Policies for women promoted

"Will you support an amendment to The Crimes Act providing for the raising of the age of consent to 18 years, an extension of the time to 12 months, during which period an information may be laid of criminal assault, and also the deletion of the clause allowing reasonable cause to believe a girl to be over the age of consent, as sufficient defence to a charge under clause 216 of the Act?" These questions the National Council of Women decided yesterday should be put to candidates at the general election. The council also decided to ask candidates whether they would support the recommendation of women's societies that the law be amended to allow for the appointment of women jurors. The conference, by 19 to 9, passed the following motion: "That this conference protests against any proposal to introduce compulsory notification and treatment of venereal disease, and urges that the Government should increase the opportunities for free treatment at hours and in places suitable for both sexes."

Travel and hotel package deal

The announcement of a heavy reduction in the fares to Mount Cook and of a probable similar reduction in the Hermitage charges will be welcome news to many intending travellers. The season will open this year on October 1, and the return fare by motor from Timaru to the Hermitage during that month will be reduced from £9 to £6. This reduction, which promises to bring the famous Mount Cook trip within the reach of many for whom it had hitherto been impossible, is apparently an immediate result of the Government’s leasing of the Hermitage to the Mount Cook Motor Service Company, as reported yesterday. 

Nurses’ long hours

The hours worked by nurses in maternity hospitals under the control of the Department of Health was the subject of a question in the House yesterday, when Mr B.A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) asked the Minister what time off was allowed the nurses. The Hon C.J. Parr (Minister of Health) replied that the hours worked by the nurses were necessarily long, ranging usually from 6am to 9pm, but they were allowed from five to six hours off in the middle of the day, irrespective of meal hours, and when possible were given one day off per week. He pointed out that the exigencies of maternity work often made it difficult to observe regularity in the matter of giving time off, but every effort was made to give the nurses the daily and rest he had mentioned.

Remark to VD commission mocked

Dr P.C. Fenwick’s statement to the Commission earlier this week that modern dances were most injurious to young people in causing a certain amount of unhealthy sexual excitement has brought down on him the derision of some of his fellow-practitioners. Dr M. Louisson described the statement as the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard; Dr Louisson said that he had been attending one dance a week for the past two years, and he would say  that there was nothing suggestive about the modem dances. For those people whose occupations kept them confined he considered dancing the best exercise they could get. Moreover, the present day. "Nowadays, in many dances, the correct way is for a lady not to clasp her partner," said Dr Louisson. "Surely it is much better for young people to dance every dance as they now do, than to walk along the river bank or sit outside during dances as they used to do." Dr Louisson added that he was a member of the Jazz Club, and was not ashamed of the fact. — ODT, 31.8.1922