WOMAN'S WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD

FIRST THINGS FIRST AMERICAN VOTERS' LEAGUE The recent announcement that women voters in America now outnumber men by 579,137 is of particular interest when considered in relation to the growing strength and importance of the American League of Women Voters. Information on this very active organisation was supplied by Mrs Sydney Greenbie when interviewed soon after her arrival from America en route to the American Embassy in Wellington with her husband, the newly-appointed chiejr of the Office of War Information for New Zealand. Mrs Greenbie takes an active part in many women's organisations, of which-the League of Women Voters is, perhaps, the most interesting. The league, which now has branches all over America, came into existence in 1918 for the purpose, not only of encouraging women to take an intelligent interest in local and national politics, but also of helping them to acquire a definite first-hand knowledge of the subjects and public affairs under discussion. When a branch is formed the members divide _ themselves into groups, each specialising in the study of some particular aspect of local or national political life. One group will concentrate on housing, others on town planning, social questions, foreign policy and so on. Members gravitate naturally to the group which interests and appeals to them most.

Mrs Roosevelt's Interest "One of the first and most enthusiastic supporters of the league was Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt, who joined the. original New York branch," said Mrs Greenbie. "In fact, Mrs Roosevelt declares that it is to the league she owes all her first political training, which was to stand her in such good stead in after years as the wife of the President. One of her favourite maxims is, 'lf you want to know all about a thing, go and see it for yourself,' and this is precisely what the leaguo tries to do. "For instance, the housing group in the branch of which I was a member wanted to find out all about conditions in a certain part of the city. So we hired a bus and went round to see the housing conditions for ourselves. That p;ave us first-hand knowledge and defin- ; ite facts to go on. Again, the group studying foreign policy has an excellent clipping system. Cuttings are made from all the most reliable newspapers reporting what the leading politicians are saying in regard to important publw affairs, whether local, national or international. Similarly, reports on the national and international views of the outstanding politicians in the chief countries of the world are filed for study and comparison."

Sound Practical Knowledge In this way each group gradually acquires a valuable and comprehensive knowledge of the subject it has elected io study. Once a month all the groups meet and present reports on their various findings, and thus a sound practical knowledge of public affairs is built up. When elections come along the women have definite views and facts about all sorts of important questions, they know why and for whom they want to vote, and can make their influence felt. Asked whether the league approximated in any way to the British Women to Westminster and its sister movements in New Zealand and Australia, Mrs Greenbie expressed keen interest in this development and wanted to know more about it. But the American League, she said, does riot pretend to train women aspirants for Parliamentary honours. It does, however, set out to provide, what is fundamentally even more important, the necessary preliminary spade work, by training and educating women politically so that from among them the women politicians of the future maj in all probability arise.

AFTERNOON WEDDING McNAUGHT—FLYGER St. David's Presbyterian Church was the scene of the wedding on Saturday afternoon of Miss Esma Slay Flyger, only daughter of Mr and Mrs E. L. Flyger, of Surrey Crescent, Auckland, and Mr Horace John McNaught, only son of Mr and Mrs J. W. McNaught, of Wellington. The Rev. W. Bower Black officiated. During the signing of the register the solo "My Prayer" was sung by Corporal Zoe Moore, W.A.A.F. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a graceful gown of white georgette and silver lace. Her tulle veil, which was worn over the face, was caught to her head by a coronet of orange blossom, and she carried a bouquet of white orchids, stocks and freesias. The bridesmaid, Miss Eileen Feek, and the matron of honour, Mrs Trixie Pamplin, both wore frocks of powderblue angelskin and topknots of shaded anemones to match their bouquets. The tfcst man was Corporal Athol Armstrong and the groomsman Pilot-Officer Alan Flyger, both of the Jt.N.Z.A.F. The reception afterward was held at the Mount Eden Tea Kiosk. TE PAPAPA REUNION The 15th annual reunion ball of the Te Papapa Old Pupils' Association, which was held in Fergusson Hall, Morrilands, was well attended, many of the guests being servicemen on furlough. Several first-day pupils were also present, and all were welcomed by the president, Mr F. Gilchrist, who mentioned that the school roll of honour numbered 92, of whom 11 had sacrificed their lives. ENGAGEMENTS Hyde—Goodall.—The engagement is announced between Warrant-Officer E. A. M. Hyde. R.N.Z.A.F., younger son of Mr and Mrs G. Hyde, Broadwood, Hokianga, and Olive Adelaide (Jan), youngest daughter of Mrs L. Goodall and the late Mr G. Goodall, of Whitiora, Hamilton. Mahoiiey—Colson.—The engagement is announced between Douglas E. Mahoney, son of Mr E. A. Mahoney, Thames, and Carol Joan Colson, daughter of Mrs H. Blundell and the late Mr W. Colson. of Taranaki. Smith—Nesbitt. —The engagement is announced between Noel Kenneth, youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. A. Smith, Napier Road, Palmerston North, and Betty''Anita, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Nesbitt, Oneroa. "Waihekc Island, Auckland. Spanhake—Rule.—The engagement is announced between Pilot-Ofßcer Harvey Rex Spanhake, second son of Mr and Mrs V. H. Spanhake, Kaingaroa. and Dawn Winnifred, second daughter of Mr and Mrs H. H. Rule. Kaitaia.