AMONG OURSELVES

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 211, 5 September 1924, Page 11

AMONG OURSELVES

(By CONSTANCE CLYDE.)

A WEEKLY BUDGET.

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S DOINGS. The Women's League of New South Wales celebrated its first birthday in August. This is now a non-party organisation officered and controlled by ■women honorary workers. Says its secretary to "The Dawn": "The Women's League of New South Wales gives every promise of being the strongest, most useful, and influential women's organisation in the Commonwealth," and the editor of that paper adds her congratulations to the many which have been received. The League, besides other ideals, stands for "the education of women in public questions on non- | party lines; equal opportunity for men ! and women; the enfranchisement of women, on the same terms as men, in other countries," etc. In Victoria the National Council of Women have received somewhat of a setback. They presented the authorities with some rather drastic proposals—uniformed women police, with the power to arrest; indeterminate sentence for first offenders, "and some legislation to make a repetition of the offence impossible," which would simply mean a sentence for life! The most dangerous proposal of theirs, perhaps, was that which would make it a penal offence to take a child from it 3 parents even for the shortest time, the proposal being so worded that blackmail by dishonest parents—who might easily "set a trap"—would be I very possible. The authorities, anyway, seem to see it thus, for it was answered

that such ideas were too perilous for actual practice. In the earlier days of the women's movement, notions not likely to be accepted were often advanced merely as propaganda, but we should be beyond that now. It is a pity, therefore, that Australasian womon, especially, should not concentrate more upon one or two clear-cut reforms, such as the raising of the age of consent, for instance. Xo doubt this would have a rather monotonous effect, but we should remember that the importunate widow of the parable got her right at last by harping only on one string. She did not vary her claim to make herself more interesting. It was through being wearisome, in fact—quite the reverse of interesting—that she achieved success at last.

WOMEN ADVERTISERS. It is many years now since women invaded .the great world of advertisement, but it is not till lately that they have formed clubs or associations in respect to this occupation. Recently however, 400 women were present at a luncheon given by the Women's Advertising Club of London, representatives from all countries being present. - The Duchess of Atholl, M.P.,. presided, and many well known in this employment took part in the. speeches.Among them was Mrs. Jane Martin, first woman to beelected member : 6f the "Worlds "Advertising Clubs. The psychology of, adver-tising,-and of buying and selling, was dealt with, the New York representative considering; that weather had much to do with purchasing amongst women. This would not strike an Englishwoman so much, as in that country women have less regard for the The rise of women in 'this occupation, where originality and prudence also are so much required, is certainly a matter of congratulation.

WOMEN'S SERVICE GUILDS. JThe Women's Service Guilds of Australia have now had 15 years of service to their credit', and new branches are still forming. Many subjects are discussed at the various meetings, and reports made of the work done by many of the members. Thus, at tbe Fremantle Guild; Mrs. Saunders, of the Presbyterian Women's Union, told of ber mission work to the pioneer women in the far-back spaces of that State. Mrs.. Saunders' visits took her 100 miles beyond the rabbitproof fence, and brought her into touch with lonelywomen, overjoyed to meet and talk with another woman. Said she: "We sympathise with the new arrivals that are sent away to the group settlements, but their lot is easy compared with the hardships that some of our women in scattered parts of the State have to. face." One woman told her that for four years not a living soul except her husband had ever passed her. door. Some of the women could scarcely believe that Mrs. Saunders had really come to see them, and sometimes they would put their hands on her face to have the comfort of touching another woman. The ideal of these guilds is that each should be a centre of women's work in I the city, help being given on all mat- j ters affecting the welfare of women and j children. Informative and educational j lectures by women from abroad are also much appreciated.

WHERE WOMEN MUST IMPROVE. Professor Caroline Spurgeon is president of the University Women's International Convention, which is the flowering of American and • English university women's resolve' for union five years ago. She ha 3 some rather unusual words of warning on the woman question, and not altogether of adulation. She states': "Women are coming more and more into positions of responsibility, and power in Parliament and Senates, etc., but their education and experience is not progressing at the same rate as their opportunities" (in New Zealand it is the other way round). She points out that ■ "to think of stopping war by abstract discussion, or even by agreement, is a naive and childish conception," and that the best intellects among women must turn their attention to subjects generally felt to j be uninteresting, such as commerce, the control of markets, etc., if they want • to solve real problems. She advances j *he idea, now held by many people, that the male mind is the artistic and imaginative one, while women naturally incline to the practical and the definite.. Thus, "in a woman-controlled civilisation, such as America, the characteristics are a love of activity, a desire to 'do things,' without always considering the ultimate result—a 'reform habit,' a neglect of ultimate principles, pure' knowledge, and art. I would suggest," | ihe adds, "that women bring their un-' -loubted practical organising and business powers to bear on lines of work -•"therto monopolised by man." She wishes that women should become great Pioneers for their sex in industry, and -Teat employers of labour. This would help them to understand the' commerce of the world, and might produce in a woman's form the Napoleon of Peace who would understand war, and so per- j haps end it. |