At the Annual Convention in J une, 1974, the program planned gave members an opportunity to hear Judge Sandra Oxner of Nova Scotia speak on “Women and the Law” and to discuss the above listed recommendations. Her statement “Women working in groups will be most successful in bringing about changes in legislation for greater equality” was put into action when the membership passed resolutions asking Government for these changes to bring about equality. They went even further and agreed to make a study of those recommendations concerning women and the family. The membership recognized a need for women to train in the legal profession by their willingness to support an annual bursary to a qualified Island woman attending a recognized law school. Following Convention a brief was submitted tC Government listing our priorities and asking for the necessary changes in legislation.

As a special project to mark International Women‘s Year 1975 P.E.I. Women’s Institutes co-sponsored four seminars on ‘Women and the Law” with the Business and Professional Women, the IO.D.E., Uni- versity Women and the Zonta Club. A grant from Secretary of State was received and used to help defray the expense of these Seminars.

An Ad Hoc Committee with representatives from the above organizations was set up under the capable chairmanship of Helen Herring and four Seminars were held. These were held in April, 1975, at Summerside, Montague and two in Charlotettown. The eimmittee in— volved representatives from Island Women’s groups with the hope that those attending would report back to their groups and help create an awareness of Women’s laws.

The three topics chosen for discussion were Married Women’s Property Rights, The Inheritance Law, and a Panel on the “Pros” and “Cons” of Day Care. At these one day seminars the guest speakers and legal representatives were as follows:

Charlottetown (lst) Guest Speaker - Wendell MacKay, Deputy Minister of Justice P.E:.I. Lawyer — Gerard Mitchell

Summerside Guest Speaker - Mrs. Ellen MacLean, President of F.W.I.C. Lawyer - Melville Campbell

Montague Guest Speaker - Mrs. Dorothy Corrigan, ex-mayor of Charlottetown Lawyers - Alfred Fraser and Paul Mullin

Charlottetown (2nd) Guest Speaker - Mrs. Jeanette Blue, Fredericton Lawyer. Lawyer - Frederick Large.

Through these meetings an awareness of existing legslation was made and the women of Prince Edward Island were asked tc think about their positions and what they can do to bring about changes in attitudes as well as changes in legislation.

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