PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Auckland Star, Issue 17, 21 January 1932, Page 12

PUBLIC SPEAKING.

One of the most remarkable movements in New Zealand at the present time is that amongst the women of the country districts, and it is due to the work of the women's institutes. Started in Canada to Help the lonely women Of the prairie farms, whicli are isolated for six months of the year by snow, the institute movement passed to Englani, where its success has been phenomenal'. From there ic> was brought to New Zealand and it has spread rapidly. No women's movement spreads like this unless thero is a crying need for -it, ant what the Institutes may mean to tlie future of New Zealand lias yet to bo .determined. They bring women together in lonely places, perhaps for the oniv time during a month. Men often forge; how circumscribed is the life of the mother in a farm home. The men leav'e tho land and go to attend sales, if they rniso stock, or to the dairy factory, and exchange ideas, but tho women must re,main at the helm of affairs and guide tho little barque in the shallowest of economic waters. It is to these Women that the institute movement is making such a wide appeal and it is to them tho - ] wo may look for much new thought in tho future, both on land conditions and oil life. Up to the present decade, or at least the last two decades, \yoii(en hayu. been silent, both in print and on the platform. The war loosened a flood of printed books written by women, • inwhich 'women have placed on record j their ideas on the life around them. This lias made the intellectual more or' lose vocal, lmt her country fellow is stil' inarticulate and it is in connection with, this lack in life that the institutes arc doing so much good. One of tlie greatest surprises, to a' listener, was the ability displayed av. tho recent conference of institutes, held in Auckland, in public speaking." All over tho gathering women arose wlier; different subjects came up for discussion and without shyness or awkwardness expressed themselves clearly and fluently. They had something to say and they said it clearly and to the point. Tho public speaker who carries weight is not that one who has studied elocution, and underneath is thinking of how his or her periods will "go," but the on_ who lias some mind message to deliver and delivers it clearly and with sincerity. This does not mean that women should not study their subject beforethey come before their fellows to make statements in debate, for this is ver\ necessary in their case, as' too inaiiy women speakers are swayed by sentimental ideas which do not bear-the cold light of facts, but that they also should have clearly defined in their minds what they wish to make convincing to other women.. It is that ability which is being so steadily cultivated amongst .tj*q women's institutes, without their knowing how well tliev- are building for the future, when the voice of the women in tho land will carry more weight tho." i it has done in tho past, ft is the women of the country, who have time to think | and see things clearly from a fresh I point of view, and it is this outlook | which New Zealand needs in her public j life. Perl:aps we will have in the I future the great drama of our life see.i keenly and wisely by some country women and put into words, but it is also possible that we have in these women, the big leader in women's, movements, for whom the women of the whole Dominion are at present waiting.