CALL TO WOMEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1941, Page 14

CALL TO WOMEN

Need For Unity For Peace Reconstruction

"Never before has there been such an acute challenge to women to act. If peace is to be maintained after this war, women must stand united together." said Miss Joan Sutherland when speaking at this afternoon's meeting of the Dominion Reconstruction Conference held in the Y.W.C.A. hall. The convener of the women'? group, Mrs. Hedda Dyson, presided The discussion for the afternoon concerned women's interests. "Women are united now in the great principle of peace with honour But after the war, what?" asked Miss Sutherland. "Much has beer said of women's lofty status, but now is the time for action. Are we going to sit back, as we have in the past, and fail? For failed we have. There has been no co-opera-tion. We have all pulled against each other." The predominance of materialism in the world was criticised by the speaker. "Men have placed too much emphasis on materialistic intellect, they have turned too much to thoughts of materialistic gain," she said. "This has led the world to brutehood instead of brotherhood. It is time women brought their love and understanding, their vision, fired by enthusiasm, to the rebuilding oi the world, so that never again shall the forces of destruction override the forces of good." Power Of Women The speaker went on to say that women must become internationally minded. The call to rally together must spread among the women oi all the nations. "We must stand together to build a world where deep, spiritual beliefs will be the foundation, where there will be equal opportunity for youth, happy homes and economic security for all, with individual liberty. "It is the mother, who from the cradle can teach her children the great divine truths. Even before her children are born she can let beaut} take hold in her mind. It is she whc can make or mar the character ol the new life," Miss Sutherland emphasised. She appealed to all women to joir together, for only in unitv could thej be strong. "Women will be the trustees and bankers of the new order. They will be the builders ol the new Empire. Men are caught uf in a net of materialistic machinery and the competitive spirit, and sc are destroying themselves." In conclusion the speaker said "Yesterday was rough, to-day i< dark, but a new age is dawning and all women are urged to join in to recognise their own power, sc that hatred and selfishness wil vanish from the earth."