Women's group still a force

At the book launch are author/researcher Margaret Campion (left) , Kathleen Mayson (100 in December), and Catherine Scrimgeour (96).PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 061013WCSMBOOKLAUNCH

Wanganui members of the National Council of Women continue to make their mark in the political world.

At Sunday's launch of their book, Wanganui Branch 75 years, life member and author/researcher Margaret Campion said the organisation was just as relevant today as it was when it emerged from the women's movement in the 1860s.

"Wanganui women were in the thick of the Suffragette movement," Mrs Campion said.

She said the National Council of Women (NCW) kept a watch on what was going on in Parliament, and all remits that go through government are first run past the branches and submissions are made to select committees.

GST, fluoridation of water, and women's health were some of the issues the branches have looked at.

In the 50s, the late Alexandra Jackson from Waverley battled to have Pure Wool correctly identified at point of sale. This eventually led to the adoption of the Woolmark international symbol for wool.

Ellen Ballance, the second wife of John Ballance, was one of the leading women and a president of the Wanganui Women's Franchise League. The vice-president was Margaret Bullock, a parliamentary reporter. Mrs Bullock and Jessie Williamson, a founding member of the league went on to serve on the national executive.

The Wanganui branch was the 10th to be started in New Zealand, and 50 women attended the inaugural meeting on June 22, 1937. The National Council of Women's dominion executive president and secretary travelled from Wellington for that meeting.

Mrs Campion said she had hoped to have the book ready for the Wanganui branch 75th anniversary last year, but there was a lot of detail to be checked before the book went to print.

From then to the present day, the branch has held a meeting every month, except Christmas, a total of 750 meetings, Mrs Campion told the membership, which included the national president Barbara Arnold and Mayor Annette Main.

Kathleen Mayson, who will be 100 in December, and Catherine Scrimgeour, 96, also attended the Sunday afternoon launch.

Mrs Mayson, branch president from 1974-1979, was a writer and her works were accepted by the BBC, Australian Broadcasting and the-then NZBC.

Ms Scrimgeour, former Matron at Wanganui Hospital, was branch president from 1970-1973; Mrs Campion from 1996-2001, and Mrs Mayson's daughter Jenny Saywood, 2006-2012. Lynda Sammons is the current president.