COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 253, 23 September 1936, Page 12

COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

MANAWATU BRANCH. ADDRESS BY MRS H. PATERSON. Miss C. McKenny (Pahiatua) presided over the monthly meeting of the Manawatu branch or' the National Council of Women, which was held in the Y'.W.C.A. assembly hall on Monday afternoon. The meeting was open to,all members of affiliated societies, the speaker being Mrs H. Paterson, of Pahiatua, who headed the New Zealand delegation to the triennial conference of the Associated Country Women of the World, at Washington, D.C. Miss McKenny welcomed back Mrs Paterson. At the outset, Mrs Paterson stressed the link of the Associated Country Women of the World, with the International Council of Women, as it was the outcome of a decision made at a conference of the latter body that the great rural women's organisation had come into being. The Marchioness ol Aberdeen and Temair, who was the president of the International Council of Women, was also the honorary president of the associated group, which gave a further contact. As a result of this organisation Mrs Paterson contended that country women had brought a wonderful new power into the world, creating and fostering the wave task of mobilising a universal wave of peace in the hearts and minds of the people of every land. It might be wondered why so much emphasis was being placed on the country women. It was not so far distant since she had been more or less isolated and comparitively recently that she had had the opportunity to raise her voice on her own behalf. With modern facilities the country women weru now enabled to come together and speak with no uncertain voice.

With regard to the conference, Mrs Paterson said she had been trying to put her observations into sections. First, there was the wonderful setting provided by the beautiful city oi Washington. The international aspect, however, was the most important of the gathering when it was realised there were delegates from 23 countries from all corners of the globe. No one had come to uphold their own country or particular organisation, but the idea in the back of all minds was international goodwill. It had been an inspiring experience to find that the women of different nationalities were aspiring to the same high ideals. Mrs Paterson spoke of the reports from the world’s organisations which had been very enlightening, and quoted extracts to show that from all sources the ideal was to raise the standard of home-making and home life in the rural districts. Prompting women the world over was the love of home, ot country, and of God, Mrs Paterson said in conclusion. Thanks to Mrs Paterson were conveyed by Mrs D. Simpson and endorsed by Miss McKenny. Considerable correspondence was before the meeting, dealing with the findings of different groups following investigation of such matters as lions ing, the work of vocational guidance and employment of girls; the working of the Borstal system in New Zealand and Great Britain, and other important subjects. Through the efforts of the Auckland branch, it was shown that payments to prisoners would now be made from the completion of the first month instead of from the third month as previously, thus preventing dependants being left penniless and a charge on charity. It was revealed that the Christchurch branch was going into the question of the pensions of the widows of civil servants, it being felt that the civil service widows should not be penalised by having the amount of the widow’s allowance for which their husbands have contributed, deducted from the widow’s pension.