Mayoress has ideas of her own

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33664, 14 October 1974, Page 6

Mayoress has ideas of her own

The day after her husband was elected Mayor of Christchurch. Mrs Judith Hay was already paying attention to the small details of the changed life-style that her new position brings.

After getting the midday meal out of the way and before being interviewed and posing for photographs, Mrs Hay used the few quiet minutes available to sew some buttons on a green coat. “I’ll be needing this coat more now,” she said. Preparing a wardrobe for a sudden increase in social engagements is one of the domestic aspects of her new role. The main one, of course, is organising her family so that they also cope with the new life-style. Mrs Hay gives the impression that the word, “chaotic,” does not exist in the Hay household. Preparation “We have known that this : could have happened for about six months so we have been able to do a bit (of organising. I have the I children working on a roster I system. They are all very i co-operative and the older ' girls can take over the cooking if need be.” The Hays have four girls and a boy ranging in age (from eight to 17. I Mrs Hay attributes her: I organising ability to her: ! >ong association with the | Girl' Guides. She is the:

Canterbury provincial commissioner of the Girl Guides, a position she does not intend to give up because of her duties as Mayoress. “I feel I must have something of my own,” she said. New ideas It is apparent from listening to her expound her ideas about the Mayoress’s position that she will be taking something distinctively her own to this new job. “I have lots of ideas at the moment, but I would like to get the feel of the job first.” Mrs Hay’s interests include concern for the young and the old. She would like to see a youth council established, which would involve all the youth groups and provide greater opportunity for youth leadership. “Each group has so many different talents to offer the city. There are so many opportunities to do interesting things in this city, but I feel people are not aware of them. I do feel we are short of meeting places, especially in the new suburbs.” Old people Mrs Hay is on the Aged Peoples Welfare Council, and in this area the first thing she would like done is the adoption of a better word for “aged.” “A lot of people resent this title. I am not sure ex-

actly what we should call them — perhaps senior citizens would be btetter.” Mrs Hay’s training as an occupational therapist has been one of the factors contributing to her feelings about retired people. : “1 feel it is a waste of experience when people retire and are left wondering what to do with themselves. It can be very traumatic to be arbitarily retired when you still have the ability to do so many things. The W.E.A. has a “Knowledge in Retirement” course, and I feel it is this sort of thing Iwe must encourage.” Politics "We will reap a rich harvest if we encourage them to develop the skills they want to. This goes for mothers and housewives also, I’ve seen them blossom after becoming involved in some community activities.” Mrs Hay feels there is a need for more women in politics, and it appears that her daughters think the same way. “They get rather upset when people ask if we think that James, who is eight, will follow in his father’s footsteps. They feel that their being girls should not deter people from asking them the same question. “Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did follow their father.”