TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 18

TOPICS OF THE DAY

(By "M.H.C.")

Quite a modern kind of thoughtfulness is embodied in the • "Girls' Week End" which lias been aijrgnged by the members of the committee of the Young Citizens' League. Partly owing to the dack of adequate housing in any of the "bigf cities, there are many young; people who are unable to Get any kind of pleasure, except the "movies," the dances, and, in the cases of a lesser number, that brought through the clubs and societies attached to churches. The "going home" is to overcrowded rooms, ■where the younger members of the family pervade every • part, and the tired business girl or woman has but little rest or pleasure therein. Or, perhaps, it may be part of a dwelling, where there *re several families housed uncomfortably together.. Again, the. only place of refuge may be a room, where there is tnother occupant, or more, and comfort Is absent. Therefore, the gathering together of these girls, and bringing them finto touch with others who have real homes, and giving them opportunity to meet each other, with full information as to olubs and societies they can join, is placing before many a lonely girl the chance of making suitable friends. Just 'recently an advertisement appeared purtorting to come from a lonely girl who desired to make some girl friends ;' and me doors will be opened wide to suchj jihey will find friends in plenty if they '•follow up the opportunities presented. The fact that ■part of the plan had to be omitted on account of the exceptionally /bad season has only meant that in the cummer there will be another opportunity for Wellington girls to foregather together. It is a. happy fact that in these modern days there "is leas of the terrible element of snobbishness »na purse-pride than there used to be, fend it is confinejl within such more narrow limits. Therefore, the effort promises to be a very great success from *very point of view.

The famous Burke said that he could (not draw air indictment against a nation ; and the Eight Hon. Lord Avebury, a. wise man, whose fine book, "The Use of life," had, long ago, reached its 189 th thousand, added, that it is very jßnwise, as -well as unjust, to attack any class of people. It is a pity that some of the legislators of New Zealand had not read either Burke or Lord Avebury; •for then they would have bad too much Wisdom to attack the women of their Jown land; declaring, in one instance, T.that out of two thousand ■ women you could "count the brains on the fingers of one hand/ and he believed it was the same in other organisations. was of opinion that all women 'looked for was eew-gaws and decorations ; regardless of the fact "that the latter are solely the adjunct of men, except in the case of a very few extremely minor ones given during the war-. ,time. • A third relegated his fellowcpuntrywomen to the charing-work of life, as the only proper place for females. It was truly said by one of the modernminded of the number that the speeches -were of the character of 1823 instead of 1923, and the true appreciation and generosity of the few stood out finely against the downright "kicking and scratching" ■of some, or the affected "put her on a j pedestal, but at the same time keep her as only a body without a soul" of the others. Except for the kindness and the justice of the few, it was a sad display of ignorance and prejudice of many, ! powerfully led, which will need equal •power in combating. It now remains for women to keep in mind their dignity and reasonableness, which has never I failed them in dealing with this subject, i but to work and hope, quite undismayed.

Special mention might well be made of one of the contentions used in regard to the presence of women on a f jury whea one of their own sex was to jbe tried. The opinion was given that ' "women in such, case, would rather be tried by a jury of men alone. It is. more than likely that if the person was guilty j of the crime mentioned she would rather trust to. a certain amount of the meth--1 ods employed in the famous case of "Bardell y. Pickwick," which might affect a ,jury of men, but which would have no suqh effect on a jury of women. While a man can undoubtedly excel in detecting humbug in another man, women can do the same for their own sex; yet;, at-the same time, they are more "knowledgeable" when an unattractive member of "the Dowd family" comes within reach of the long arm of the law, and would see what was worthy of merciful consideration. But, after all, the question is; not what would prisoners of either sex "like," but one of justice on broad lines without dragging in the everlasting sex question.

Most interesting, especially at this juncture, are the remarks made by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., a man of wide experience and culture, afc a recent addreES given by him to a church society. In reference to social work, which the society claimed to have accomplished, he asked the following question: "Why did not some of the members go down to tha Court and see if something could not be done to help some of the! wayward girls who were continually making- their appearance?" Mr. Hunt instanced the work of a fine Christian woman whose duty it has been to attend Court regularly, and, according to the -Magistrate, her work has been beyond praise. There is no reservation in the commendation given, and it is a sufficient answer to those who consider that women ) would be out of place, or "unsexed " by such attendance, even on isoJated occasions when, possibly, called as jurors or Justices of the Peace. The answer may be given simply and completely in the brief questions: "Is the lady mentioned by Mr. Hunt doing the work of Christ? Is she deteriorating in so doing?" Another question might be added to theaa to make the matter complete: "Does anyone deteriorate in doing God's work in the world?"- It is again a case "nuf sed."

Just a few words afc the close of a brief letter of thanks for help to a most deserving institution might "cause furiously to think" those who are given to such mental exercise. The thanks were the more heartily given, said the writer, because "times are so bad, and money so scarce." When the life of the people is considered in general, and it is remembered that never were there such handsome materials used; never such highly-priced masculine, as well as feminine, garments; never before so much money spent in accessories and toys to add to the pleasure of entertainments;, never before so many places of pleasure, the practise of day dancing, etc., being a development of post-war times, while hobday making i Sa continual and expensjve feature of the age. Then comes the gentle remark quoted above from a plaje where the necessities are most ureem, and the management unimpeachable. Well, one. eaa only think !