COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17712, 16 May 1929, Page 8

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

CONFERENCE AT GISBORNE. IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. GISBORNE, Wednesday. At the conference of the National Council of Women important matters were discussed. - Proposals to ask file Government to introduce legislation to stop the consumption of alcoholic liquor on trains, with a statement that more protection was needed for women and children from intoxicated passengers, were considered 100 drastic by the conference.

The remit was referred back to the Dunedin brand), with the suggestion that it make any complaints to the railway officer in charge. Equal Pay for Equal Work. “That the principle of equal pay for equal work for women in every department be recognised by the Government," a remit from the Gisborne branch, was carried. Mrs Walker, who moved the remit, said unequal remuneration was objected to as much by men as by women, since it imputed that women were given many positions at a lower wage which otherwise would have gone to men. . Employment of Teachers. The Wellington branch forwarded the following remit: —“That the council should approach the Minister of Education asking that marriage should not be a bar to the employment of women teachers.” —Agreed to. Pensions for the Needy. The following remits were also carried: — That the Government be asked to make representations to the Government of Australia urging it to complete the proposed agreement providing for reciprocity in the matter of old-age pensions. That the Government be asked to consider an adjustment of the residential clause of the Old-age Pensions Act, and the lowering of Hie qualifying'period from 2b to 20 years. That when it is necessary for inquiries to be made of pensioners, Government officers other than policemen should be allotted ibis duty. That the council is of opinion that in all necessitous cases where a chronic invalid husband is dependent on his wife, a pension should be granted. A remit from Christchurch, that provision he made whereby a deserted wife and mother may receive a family allowance, was referred back to the branch for fuller discussion. ■\ remit was carried that in > the event of both parents having died, a pension be granted to the children's approved guardians when necessary.