WOMEN AND RECONSTRUCTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 2

WOMEN AND RECONSTRUCTION

LJ3CTUKK AT TUE HONEER CLUB 1 Yeslerdny evening Mr. l< , . DalzieL jjiiy, n very interesting talk at the Pionew Uub upon probloina of reconstructs• (Ins to the war and women's place re garding them. Lady Stout, president oi the club, presided and introduced th speaker to hie audience.

•In tho course of hk talk Mr. Dalziol elaborated some of the points which hi had placed before a.meeting in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall somi littlo while ago, and in other pointtouched upon freeh matter. Pultiji' aside all philosophical theories he main" tained that life resolved itself into vcr\ eimplo. fundamental fads, into laws dt simple in their working that a child almost could understand them when pui in simple terms. The trouble was thai people usually looked for complexity when in reality lliey were faced by the simplest of facts, and eo passed them by. Using a simple illustration, Mr. Dalziell compared life and its law to a gamo of football. J3oth held the vital principle of co-ordination of aims—the great natural law which, if followed, leu to efficiency in everything it embraced. England had been driven into reform of her methods of governing and dealing with the necessities of life by disaster, and ho would like to see New Zealand reform her steps before driven into doing so by disaster. In England women wcro engaged in following a great many occupations which they had not been allowed to touch in pre-war days. In New Zealand he understood they were not allowed to do such work, although they were most anxious to engage in it. They were told the-y were not wanted, could not do it, and ho felt sure that if that was the poiicy the Govoriunent was determined to keep to; tho country would pay for it very surely. The English people were preparing for the futuro, but were not. The great natural law that if we were wise we would follow without delay, continued the speaker, was the policy of co-ordina-tion of aims. The policy of going as you please had to bo scrapped, as England had scrapped it, and he felt sure she would never return to it. It was felt now that the Government would never dare to give up control rff railways, shipping, mining, etc. Mr. Dalziell described the principles upon which the work in the Scottish munitions factories under the control of Mr. Walton was carried out. Co-ordina-tion of effort and the welfare of the employees were mado the mainsprings of the work, and so greatly had this answered that the output had increased BO per cent, in a certain period of timo, and tho employees for their work received a bonus of !K) per cent, and a pension. In every way the 'human element was considered.

In carrying out this co-ordination of aims, Mr. Dalziell pointed out that fundamental things to be observed were the ascertainment of requirements in regard to property and individuals, to produce those requirements, and to deliver them in human property and needs to tho individual. Those needs-had to be ascertained by specially qualified people who should hiivo no interests that were likely to conflict with that duty.; People who were to produeo thoso requirements should bo specially trained for that purpose, and they should have in mind no other purpose but to produce the best quality at a, minimum of cost. Tho_ third great- principle was the distribution of that produce to tho neople who needed it in'such ways (the , cheapest and best) as would serve them to the best advantage. What, had to bo sought was, a common aim. If everyone's' aim woro concentrated upon tho most efficient methods of production, the problems of soldiers' pensions, repatriation, allowances to women and children, education, etc., would be settled.

Tiirninir his attention to the pnrt that women should pluy in nntionnl life, Mr. Dalziull illustrated his point by the practice followed in the AValton factories. There there was dual control by a foreman ami forewoman. The duties of the foreman were to look after the mechanical part of the work, und thoso of the forewoman to see that the people working in that place wore fit and nappy, in other \bxAs, to see to tho human element. Their work was co-ordinate, neither dominating. To his mind, no service was greater rnau that of motherhood, and nothing more deserved remuneration than the service of tho mothers. There wero peoplo who looked upon children as an encumbrance. He was of tlfe opinion that every marriage, every birth, should be welcomed. Looking at it from its mast practical point of view, it was a matter of profit all the time, and if organisation were what it should.be, it would lie known in advance what fields of production wo.ild be filled by these children us they matured, and became ready to take up the burden of life. At the close of the lecturer's address several niiestions were asked and views exnre-ssen upon the burning question of education, the selection of tho people to the tasks for which they were -best adapted, and ao forth. Miss Helyer proposed a hearty-vote of thanks, which vns carried with acclamation, and supper brought the evening to a close.

' The Harbour Hoard, Navy- League, Letter-carriers, and Press Babies have been nominated for the competition to be held on Monday nest, the prizes for which are a robe, presented by .Messrs. Geoi'go and Kersley. Ltd., and a solid silver cup, presented by tho proprietors of Glaxo. Tho award will be made to the baby who on Monday is ;eated in the brat decorated motor-car in tho pricession from Government Buil'lings to New« town Park. A further meeting in (ho above connection is to be held this nflernoon at .'1.30, the baby competition cornmittecs being. specially invited. A girls' hostel to accommodate young women employed in local shops and offices was opened by Mrs. Massey yesterday, says a Press Association telegram from Palmerston North. At tho fortnightly meeting of tho Wellington South Nursing Division, held in the Newtown Lbrary on Tuesday eveni'lg, arrangements wore made for two first-aid squads, and one rollcr-baiidng-ing to demonstrate in Xewtown Park on Juno 3, p the King's Birthdny. The division will also be present at the servico to be held in (lie Town Hall oa Sunday afternoon ueit. A meeting of the Hobson Street committoe who aro working for the day at tho Wellington Bed Cross Shop is to be held at the residence of Mrs. W. Nathan, % Hobson Street, on Friday morning at qnarter-past ten. Tho business of the meeting is to make iirrangemeuts in connection with the stalls, raffles, etc.Tho Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy Leagno express their thanks to all who sent donations in kind and money {or their effort on behalf of the Navy League Baby, also to thoso who helped so willingly last Friday, and to the sailor men in port, the Trentham Band, and the Boy Scouts.

Dust will get into the home in tho summertime, do what one may, and (here is little USO one trying to eo'po with the nuisance by using a cluster. Get a "Daisy" Vacuum Cleaner, and your troubles will bn reduced to a minimum, The Daisy sucks up the dust, and Iho minutest particles cannot escape the suction Lose. It is so simple that a r.hild of 8 or 9 years can operate it. Moderate in price, too. Call mid have a demonstration of thpir simplicity and efficiency at the depot, 5C Lower Cuba Street OKCAK HRWIOTT AND CO.-Advt. '