PROBLEM CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 267, 10 November 1934, Page 17

PROBLEM CLUB.

THE MAORI WOMAN. Tho Problem Club held its last meeting for tho year at the rooms of the Penwomen'fi Club on - Thursday afternoon. Mrs. Von Stunner presided. An excellent lecture on "The Place of Women in Maori Life" was given by Mrs. E. Bennett. Several lantern slides were shown by Mr. Porter to illustrate the speaker's remarks. One often heard the Maori spoken of as being indolent, said Mrs.-Bennett. Where this was so, however, it had resulted from the imposition of the economic ' life which European contact had hoisted upon tribal life. In his native state the Maori was a most industrious worjter, and the native Maori housewife had a full-time job. Though she had no dishes to wash, she nevertheless had dishes to weave. These woven dishes were destroyed after each meal, and had to bo replaced by fresh ones. The instruction of children in sex matters and youthful betrothals were mentioned as Interesting tribal customs. Women's place in tribal life was rio inean one, and though women did not take any very active part in discussions, their opinions, when expressed, were treated with respect, said Mrs. Bennett. " .

Mrs. Rivers Loe 'poke on the present dumping into ttiid country of backdated and demoralising magazines from America. England nnd Canada, said Mrs: Loe, had realised the necessity of keeping this rubbish out, and had each imposed a heavy duty on its importation. Its most dangerous effect was on the immature mind. Stories of the gunman and gangster type were particularly harmful in this respect, and undoubtedly were responsible for a good deal of juvenile crime in this country. Miss Sara Stacpoole gave delightful renderings of two songs, and Miss Doreen Saunders two amusing monologues during the afternoon.

Among those present were: Mesdames Von Stunner, R. T. Michaels, Spencer, Cooper, W. F. Bcccliy, W. H. Wright, W. B. Darlow, B. B. Hayman, Arniitage, Bloodworth, Dreaver, Hutchings, C. Austin, K. Hebden, R. Bennett, L. Rivers Loe, Bogue, Esther, Heycock, Carter, G. C. Munns, Haresnape, A. E. Wood, Lees Brown, Taylor, Gulliver, F. W. Hickson, R. J. Coughlan, Yeatman, R. Airey, W. Willis, A. M. Warren, de Authreau, Forster, and Misses G. Myers, E. Riesop, B. Spencer, Cooper, Doreen Saunders, Sara Stacpoole, Sinclair, Polkinghorne and Arniitage. A. delicious afternoon tea, for which the social committee was responsible, was served during the afternoon.