MINISTER ANSWERED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20831, 15 June 1939, Page 6

MINISTER ANSWERED

MEETING AT TE AWAMUTU ATTACK ON MATERNITY BENEFITS CONVENERS REPLY TO MR FRASER The Hon. P. Fraser's criticism of the women’s meeting at Te Awamutu recently, called to discuss the Social Security Act, has received a categorical reply from the convener* of the meeting. The reply has been sent to the Minister and has been handed to the Waikato Times. The meeting, at which there was a very ,’arge attendance, passed a resolution, proposed by Mrs Swarbrick, in the following terms: "That this meeting of the women of the Te Awamutu district finds unacceptable the Social Security Act Maternity Benefits Regulations, and strongly supports the British Medical Association in Us opposition to the scheme." The Minister's reply, telegraphed by the Press Association from 'Wellington, was strongly critical of the whole meeting and alleged political motives

The conveners. Mrs D. M. Swarbrick, Mrs M. Webber and Mrs A. M. Wynyard, state in reply to Mr Fraser:— "Certain statements attributed to you in an article in the press of June 14 show that you have been entirely misinformed with regard to the ma*s meeting of women held here in Tc Awamutu on Thursday, June 8. “(1) None of the conveners of the meeting has any connection with any political party. They can claim to be representative of the women of this district as they hold high office in three of the largest women's organisations here, none of which has any political affiliations. " 2 We did not state that we had no knowledge of the Act, the regulations. or the contrails. We studied all three carefully before holding the meeting, and had official copies iu our possession in the hall.

“(3) None of the conveners collapsed at the meeting. “(4) The meeting was not engineered to attack the Government. It was called by public notice in the local paper, and was attended by some very active supporters of the regulations, who were accorded a perfectly fair hearing; and one of the two speakers who addressed the meeting at the request of the conveners was a strong and very able advocate of the Government’s plan.”