1937 - Convention Report

              TWENTIETH PROVINCIAL CONVENTION 15
RESOLUTIONS
1. WHEREAS during these times of stress many persons are suffering
from mental disorders and are being sent to Ponoka for treatment, and
WHEREAS we do feel such confinement has a reactionary effect after­wards,
we respectfully petition the government to set aside sufficient funds for
the maintenance of rest homes where such eases could be placed under observa­tion
for a limited period before being definitely diagnosed as insane and placed
in a mental institution.— Stettler Constituency Conference. Lost.
2. WHEREAS the number of mentally deficient children in the Province
of Alberta has greatly increased in recent years,
AND WHEREAS in remote districts nothing is being done to prevent
this rapid increase,
AND WHEREAS the burden in the province is of such extent that the
cost of maintaining institutions for the care of such cases is greater than the
cost of installing and maintaining our universities in the province;
T H E R E F O R E BE IT RESOLVED that the Women's Institutes of
Alberta be requested to put forth a united effort to have legislation passed
placing more responsibility upon the medical profession practising in rural
localities and the police magistrates, by requiring them to report cases to the
Medical Health Board where there is any suspicion of mental deficiency in
patients they are called upon to attend, and cases appearing in court, recommend­ing
sterilization in such cases. And furthermore, that this resolution be placed
in the hands of the Council of the Women's Institutes to be presented to the
Minister of Health within the shortest time possible; a petition to be circulated
among the various Branches of the Alberta Women's Institutes advocating that
a semi- yearly questionnaire be sent to all medical practitioners and police magis­trates
requesting them to report all suspicious cases of mental deficiency.—
Red Deer West Constituency Conference.
Moved by Mrs. Stewart, seconded by Mrs. Huyck: That this resolution be
amended by deleting the words " recommending sterilization in such cases."
— Resolution as amended carried.
3. RESOLVED that we, the Edson Women's Institute, protest the recent
action of the Government in reducing the allowance for Travelling Clinics Amend­ment,
and that clinics be restricted to districts where there is no adequate
medical service.— District No. 2 Conference, Edmonton, 1936. Carried.
4. RESOLVE D that a gavel be presented to each new Provincial President
when she takes office. The gavel, with name and date of office suitably placed
thereon, to be her own property at the conclusion of her term of office.— Moved
by Mrs. McFarland, Irma, seconded by Mrs. Murray, Par. adise Valley, No. 2
District Conference, Edmonton. Carried.
5. RESOLVED that commencing with the year 1937 the incoming Presi­dent
of the Alberta Women's Institutes shall, if possible, attend the Federated
Women's Institutes of Canada Biennial meeting instead of the outgoing President
as heretofore.— The Council. Carried.
6. WHEREAS for some time we have felt our Provincial Dues are much too
high,
AND W H E R E A S we never derive any apparent benefit from them after
paying them,