A CLUB FOR WOMEN.

Vith :-e • l'.clufion of hostilities, -; i-

v asm jiaWciir societies' organised oy ximec nil diswad, and the want of a !..'n ; auen'» club wiii to keenly felt. AuckJt?d'{ lifcC-l in Ur * direction has been long-standing, &nd no doubt la institution .' ibis kind • oald bavs been established ■: ego bad not women's interest its patriotic work kept their energies fully m- •; loved. In Wellington, Chnstchurcn, and Dunedin, clubs for women have been in existence for many years. In Auckland, frequent attempts and much discussion on the subject have not led to any materialisation of plans, but now that women have become accustomed to meeting together as members of various societies, they will ; sorely miss the interchange of ideas and pursuit of common interests that co-opera-tion in public work naturally engenders, and the formation of a woman's club will ' assuredly eventuate. • § In every community of men clubs exist, and as the male population increases they are formed with amazing rapidity. In the past women have had few common interests outside their homes, which. in the past have constituted the be-all and endall of their existence. In pre-war days manv considered club membership a menace "to home-life, but in the last four -years women have proved the fallacy of this contention, and the fine result of their labours lias found no parallel in the deterioration of their attainments as /housekeepers.' Undoubtedly," women have J squired a broader vision and wider knowledge. In their work with men they have been drawn into controversies on topics quite outside their hitherto limited horizon, and they will not be able to retarn to the narrow-groove and monotonous rut of their former existence. *

I||Books and paper... phi? the vast amount C'?oi knowledge on s"terns', affairs, expounded to them by the head of the house, §§ with the sobriquet underlined, will never suffice as their fount oi knowledge in the future. Not only will -women think for 1", themselves, bet they will want the opportunity of hearing olher people's views expressed on questions that- will be of greater significance in their lives than they . ever were before. The vital force called forth in the tremendous struggle has not flickered to die out with the-cessation of hostilities. It will fan a flame of enftithnsiastic.energies which will spend them/>selves on increased activities in work of all kiwis. Women will be found taking an interest in matters educational, muniv cipal and social, and women's clubs will -/.become'a recognised instil'iti, : and a ,-. splendid medium through which they will {;•-work—i common meeting-ground where ':• thev will benefit by an interchange of 'ideas', and participate in discussions on various subjects. ;r 'In Auckland there is no doubt that the .I movement in (his direction wiil eventuate ''""•'-■in the formation of a women's club, ?.','• drawn up on lines that will make provisfllfon for the progressive spirit in women's a I work that must necessarily be the outcome V of'their labours in the' past. , In the H southern clubs which are now large factors |. m the social lif'i of the cities, the intel- ■'■ Ischial reqnirenents of their numerous -,;; member? are catered for by various cir- /? cles, including literary, musical, dramatic, srt, public service, and domestic, circles, sSffie club thus firming a social centre _ of 'widespread interests. : A club of this kind is invaluable to both town and country .members, providing the means by which 1; women can entertain their friends and H dispense hospitality, and in the game way I, affording members an opportunity of meetIs ing women of note who are passing ' through their city. Among the many |j benefits furnished 'by the existence of a || women's club emphasis must be laid on ■the great boon to bo derived by the prop| vision of a rest-room where women can • rest during a strenuous day's shopping, i or fill in an hour while waiting an ap- |;' pointment. The success of an institution |sof this kind largely depends on the co--7 operation and good-fellowship of its members, and the non existence of social snob- ■'.'■ bery, cliques, and the tinsel trappings of . woman's life, which are supposed to have ./; been swept away in the upheaval of the I last four years, will greatly facilitate the formation of a club on large and generous . ■. lines. I