Townswomen’s Guilds Meet In Conference At Timaru

Press, Volume C, Issue 29624, 21 September 1961, Page 17

Townswomen’s Guilds Meet In Conference At Timaru

Women needed more courage to be able to stand out in front and say what they felt was right Mass emotion dampened down what they felt should be said, and until women were prepared to do that nationally and internationally, the world was going to stumble along from one mess to another, the Mayor of Timaru (Mrs Mflriel Hilton) told about 150 delegates and 250 observers at the opening of the two-day annual council meeting of the Dominion Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds at the Bay Hall yesterday Mrs Hilton said the demands might be heavy, but women could do the job. Woman’s point of view was most important, but this had not yet been voiced to any great extent in local government and national affairs, the Mayor continued. She urged the meeting to give some thought to New Zealand's social and economic problems. The rudiments of community and national housekeeping could be quickly learned, said the Mayor “I feel it is time to give some thought to the tragic state of the world today. We should be prepared to be active in some measure in directions that may not be especially comfortable for ourselves at times. It is not always easy to express one's feelings when it is felt that the mass of the people are not in sympathy with your ideas and ideals." Mrs Hilton continued.

“We have a responsibility which, perhaps, we are shirk-

ing. X have for a long time believed that if we could, as women, accept the point of view that we can, by sheet weight of numbers and thinking. direct the thoughts of national and international leaders on a different plane, then we are really fulfilling our role in the world. It can be done, but we must each accept that point of view." Mrs Hilton said. A tremendous responsibility has been placed in the hands of mothers and women in the community, the Mayor added. She referred to the mental health week held at Christchurch. recently, and wondered whether women's organisations had given much thought to the subject and were in a position to settle down and study the question of mental health. Other speakers were the National president (Mrs H. V. Doran, of Ixswer Hutt) who referred to the fortitude of pioneer women and the sacrifices they had endured; Mesdames J. Peacock (representing the National Council of Women) who made reference to the “tragic circumstances” surrounding the death of the secretary-general of the United Nations; M. Longman (South Canterbury branch of the Save the Children Fund); W Pearce (representing the Dominion Federation of Country Women’s Institutes); G. M. Charles (Dominion vice-president. Women’s Division. Federated Farmers), and Mr D. S Markwell (South Canterbury regional tutor, Adult Education).