WOMEN IN MODERN LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 207, 30 August 1916, Page 8

WOMEN IN MODERN LIFE.

An interesting lecture on "Woman in' Modern Life, Her Privileges, Limitations, and Responsibilities," was given by Missj Melville before the Technical Old" Girls' Association on Saturday evening. -Miss Wilcox, president of the Association, 1 took the chair. Miss Melville dwelt on the need there is for women to bo better equipped in these times of .national stress, more responsible, more capable and better trained to be able to take up Ithe work the men lay down, when they go to the battle line to fight for the women who remain behind. In giving a short survey of the history of-women, the speaker said that -prehistoric times and among barbarous peoples men and women were more nearly equal than they have been in later times. Customs j had not then hardened into social laws, 1 and the position accorded women depended less upon social customs than; upon character and ability. With the 1 passage of time social usages grew up and persisted long after the need for them had passed away. In simpler times men and women were" both free and self-1 supporting; wire women took part with; wise men in councils, held property, and shared in the division of labour. * The . women kept the home fires burning, developed industries, attended to agricul-| ture, and wove the clothing, while the! men fished, hunted, nnd fought as sol- j diere. The warriors brought home cap-' tives, who became slaves, and did ■ the work formerly done by women, and thus what had been an honourable task i became degraded and the dignity of; labour was lost. Women became dependent upon men for support; it became a matter of pride that women should not work, but be parasites on the military organisation. When the militarist ruled thie world, might became right, and I women were confined to homes and convents for safety during the turbulent Middle Age.. When the military spirit declined, the feeling still persisted that women were weak and incapable, and 1 not able to take responsibility outside' the domestic sphere. Yet women were I expected to raise the children of the world without the ability to impart to them the knowledge which they needed to face life. This conception of woman was gradually passing away, through the spread of education and tho growth of a wider outlook in new countries like America and the British colonies, where thte old harriers were broken down. On the economic side women were struggling for better conditions. In some of the Scotch printing industries women are doing piece work with men, but are paid one-third less for it. But among the Lancashire cotton spinners there is' a trade union of 40,000 men and 80,000, women who are all paid the same rate; for piece work. The woman movement in political circles is advancing rapidly. | Women take part in elections as .citizens in Australia, >*ew Zealand, DenTv Iceland, Finland, Norway, twelve! of the American States and three Cana- i than provinces, and in some of these are! aUowed to sit in Parliament. These are ail.advanced countries, dealing with en?M,T eS , t,onß ' such as *»»e saving of child We, betterment of public heflth, the neonfe ne T al _? Hft,, W ° f * he ™« -« hand P T „ - In » G . erman y. on the other hand it ,s notorious-that women have the lowest personal status of any In • Europe; they are nofc he , din respect as in other countries, „d oWt enjoy the same privileges, yet they have to take part in the industrial and commercial life. Miss Melville coneHedTy prising s verjr woman ■___ atrtygto agfa

the best use possible of her 'advantages and"not to forget that advantages carried responsibilities. There was no privilege without responsibility. It was women who set the moralstandard of the community. It was theirs to bring up the children and forward the cause of humanity. The speaker was heartily thanked for her interesting and instructive address.