Influence “Greatest In The Home”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31921, 24 February 1969, Page 2

Influence “Greatest In The Home”

Women’s influence would always have its greatest value in the home. Lady Porritt said at the national annual meeting of the Pan Pacific and South-East Asia Women’s Association in Christchurch on Saturday.

“Today it seems that every, thing must be classified, so we hear constantly of nations that are developed, nations that are developing, and even of nations that are underdeveloped,” said Lady Porritt, who is the patroness of the association. “But there is no doubt at all that, in this era in which we all live, every nation is in a state of constant change and. therefore, all should be classed as still developing. “It is in this development that women everywhere are playing a greater part than ever before in history, and will consequently bear a larger responsibility for the building of the future, which the young of today will inherit.”

Lady Porritt recalled that a little more than 50 years ago (“a mere moment of time in the history of the world”), the Suffragettes in Britain were chaining themselves to railings, going on hunger strikes, and even throwing themselves under horses’ hooves, in order to get the vote and to attain a modicum of freedom and influence. Big Contrast “The contrast today is quite remarkable. But I still feel that it will always be in the home that women’s influence! will be of the greatest value,” i she said.

Lady Porritt said she was particularly interested in a group of 12 New Zealand women who had declared themselves "concerned with today’s cynicism, the confusing of right with wrong, the undisciplined permissiveness which disregards established values, betrays our young

people, and undermines the quality of our national life.”

The women had pledged themselves to live the discipline they expected of their families, to create the home life that “cherished and inspired,” and to do their part “to help build a society where truth and right prevailed.” “As far as I know, these 12 women have not formed themselves into any new society, but one can’t help feeling that the pledge that they have taken, imposing a discipline in their own life, could easily be adopted by every women’s organisation, or for that matter, small groups of women and even individuals who believe in and have a love for their country,” said Lady Porritt. Simplicity

“Their strength, I feel, lies in their simplicity of purpose, and in their determination to do something positive about what they feel to be wrong.” She expressed the hope that the pledge would gather momentum and spread to many corners of the world. “Perhaps the 12 New Zea-; land women who got togetheri in Human Rights. Year could have sown the seed that could; prove to be of enormous! benefit to mankind as a| whole. From very small be-i ginnings, great things can be achieved.” Lady Porritt said. I Among those who heard Lady Porritt’s address were the Mayoress of Christchurch (Mrs A. R. Guthrey), the [ Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) and 20 delegates from throughout New Zealand. Lady Porritt was welcomed by the international president of the Pan Pacific and SouthEast Asia Women’s Association (Mrs Eunice Nieukerke, of Auckland), who is also the retiring national president, and by the president of the Christchurch Area Group (Mrs G. W. Fairweather).. • On behalf of the gathering, J Miss K. Bland presented Lady; Porritt with a book, “Voyages of Captain Cook,” by Thea and Rex Reiniets.