THE CENTENARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 299, 14 September 1936, Page 4

THE CENTENARY

New Zealand Women’s Share SOME SUGGESTIONS The time has arrived for women to consider seriously the best means whereby they may take a fitting part in the celebrations of New Zealand’s forthcoming Centenary. Up to the pre sent, states a writer in the Auckland “Star,” the proposals for their collaboration in.the various activities consist of assisting in the collection of data and local records, and a share in the preparations for historical pageants. It seems that there is a considerable amount of enthusiastic support offering from numerous feminine organisations, but it is noticeable that the arrangements, as published, give no scope for women’s initiative and originality. There is, for instance, nothing in the nature of the competition for original schemes which made such a wide appeal to Victorian women during the preparations for the Melbourne Centennial three years ago. A general invitation to women to send in suggestions would have ensured means of obtaining a consensus of opinion of What they considered fitting, and may have produced some scheme of outstanding merit and originality. One need not be an ardent feminist to recognise that there exist grounds for criticism of the plans for the celebrations; from the woman's point of view they api>ear cut and dried. ' Apart from this fault, the various schemes

should merit the support of many women. Though essentially ephemeral in character, they may have the effect of promoting the long-awaited birth of a national sentiment for New Zealand.

Permanent Memorial. It must be admitted that valuable as the compilation of records of our early history may be, there is need for some humanitarian memorial of the great occasion ibis proposed to celebrate. We are not yet, as a” people, sufficiently conscious of our national heritage to set great store by its cultural associations. These records, after compilation, may be laid aside on our library shelves to remain a matter of interest to only a comparatively small group; their value being mainly prospective, such activities must be considered as working for posterity. ] What is required here and now is something of a utilitarian and human!- j tarian nature to remedy the lack of provision for earc of ailing women. Members of the medical and nursing professions have often cause to deplorethis lack, and point to the large amount of chronic sickness induced through neglect after operations and confinements.- There are unmistakable signs, too. that a great deal of mental disease could be avoided if rest under the right conditions were available at critical periods. If New Zealand women’s chief centennial effort could take the form of a | campaign to establish, by means of public subscription ' and Government subsidy, rest homes in the various centres, the Centenary would indeed la* worthily and lastingly marked. Such tin enterprise would make a wider appeal and solicit greater support than any so far promulgated, for it would ensure the interest of every citizen who realises tbc value to the community of those who bear and rear the young of the race. It would remain long after the Centenary is forgotten as a permanent memorial of the regard in which they were held at a vital period in our history. Mothers of tlie Past. A plan of this kind could "'ell lie made a memorial to the pioueer women of New Zealand, who played an important part in the settlement and development of the infant colony. It is becoming a national reproach that nowhere has any attempt been made to commemorate tlie work of the mothers of the nation. Here we have the oppontunity; the means is ready to our hands. Homes where the present and future mothers of the Dominion could gain health and strength, and which would also show our appreciation of the mothers of the past, must constitute a singularly fitting enterprise for such an occasion, and one well worth the best endeavours of women of every class and creed. As a means of uniting women of various opinions in one great co-operative effort it is without parallel, and widespread interest in such a project is assured. Australian women have, with their 1

native foresight and vim. already embarked on plans for duly celebrating Sydney's 150tb anniversary, it seems certain that whatever memorial is decided on as a special feminine achievement. it will be of a practical and humanitarian nature, and will mark tlie value of the work of t he pioueer women of the State, If the women of New Zealand should allow the Centennial to pass without making it the occasion for some similar achievement they will have laid themselves open to the reproach of having failed to recognise what is due to them and to those who have in no small measure made possible the momentous occasion which we ; shall celebrate in IU4O.