Women's Health League Conference

Te Ao Hou, December 1968, Page 51

Women's Health League Conference The 31st Annual Conference and Birthday Celebrations of the Women's Health League Inc. was held at Rotorua on 23–24 August. Delegates were welcomed onto the marae at Tunohopu Meeting House at 5 p.m. Mr B. Rewiti had called in earlier in the morning to wish us well and apologise for not being able to attend the conference, as he had been called back to Wellington. Conference was opened at 7.30 p.m. by Mr H. Lapwood M.P. We were very happy to have Mr and Mrs Lapwood with us. Conference went with a swing, and a great deal of business was put through. The main theme of the conference was Education, with our founder and President, Nurse Cameron, stressing the need for children obtaining as much schooling as possible, and trying hard to get their School Certificate. Mr Lapwood, Mr Pat Rae and Rev. Te Hau judged the Branch Secretaries' reports and the cup was awarded to the Kokohinau Branch from Te Teko. The district reports were also judged, and won by Rotorua. The conference closed at 10 p.m. and reopened on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Remits put through at this time were: 1. That we are against the advertising of liquor on TV. 2. That we are against the lowering of the drinking age in hotels from 21 years to 18 years. 3. That children over 16 years, still attending school, should continue to receive free dental treatment. 4. That we would like to see more New Zealand programmes on TV, especially Maori singing and action songs and Maori legends. When conference closed at 11.15 a.m. delegates then assembled outside the Tamatekapua Meeting House for the official welcome to the guests. We were honoured by the presence of the Maori Queen, who was given a traditional welcome onto the Marae. Among the official guests were the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotorua, Mr and Mrs Linton, Miss Sullivan, Matron of the Public Hospital, Miss Gillies of the Health Department, Miss H. Wright of Maori Affairs Department, Hamilton, and Mr and Mrs J. Fraser. After various speeches, all present sat down to a beautiful birthday dinner prepared by the Rotorua Branch who were acting as hosts. During dinner, the Maori Queen was presented with a lovely kit by Mrs Ratepu of the Tairawhiti District Council, on behalf of the League. The birthday cake candles were lit by Mrs Ratepu, blown out by Chief Euera Manuera, and the cake was then cut by the Maori Queen, After dinner, a ‘tree of memories’ was planted by Mr Linton, assisted by Mrs Eruera. The display of European and Maori handwork was then opened to the public. This wonderful work was done by the different branches and greatly admired by all. The judges had a hard time picking the winners for the various cups. The Maori competitions at night were held in Tamatekapua with six concert parties competing for the trophies. It was a wonderful concert enjoyed by all, after which Miss Sullivan presented the 43 cups and trophies to the winners of the various competitions. The delegates departed for home on Sunday morning at 10 a.m., well satisfied that this 31st conference had been a great success. The next business conference will be hosted by the Puha Branch, on 8–9 March, 1969.