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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 39, Number 14, 5 July 1976.

Feminist Caucus — National Radical Feminist Caucus

page 7

Feminist Caucus

National Radical Feminist Caucus

Saturday

Everyone introduced themselves and gave their centre and affiliations to different women's groups. Then the different centres gave group reports.

Pat Bartle briefly reported on the Wellington Regional Caucus and discussed the activities of the Abortion Rally Committee. Vicki Elizabeth reported on the Wellington Feminist Collective and Women's Centre, describing fund-raising dinners, the Newsletter etc Then Jil and Robyn briefly talked about Herstory Press and then there was general discussion on the Working Women's Alliance who had no representative present.

This led on to a discussion on the representativeness of women present at the caucus with regard to formulating national strategy, clashes of interest and energies, lack of communication and funding of things like Herstory Press and travel subsidies for conferences.

She (Sisters for Homophile Equality) Club 41 and Gay Liberation were briefly touched on before moving on to Christ-church reports given by Ali and Marg. The original Women's Centre and refuge folded in December but a new one in a different locality has started up. A catalogue of Women's Centres etc is being compiled and a literary magazine is being launched by the Spiral Collective in July.

The next reports came from two Auckland groups. Halfway House (a women's refuge) and the Women's Centre. Women from Halfway House reported that approximately 50% of the women who came to say there chose to remain independent of their husbands and the other 50% go back to them. The roster women find the experience of working there raises their consciousnesses considerably and opens their eyes to the really oppressive conditions under which some women live

The Women's Centre is attempting to be an unstructured, drop-in information, meeting and referral centre. Activities have included drama, public speaking, consciousness raising, newsletter and meetings The Rape Crises Centre started at the Women's Centre and is for counselling and support. It intends carrying out research and making information pamphlets and getting assistance from the changing attitudes of doctors and lawyers. The University Feminists have reorganised a and are holding discussions and C.R. groups. They are also supporting and taking part in the Commission on Women at university

Broadsheet gave a brief report, mainly discussing the finances of it which are a bit shaky but their managing to survive. 3,300 of each issue are printed. A Land Collective was started at the Auckland Regional Caucus for alternative education and lifestyles.

A report from Hamilton was given by Sarah Calvert. She reported that the Abortion Action Campaign is organising transport to Auckland Wellington for the opening of parliament. The Hamilton Feminists are holding theory groups and monthly abortion meetings and socials. The Women's Health Collective has now 50 members and is busy making a Resource Centre

There were also representatives from Tauranga Wanganui, Gisborne and Dunedin present who gave brief reports on their activities.

The afternoon was supposed to be devoted to lifestyles and began with women on benefits talking about the latest campaign against solo mothers. Some have lost their Domestic Purposes Benefits as some lesbian relationships are being recognised as de tacto relationships now. Anger was strongly expressed at the Governments latest "Speak-Up" campaign directed at solo parents, and at our own lack of united opposition to this reactionary move. We then went on to self-employment with Robyn and Jill talking about the financial difficulties of Herstory Press and other Women's businesses. Establishing a Credit Union was considered and one project financing another.

Sunday

Pat Bartle elaborated on the Abortion Rally and put forward the proposal to have an Abortion Conference at the end of July to continue the pressure of the abortion struggle. It was felt a conference was needed to bring together all the forces who support a women's right to choose abortion and plan national strategy. She pointed out that one of the reasons that the abortion campaign had made so little headway in the past was because it had always been on the defensive, defending itself against, the anti-abortion, anti-women forces who continued to try and restrict women gaining access to safe legal abortions. It was now time for us to start stepping up our attacks, being visible, demanding that women be given their basic democratic rights to control their own bodies. The proposal was carried and plans are already underway to organise the conference, which is to be held in Auckland.

An idea for a Travelling Theatre Show to promote the abortion campaign and other feminist ideas was enthusiastically the country giving shows, teach-ins and setting up meetings for women to try and involve them in feminist activities.

A short report on the activities of the Victoria University Women's Choice Club was given and then Marie Buckley introduced the topic of Women and Violence. Wellington plans to hold a speak-out on this topic sometime in 1977.

The rest of the afternoon was taken up with discussions which included; policewomen in the feminist movement, separatism and workshops on lifestyles. During the evening we were entertained by the Auckland Drama Group who presented some superb feminist theatre.

Monday

This morning was devoted to discussion of the aims and future activities of the Radical Feminist Network. This network was set up at the last national caucus to coordinate feminist activities around the country and to set up communication links between them. As this network had proved unsuccessful there was a lot of discussion about the function and structure of it.

There was also much debate about the structure of the Caucus. Many felt that the lack of structure had let to a lot of time-wasting and important issues not being fully discussed. It also led to those with the loudest voices monopolising discussion. It was also pointed out that the Caucus was not representative enough a body of N.Z. feminists and any policymaking and reports coming out of it should be considered to be from individual members of various feminist groups.

Sue Aitchison-Windeler,

Wellington Feminist Collective and

Women's Choice Club member.

PS. Since this article was written everyone will be aware of the success of the Abortion Rally at parliament. Since the Caucus, work has gone ahead on arrangements for the Abortion Conference which is to be held in Auckland on July 31 - August 1. Information about the conference can be obtained from Pat Bartle 842-82 I (evenings) or at Salient Office on Wed., Thurs., and Fridays.