COUNTRY GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 13

COUNTRY GIRLS.

VISIT TO AUCKLAND.

EDUCATIONAL WEEK BEGINS.

The educational course organised by the Waitemata provincial executive of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union and the Auckland Federation of Women's Institutes, began yesterday afternoon, when approximately 130 girls were officially welcomed in 'the board room of the Farmers' Trading Company by the presidents of the two organisations, Mrs. Noel Adams and Mrs. N. R. McElwain.

In welcoming the girls Mrs. N. R. McElwain, president of the Auckland Federation of Women's Institutes, said that the week was not designed with the idea of taking the girls' affections away from the country, but with the idea of giving them an opportunity pf seeing things from another angle, .so that they could more fully appreciate the value of their own life in the country. In her speech of welcome Mrs. Noel Adams, president of the Waitemata provincial executive of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, urged the girls to take this opportunity of cultivating their powers of observation, and also of learning social confidence. If these two objects were attained, she said, then the week away from home would not have been in vain.

Following the official welcome the girls adjourned to the Farmers' Trading Company tea rooms, where an address on "Citizenship" was given by Mr. A. A. Ross. Mr. Ross pointed out that when a citizen had his rights under a democratic rule he also had his responsibilities. It became his duty to acquire a working knowledge of the State and the principles upon jvliicli •it should be governed. "It has become painfully evident that in many countries people are not fit for self-government," said Mr. Ross. "They have not sufficient conception of the duties of citizenship to be the foundation of a democratic Instead of •advancing democracy is now receding and is everywhere on the defensive."

A warning against looking on the' British system of government as being too firmly entrenched was given by Mr. Rois. who urged the cultivation of the virtues of good citizenship as protection against the invasion of autocracy. He pointed out that women were equally responsible with men for the course of public events. A full programme has been arranged for the country girls this week, including various lectures on matters of civic interest.