also the Ming try of Air for daring to commandeer our best arable land for civil aviation airfields when there are areas of “arren arm isolated land available and suitable for such pa r poses elsewhere. We have had several concessions since we put certain facts, received from all parts of the world, to the Minister. We are also in touch with U.N.O. and the Peace Conference.” “Women must realise and test their own strength if they want to live decently in peace. Greed, selfishness and lust for power dominate the lives of all to-day. These things will plunge us into a further war. A handful of men (if such they can be called) have been allowed free rein 4 00 long and ours is the task of putting on the brake to further devilry and oppression. We are meeting with considerable success in Britain. Quietly and firmly we are widening activities and are making new determination. We shall win where men have failed because we allow reason to prevail instead of heated argument, which appears to be the male prerogative, leading to destruction for us all This Government has got to do our bidding or make way for those who will.”