| Down the decades 1915-2005 |
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| Written by Woman's World, 2004 | |
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Page 1 of 2 2005 marked the 90th anniversary of the WI in England and Wales. Over the years Woman's World has provided a glimpse into the resolutions that have become mandates and thereafter shaped WI policy in fields of health, education, children's lives and the environment. Key campaigns are decided on by the Public Affairs committee as the focus of the Public Affairs department's work for the coming year. These usually involve lobbying government, raising public awareness and enabling members to take action themselves.The Public Affairs Department also responds to topical issues of concern covered by past mandates. The Department regularly responds to government consultations and conveys members' concerns to ministers and civil servants. To 19251918: That the provision of a sufficient supply of convenient and sanitary houses, being of vital importance to women in the country, County Federations and WIs are urged to bring pressure to bear upon their local councils and, through the National Federation, upon the local Government Board to ensure that full advantage is taken in their districts of the Government scheme for State-aided housing.1923: That as the sentences in cases of even the grossest cruelty to children are not of a severe enough nature, representation be made by the NFWI to the Home Secretary asking him to issue a circular to Justices urging that adequate sentences be passed against persons found guilty of serious offences against children. 1924: That WIs be asked to use their influence to secure an increase in the number of female police throughout the country and that a female police official be attached to each police station where there are cells. 1924: That the WIs be urged to approach their Local Education Authorities and ask them to endeavour to ensure instruction for all girls of 12 years of age and upwards in plain cooking and other such domestic subjects as can be conveniently coupled therewith... 1921: That the National Federation urges all WIs to use their influence to induce Local Authorities to adopt the model set of by-laws for slaughter-houses issued by the Ministry of Health and so save much unnecessary suffering. 1925-19351929: That this meeting urges on the Lord Chancellor the importance of having at least two female magistrates on every bench.1933: That this meeting, remembering that the NFWI was founded in a time of crisis to serve Home and Country, calls upon all WI members to support efforts in their own locality to deal with unemployment and distress among both men and women. 1931: That this meeting welcomes the introduction of the Will and Intestacies (Family Maintenance) Bill which aims at putting an end to the injustices of the present law whereby it is possible for widows and children to be completely disinherited... 1930: That in view of the destruction of ancient buildings still continuing throughout the country, this meeting recognises the desirability of strengthening the powers of the Ancient Monuments Act of 1913 and urges WIs to... assist the preservation of ancient buildings in their own locality. 1930: That in view of the cruelty entailed in the training of performing animals and uselessness of the performances and the fact that most performing animals are trained abroad where there is no adequate provision as regards the prevention of cruelty... a law should be passed prohibiting the importation of performing animals into Great Britain. 1934: That in view of the acknowledged inadequacy of the rural water supply over a large part of this country which is a menace to health and entails great hardships to residents in villages and scattered farms, this meeting urges that Institutes should seek to co-operate with the proper authorities by collecting and supplying tabulated information as to the conditions and needs of their area... 1935-19451943: That men and women should receive equal pay for equal work. |
