Opportunities For Fulfilment

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30857, 16 September 1965, Page 2

Opportunities For Fulfilment

Opportunities for personal fulfilment, community service and comradeship were provided by Townswomen’s Guilds for members, said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Manning) yesterday.

“What more can you get out of life?” he asked, opening the biennial council meeting of the Dominion Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds. Mr Manning said he had come to his conclusions after reading many letters from guild members, given to him by the Dominion secretary (Mrs F. H. J. Pheloung), to understand the women’s reactions to attending guild meetings. PURPOSE OF LIVING The purpose of living as human beings was to develop inherent powers endowed by nature. "If we have these powers within us awaiting development, then it is in realising them that true happiness is derived,” he said. “Happiness is not an end In itself, it is an experience that comes from something. You, in your organisation, fulfill yourselves in service, in creativity and in making friendships. You are thus fulfilling your own personalities and in this way you enjoy life.” BIG IMPACT With 89 guilds throughout New Zealand and 5800 members, the organisation could make a tremendous impact on the country’s social life. The conference would be

dealing with many social problems and he wished them every success. One social problem, dear to his heart, arose from the increasing number of married women going out to work.

Their contribution to the work force was an economic blessing in that it increased production. It also gave an income to married women, but it had produced a social calamity, he said. “Where does the balance lie between economic development and the welfare of social life? I leave that to you to consider,” said Mr Manning.