WOMEN'S PART IN NZ. EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 16

WOMEN'S PART IN NZ. EXHIBITION.

Reproduction of Early Pioneer Homestead.

A room such as might have boon fouiul in (he early pioneer homesteads in this country will he reconstructed in the women's section of the Xew Zealand Centennial Exhibition. It will be furnished with genuine antiques and personal possessions in the taste and style of the period, will probably contain one or two lay figures in. "the old fashioned costumes of that by-gone era, and will be in every respect the home of any settler: Almost every article in it will be rich in old associations, being the actual property owned and used by the great men and women who laid the : foundation stones of Xew Zealand [history.

In an interview with the Press, Mrs. |C. P. Hainswortli, organiser of the jwomeus section, said that this original land interesting "idea emanated from the )Christchurch women's committee—Mrs. 'M. G. Moor (chairman), Mrs. Cecil Wood (lion, secretary), Mrs. Mowbray Tripp, Mrs. A. K. Warren and Mr. H. G. Ilel--111 ore. The committee stated that it was known where a number of articles of historic "worth were to be found, and it was expected that many others would Acomc to light in due course. - \ South Island's Share. \ The' telle me was approved by the lioaiis Committee of the women's section at Wellington and by members of tlto Ota go committee —Mrs. «T. Sutherland Ross and Mrs. R. Dawson. It was decided that Canterbury and Ota go shoo Id unite in this endeavour, and that the room should be the main feature of the South Island display in tliii loans section.

Tli North Island also, said Mrs. Hainsu'orth, would exhibit a collection lof interesting articles associated with the earYy settlement of the Dominion, but theirs would be a more general display. TJown clerks and local bodies throughout the North Island had been contacted,\ and already the response was most gratifying. Mrs. Hain swortli expressed high praise of the zest avid enthusiasm of Canterbury and Otago \women in supporting the women's sec&on of the exhibition. Handicraft of pDo-day. In contrast \to tlie historic portion of the display, she said, the women's section would lilso contain much valuable handicraft \of the descendants of the pioneers. It\ would be truly representative of every phase of women's life in the Domiiiaon to-day. A large handicnifts section was planned, and it was remarkable that already considerable interest in this section had been shown by overseas women. Inquiries had been received from women in England and Scotland, as< a result of interest roused during Mr. and Mrs.. Hainsworth's' visit tortile Old Country-' last year. The section would not oiily contain, samples of products of| all such artsi and crafts as were openito women, bilt| woud include actual 'demonstrations} of how these various articles were made) —"working exhibits," -\Lrs Hainswortli} called them. Skilled exponents . wouldshow the processes of, say, wearing, pottery, china painting, metal working and similar handicrafts in which women excelled. The standard of craftsmanship aimed at would be as .high* as possible. V I

Countrywomen's Interests. In .addition there would he an important countrywomen's section, where the interests and activities of fanners' wives and other country dwellers would he fully represented, and every subject which might occupy the rural housewife's working hours or leisure would find a place in this section.

Arrangements were being made for authoritative lectures and demonstrations in the capacious lecture hall attached to the women's section. Women who were recognised as Dominion, and even world authorities on their subjects, would discuss them at length, with practical demonstrations, and 110 doubt prominent visitors from overseas would also speak 011 subjects of interest to women. Among the subjects for which arrangements had so far been made were horticulture, nursing, child welfare, medicine, home science, electricity, music, art and literature, drama and cookery. Considerable emphasis was to be laid on the cultural aspect of these lectures.^ The section will also contain a library of the works of Xew Zealand women authors.