Y.W.C.A. “At Home” for Miss Jean Stevenson

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 157, 5 July 1945, Page 3

Y.W.C.A. “At Home” for Miss Jean Stevenson

The first 4 'At Home” for Aliss Jean Stevenson, former National General Secretary of the Now Zealand Y.W.C.A., who is visiting the Palmerston North Association was held in the Central Club yesterday when there was an excellent attendance of members and friends. Airs. C. A. Small, chairman of the Board, presided and offered a general welcome presenting the guest speaker with a shoulder spray. Introducing Aliss Stevenson Airs. Small said she had been responsible for the foundation of most of the Y.W.C.A. ’s m New Zealand. She had retired feeling she had done her job but war conditions caught her up and in response to urgent requests from Miss Jean Begg, had undertaken relieving work in India.

Miss Stevenson said she felt it a compliment that busy women with all their household, public and family duties should turn out to welcome one of “the lilies of the field.” Px-oceeding to give an account of her experiences over the past six or seven years she said she had learned there were two ways of travelling.—As a tourist and as one of the Y.W.C.A. workers. Frankly, she preferred the latter, proceeding to show that the introduction of the Y.W.C.A. had opened the way to all sorts of experiences. Visiting the Dutch East Indies, at Bali, she had seen all sorts of wonders but had never got near the people. Leaving for Java she had gazed wistfully at the evidence of public work at houses behind walls wondering what the life of the people was like but did not find out. Armed with an invitation from the Y.W.C.A. she had stayed with all kinds of people in at least 12 places in Java which had been a delightful memory. Aliss Stevenson gave fascinating glimpses of life in the Alalay States and in various parts of India, on the lines of an interview in the “Times” yesterday. In conclusion Miss Stevenson stressed the need to interest the women of India in the building up of their country and to the realisation that they must make a contribution. They were wonderful in their family units and loyalties. Aluch could be done by the professional women contributing through their standing to the care and concern for others. Against the 12 per cent of people who were literate —four per cent being women—there was a terrific mass of ignorance. What had been done was so little to what had to be done but a sense of responsibility to others must be brought to that small educated group. Airs. AI. Pearce entertained with delightful vocal solos accompanied by Aliss E. Eyre and Mrs. Small thanked Miss Stevenson and the entertainers.