WOMEN AND EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 76, 27 September 1927, Page 13

WOMEN AND EMPIRE

ADDRESS AT PIONEER CLUB

A large gathering of women, representing most of the organised societies and clubs of Wellington, was hold at the Pioneer Club yesterday afternoon, when Lady Cowan gave an impressive address. The club' entertained~the visitors to tea, and after this had been served Lady Cowan gave those present a most interesting insight into the formation of the Patriotic League and the difficulties which face the producers of British films. The league was formed at the conclusion of the war activities by a large number of women-who had worked and striven together on the patriotic 'societies,'-and 5 who felt that there was still, a world'full of work to help to rehabilitate the ex-soldiers, to care for orphan families, and the sick and wounded, and therefore formed a society which is meant to be perpetual, and carry on a great variety of useful work for humanity. The league asked for the co-operation of the overseas I women, and invited them to come into j j the bond of friendship which exists be-1 tween the workers at Home. England ' is a great market which will absorb primary products of the Dominions, and 'in return the Dominions should always try to use the finished goods which came: from the Motherland. Lady Cowan described graphically the-efforts which her society had made to show the women in England—the ordinary buyers—that they should tako goods which had been produced and manufactured within tho Empire. "But wo preached to indifference,": she said, and added with emphasis, "hopeless." The fact was that the women required something more arresting than mere words, and so came the idea of "Empire Shopping Week." This was arranged after great difficulty, much work, and the upheaval of indifference in many tions. _ Lady Cowan- sketched 'these trials vividly, giving her experience to -those present generously, and showing that with patience and organisation wonderful results might be attained. Only five firms supported the idea at first, but their displays were wonderful, and encouraged many more, till the idea has spread far ana wide, from London to Australia (where last year 1000. retailers carried out the Empire Shopping Week), and even smaller places, such as Malta, Trinidad, Tobago, and other centres, followed on in tho effort. Lady Cowan said that they had chosen 24th May (Queen Victoria's birthday) as the central day to hold the shopping week, and she would be very happy if she felt that New Zealand women would endeavour to hold a similar- week next year, or, better'still, to greet Mr. Amery with it when he arrives in New Zealand, as ho had been ono of tho most earnest jhelpcrs in the organisation in England.

Lady Cowan then showed tho difficulties which attended the. production of British films, specially in launching them on tho public, and hoped that tho nation would not only support every good British film well, but would find I out those which would bring their profits to British,people.' , She felt that the controllers of film production had missed a great and wonderful opportuinty of helping the world to a finer taste and decency. She was not alluding to educational films,' but- to tho ordinary picture,film,' 'which'might be made a help and Hot a hindrance. "The speaker then showed the success' Which had attended tho introduction ofVood films for children shown at special early sessions, which were being .well and thankfully patronised by mothers who realised the teaching value of pictures for good and evil. She urged that Zcalanders should make a great effort in tho direction of seeing that their children's minds 'should- not bo filled with mischievous and contaminating ideas which would take root in young soil, with a tcrriblo aftermath. Finally Lady Cowan asked the women of the Dominion 'U» get together and ±orm a league or council of British women, who would be iir touch with ' similar organisations all over tho Empire, and who, working togother, would ' bo able to accomplish great thiugs. She was ready to put tho .women here 'a touch with those in England, which was naturally tho -centre of work, and all information asked for. wouia be sont out readily. - Miss Kane, who-presided, 'thanked Lady Cowan for her address, and saia that sho was sure that the women present would carry to their organisations tho news and tho idoas which she had prosontod to them, and their decisions would be forwarded.to her later. A number of the guests talked to Lady Cowan, ana some plans wero made for carrying out her' suggestions, ■■■'"■ which I wero regarded by all as being, very valuable. ' I