Y.W.C.A. IN MADRAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 5

Y.W.C.A. IN MADRAS

MANY YEARS OF WORK MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS "Indian parents arcs realising that an educated daughter is an asset whereas before she was rather a liability," said Miss Hutli Cowdrey, general secretary of the Y.A\ .(J.A. in Madras who has been visiting New Zealand on furlough. Miss Cowdrey left last night by the Niagara for Australia. She will continue her return journey to India by the Strathnaver. Describing tho Y.W.C.A. movement in Madras, Miss Cowdrey said that it was one of the oldest established organisations in the city, founded over 50 years ago. The buildings were erected in one of the most spacious and picturesque compounds in the city, covering an area of over 10 acres, with magnificent columned buildings surrounded by wide gardens and playing lields and possessing a large lotus pool remarkable for its si/.e anil beauty even in India. Now that Indian women had begun to take a definite interest in social and public affairs tliov were advancing with a steady rapidity. Although business careers for women were still considered "not quite the thing," education for women and young girls was becoming an ordinary and natural part of the daily life. Very few women as yet had entered ordinary business positions in ollices or shops but the number of women medical students and women doctors was increasing steadily. Possessing several medical and educational colleges and a number of growing organisations, Madras was probably the most cultured city in India. People there seemed to have a greater interest in education than in the North. The work of the Y.W.C.A. in Madras was mainly recreational, although assistance was given to other business training organisations. Jhe association possessed two excellent hostels, one for Anglo-Indian members and one for Indian members. There were verv few European members. The membership of the association was about 300, controlled by a staff as nearly international as possible. The Indian women were very fond of snort and made excellent tennis players. Tennig in fact, was their main form of recreation, with net ball and badminton almost as popular.