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.