Mrs. Eleanor Barton, J.P., At Feilding

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 3

Mrs. Eleanor Barton, J.P., At Feilding

There was a large attendance of ladies at the Oddfellows ’ Hall on Thursday afternoon to hear Mrs. E. Barton, J.P., of Sheffield, England, deliver an address on “Mothers of To-day and To-morrow.” Largo bowls of dahlias and gladioli, and tall vases of slender, gaily hued asters, had transformed the sombrcncss of the hall into a bright, colourful setting, and the comfortable seating arrangements left nothing to be desired as far as the ease and weXbeing of the audience was concerned. Mrs. T. Collins (Mayoress) chaired the gathering and in welcoming her Mrs. Petty spoke of the sterling qualities of womanliness possessed by the chairman.

In welcoming Mrs. Barton into our midst, Mrs. Collins, in a brief but apt speech, outlined some of Mrs. Barton’s activities, and when Mrs. Barton rose to speak she was greeted with a round of hearty applause. In the course of her address Mrs. Barton said: *1 have head so much of the pioneers, women pioneers, of New Zealand since coming to your shores. Our pioneer women have suffered prejudice and opposition to follow their inspiration. There was Elizabeth Fry who worked to bring the idea that prisoners had minds and could be helped, they were our weaker brethren and we should not ignore them. Josephine Butler had met mountains of prejudice and opposition in her work to help her weaker sisters. Florence Nightingale had met with the same over her work in the nursing. There was Margaret. MacMillan of whose work she could speak as a friend from personal experience. Margaret MacMillan started first by a campaign to have the school child fed, because she felt that only ’i that way could it be effectively taught. She went on from there to medical inspection in schools and finally found her life’s work in nursery schools. Mrs. Barton recalled the sort of work young children were called on to do in her early school days—fine sewing and fancy needlework —which tried the child’s eyes and cramped its body. Margaret MacMillan realised that before the child’s brain could develop it must have free bodily movement and Mrs. Barton appealed to the meeting never to let their minds become cramped, but to welcome and discuss new ideas. Margaret MacMillan found her ideas of freedom were considered foolish and herself fanatical, but most so-

called fanatical people have been the pioneers of the ideas we welcome to-day. Margaret MacMillan started a nursery school in a London slum—Deptford—where the children were taught cleanliness and given fresh air lessons and sleep, and now nursery schools are recognised as a part ot English education.

Mrs. Barton went on to doscribe the beginning of the Women’s Co-operative Guild, of which she had been secretary for the last 16 years. For 80 years before the guild secretaries had been Miss Llewellyn Davies and Miss Lilian Harris. Tho guild was started to get the “Woman with the Basket” interested in other things outside the four walls of her home, and Mrs. Barton vividly described the gradual growth of the guild and the way co-operative women gradually became members of committees aud the management committees of societies, and so forth to municipalities. The guild was one of the greatest lighters for votes for women apart from property qualifications and again Mrs. Barton described the sort of opposition they encountered. So these women have worked to give us the foundations of our present freedoms. The Townswomen’s Guild Avas founded on similar lines much more recently, but the Co-operative Guild has much Avider interests. They watch legislation closely and keep in touch with their M.P’s. on education, housing, aud Avomen’s questions, etc. Their importance is uoav recognised and many members of the Women’s Co-operative Guild are noAV on different Government Committees and Royal Commissions. Mrs. Barton herself has been a member of several of these. This recognition is due to the w-ork of the guilds, which is to fit women for equality with their men, because they believe that most questions cannot be settled by men alone or women alone, but by both working together.

One of these committees is on Child Delinquency, Avhich had increased so tremendously owing to the slump and relaxation of home -discipline. The first idea of the Magistrate to deal with this force—the birch—but the Co-operative Guild raised such an outcry against this form of punishment that it Avas obolished. Another committee is on “Cost of Living” Avhich originally Avas to consist of trade unionists and employers, which the guild insisted should be augmented by housewives. Then there is

“Nutrition” which every country is considering just now, and of this committee Mrs. Barton is herself a member. »She paid a high tribute to the “Milk in Schools” scheme as it now operates in some parts of NeAv Zealand.

“What I feel,” said Mrs. Barton, “is that in the Co-operative Movement we have a place where men and women can Avork together for their joint progress. There is in it something much more than shop-keeping; it is a movement of upliftmen t, building a neAv system. Competition has caused many evils, but times are changing in very many ways, and the new Avorld can be built by working together, by co-operation, and here wo can build up an organisation that can reach across the sea and build up a sisterhood that can bring peace and co-operation to the world.” Mrs. P. G. Guy proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker which Avas seconded by Mrs. Cantlon, Palmerston North. Mrs. W. H. Pago proposed a oto of thanks to the chairman, seconded by Mrs. P. T{. (Simpson, and Mrs. Neiderer, Palmerston North, a vote of thanks to the convenor and hostesses, which Mrs. Laurie Hunter seconded. A hand-posy in autumn shades was presented to Mrs. Barton by the Mayoress, and Mrs. E. Petty presented a shoulder spray to Mrs. Collin', the floral Avork being made by Mrs. T. 7 icks. Mrs. Ken Cameron delighted all with her A'ocal items, and Miss Pam Stichbury charmed all with her two elocutionary items. Miss Winnie Huddleston tap danced with her usual ability, and responded to an insistent encore. The accompanists for the afternoon were Mrs. Ernest Petty, Mrs. P. K. Simpson

and Mrs. Ivcn Cameron. Afternoon tea Avas served by Mesdamcs Petty, Lee, Campbell, Boyd, MacDonald, Frank Watson, Wilton, Cumings, Noble and others, and a collection was taken up to defray expenses, the generous gi\'ing speaking volumes for the appreciation of the function. There was a fair attendance at the night meeting and Mrs. Barton’s talk was on the < 1 Co-operative Movement in Great Britain.” Mr. von secretary of the N.Z. Co-operati\ r e Movement, spoke at length on the “Cooperative Movement in New Zealand” and at the conclusion of his address a resolution was passed by the meeting that a Co-operative Society be formed in Feilding. A provisional committee was set up, and their first meeting will be held in the W.D.F.U. rooms on ThAivsdav, March 17, at S p.m., to which all who are interested in the Co-opera-ti\re Movement are invited to attend.