PARAPARAUMU NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 June 1932, Page 8

PARAPARAUMU NEWS.

SOCIAL AND DEBATING. CLUB. A PROFITABLE EVENING. The seating accommodation of the church school-room was fully occupied for the Society’s debate on the 3rd inst, 96 persons being present. Mrs. Clank presided at the piano for the opening community sing. Airs. E. B. Hand contributed a solo, Messrs Delahunty, Hardham, Reeve ami Sweetman sang “The Village Pump,” and an encore “We Pushed Him Through the Window,” which made “hits” off members and was well received. The President (Air. A. Hardham) then - read the limericks which had been handed in. There had been a good response from members and much amusement was caused by the “skits” on members and the Society. Air. W. J. Delahunty presided over the business and the debate on the subject “That the Emergence of Women from the Home was Detrimental to the National Welfare. ’ ’ Air. G. Clunic opened for the affirmative, and referred to the numbers of women who had taken positions formerly occupied by men. This retrograde; movement came largely through the war, when women had taken the place of men, but afterwards had failed to realise it was man’s duty to build and provide for the home and that their place was to care for the home and family. It was every man’s ambition to have a home, , and the Creator’s trust to women was to tend and rear the children. The training and care of the family should be the highest aspiration of women, who, by entering business, wore prevented from carrying out that trust. The men actually engaged in the war had not felt the pressure of women’s competition, but it was being keenly felt by the rising generation. Many openings had boon closed and this was a big factor in the present unemployed position. The earnings of women in business wore largely spent on nnessentials, while men’s wages went mostly to the upkeep of homes. Afany women were holding positions after marriage, their portions of the income were largely spent on frills, and by keeping a man out of a job, were preventing homes from being established. Air. Burgess, in seconding; stated that while not blaming women for all our troubles, of the fifteen million women that held men’s jobs during the war, many had continued to hold them. This had the result that it was now impossible to place boys on leaving school. ' Girls were more easily placed being cheaper. The slogan of women to-day seemed to be, that if business interfered with the family, then give up the family. While women were in the labour market, they could not care for the family in their spare time; if business was to take the place of homelife for women nothing would be left for ns but to train our boys for house work.

Mrs. Kelso, leader tor the negative, contended that the two worst things in life were to be born poor or a woman. The law and the Church had always been against women, because women did not assert themselves Often, although there had been times''when they had stuck hat pias into jibKcemen. The affirmative had contended that women should rock the cradle, and no doubt they expected them to milk the cows, feed the fowls, etc., at the same time. Women were blamed for most things. If skirts were worn shorty they were blamed for depressing trade. The trouble had started in the Garden of :Eden, when Adam had given a rib and also some of his dignity. Why was the world governed in a one-eyed way? Not until man lined up with women will he see clearlj'l The idea that women could rule alone was wrong, men and women must work together, New Zealand was full of Rip Van Winkles, New Zealand must come into line and recognise that the cure was equal pay for equal work. Miss R. Maclean, who made her debut as a platform speaker,.commented on the old system of giving a dowry with marriageable daughters, comparing it with the merchant who gave a teaspoon with 4ach pound of tea to make it go. The modern girl was trained for typing and other light work in which men were not required. Men should be out on the land, not in light town jobs. Women who had a business training were better fitted to care for and train a family than those who had not. Many great inventors and artists were women. The world was not going back through women coming out into it. The men should get into manly work. After five floor members had spoken and the leading speakers had replied, a vote was taken on the merits of the arguments put up. The negative side gained the verdict. The next debate will be held on the 24th inst. U.A.O.D. At the last meeting of the Whareroa Lodge, U.A.0.D., the following officers were elected for the ensuing half year: A.D., Bro. J. Maclean (re-elected); v!a.’ Bro. L. Howell; secretary, Bro.. G. Mowbray (re-elected); treasurer, Bro. G. Baucke; 1.G., Bro. T. Dowsctt; 0.G., Bro. G. C. Maclean; A.D.B.’s, Sister A. Baucke and Bro. C. Brewer; V.A.D.B.’s, Bros. Richardson and T. Glunie. . , The revised rules of the special medical fund were confirmed. These included a reduction in contributions from members. On the 13th inst. the installation ot officers will take