APPEAL TO MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 11

APPEAL TO MOTHERS

TO."MOTHER" YOUTHFUL IMMIGRANTS j SPEECH BY LADY VIOLET ASTOE. Quite a new suggestion regarding ■ the solution of the immigration question was made by Lady Violet Astor in addressing those assembled at the Empire Press gathering last night. "I feel very diffident at addressing such a distinguished company," said Lady Violet, "especially as I fear that my first *few .words will cast a gloom over the evening. Apparently it is only known to the few that I am not Lady Astor, M.P. (Laughter.) I do. not'look like my sister-in-law, and quite certainly I don't look like an M.P., though I am the wife of one who is an M.P, and a newspaper man. (Applause.) lam really at a loss for words to thank you on behalf of the other ladies of the party for the perfectly wonderful way in which you have received us in the North Island of New Zealand. Wherever we have been we have been greeted as friends, and we have thoroughly enjoyed every, moment of our afl-too-short stay in the North Island. I have been here long enough, to learn that this is a moist magnificent Dominion, and I will- be longing for the time when I can tome back and see you all again. (Applause.) With your scenic beauties J have been very deeply impressed, but that illusive official, the clerk of the weather, has been just as active as he is in another island home I know of. I have learned to love and admire you, particularly your farmers. I have «been able to realise in some measure' that the men and women who go into the bush here have a hard time indeed. ' I think it is the woman on the farm who has the hardest time of all. ■ She has no Sundays off, no half-days, arid she has her home, her^ children to look after—and her husband. (Laughter.) She has not even that relaxation, a talk with a neighbour, for to havo what the men call 'a little bit of gossip' you must have a neighbour, and even that, as like a-s not, is denied her. What you want here is more people. You want to attract youth, but to do that you must gain the confidence of their mothers in England. These mothers are very human, and they will not send their children unless they know that they will be well and kindly looked after. There might be a scheme under which a mother here might meet each child, take a personal interest^ in it, care for and' love it, and write home to the parents k> say how it is getting along. I believe that if this little human touch were given the women of England would be only too pleased to let their children come to this fair land, where there are greater opportunities for them. (Applause.) "We are grateful," concluded Lady Astor, amid_ prolonged applause, "for the wonderful time you have given us, and in wishing you au revoir I hope to come back and see you all again. I wish peace, prosperity, and happiness to this magnificent Dominion!"