HISTORY AND A REVIEW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 32

HISTORY AND A REVIEW.

A comprehensive history and review of the Women’s Section was given by Mrs G*. P. Hainsworth, the hon. organising secretary, and Mrs J. H. Ewing, acting chairwoman of the literature committee, each of whom supply the views of those whom they represent upon the various phases of the work and achievements in the section during the past months. “The practicability and the possibility of organising a Women’s Section at the Exhibition was a much discussed subject long before it was finally inaugurated,” said Mrs Hainsworth. “The cost of the fitting up and upkeep of such a section was a matter for earnest consideration. 'Towever it was finally decided that tho Exhibition would be quite incomplete without a court entirely representative of women’s work. A strong, influential executive committee of ladies was formed, and set to work with the greatest enthusiasm, imbued with the determination to manage the section in such away as to bring credit and renown to wbmanhood generally. In doing this theiT desire was to be quite independent of the Exhibition Company for the necessary funds; in fact they thought it would be a great achievement to be able to hand over to the directors of tho Exhibition Company a substantial balance, to show some of the more sceptical ones, that women could really do things well and in a business-like manner. “An ‘At Home’ was held at the Women’s Club and ladies in Dunedin who, it was thought would he interested in the scheme, were invited. The aim and object of tho project was explained to them, and their practical assistance solicited. The response was a notable one, and much' of the success of the section is due to those ladies who gave their donations so spontaneously and willingly. We had in our president, Mrs J. Sutherland Ross, a woman of great tact and diplomacy keenly interested in the wiork, and who steered us successfully through many difficult situations. It has been a source of very great regret and sorrow to us all that she was laid aside through illness, so soon after the Exhibition opened. We had, however, in Lady Ferguson a very worthy second in command. who has not spared herself one bit in carrying on the good work. “The first step we took was to appoint our secretary, Miss Jean Begg, who has worked most assiduously for the good of the section, and throughout the course of the Exhibition lias made the section a centre of interest to all visitors to the Exhibition, both male and female. Our text step was t- start out on our propaganda campaign. A prospectus was compiled, which laid down the lines on which we were going to work. This prospectus also gave a classification of the exhibits we desired to have, together with the rules and regulations governing the section. “These prospectuses were distributed far and wide, not only throughout New Zealand but all over the world. The response to this work was very encouraging, the correspondence and applications to havo work displayed came in thick and fast, and it was very soon quite evident that the section was going to be oite of the great successes of the Exhibition. Over and above the heavy work in the office we still had to carry on our financial campaign. A grand poster and fancy dress ball was held, which realised the most gratifying amount of over £SCQ. Many ladies interested themselves in iumble sales, bridge parties, small dances, and quite recently the Executive Committee, along with others, organised another poster and fancy dress ball, which augmented our funds very considerably, and made our financial position absolutely sound. After paving all our liabilities, for erections, lighting, decorations, insurances, cia6s cases, secretaries salaries, etc., we will still have quito a substantial balance in hand. • “I have seen many similar courts with work at Home, and I can truly say that the work of the New Zealand women as displayed in our Women’s Section here is certainly quite equal to anything I have seen at Home, and reflects great credit on the women of New Zealand, as I understand instruction in the various arts and crafts is not easy to obtain. The exhibits in every section are of a very high standard, and have held their own under the most severe criticism. I am pleased to say that the number of sales executed have been very encouraging both to exhibitors and those in charge of the section, and the public have evinced a great desire for only the best pieces of work. “J look on the Women’s Section as having been a great community effort on the part of the women of New Zealand.” A WORTHY ACHIEVEMENT (By Mrs R. A. Ewing, Acting-chairwoman of the Women’s Section Literary Committee.) “In the first place I am a woman, and in the second an artist.—l’auline Viardot (1800-83). The many thousands of keenly-interested men, women, and children who have passed through that portion of the Exhibition known as the Women’s Section, have given repeated evidences of their appreciation of the work done by those women who realised the true value of*Momen’s work and activities. Great credit is due to the president, Mrs J. Sutherland Ross, and this fine band of women for their far-sighted vision of the scope of the work, and for their able planning of the section itself, which has been so successfully carried out by Dunedin women. These women, by their own efforts, raised all necessary fuuds, and with months of untiring work carried through this great undertaking,

the outcome of which has bceu an exhibition complete in itself. Many women, from the highest in the land—her Gracious Majesty —to the little girl of four years, the aged one over 90 years, and • the schoolgirl, have all contributed. There has been, not only a permanent collection of work, but during the whole period of the Exhibition constant changes, thus giving great variety to the display. Handiwork of interest to every woman, and to a great many men, has been shown. Competitions in plain and in art needlework, in knitting crochet,' and lace, in making toys, in raffia, cane, and leather work, and in many other arts, were arranged, and most successfully carried out. The entries for these competitions far exceeded all expectations. The working exhibits were of especial interest, and amongst these the oldfashioned spinning wheel was a revelation to many a visitor. The children especially came to see— How she seeketh the wool and the flax, and worketh with gladness. How she layeth her hand to the spindle and holdeth the distaff. The weaving by hand loom proved of equal interest, both spinning and weaving being an education to young and old. The potter’s wheel also had a place in the working exhibits, and more unique still the process of bookbinding by hand, an art in which women especially may excel. Amongst the permanent exhibits great interest centred round the case containing a small embroidered box and a crochet cover made by her Majesty, and sent out as a token of her personal interest in the Exhibition. The proceeds of the sale of this cover are to be devoted to the Nurses’ Memorial Fund. In the fine arts section the collection of etchings, paintings, engravings, ntinatures, drawings, etc., would have held a high place in any Exhibition. In the applied arts there were wonderful examples of toy-making, basket-work, raffia work, and designing. Woman’s ingenuity in this section was most apparent, especially in the novel use of pine needles in the making of a basket, as well as the humble tussock grass. In the arts crafts, which included inetn! work, enamels, jewellety, leather work, wood work, pottery, bookbinding, illuminating and lettering, etc*, were many very fine specimens making a collection of great interest not to women only, but to those who examined the cases which were so well arranged and carefully cared for. New Zealand women’s achievements in the literary world were exemplified in the display of published works arranged in u special bookcase. A number of our New Zealand women have taken an honoured place in literature, with such writers as Katharine Mansfield, Jane Mander, Alien, Edith Howes. I!. E. I’aughan, Jessie Maokay. and others. Interesting lectures and demonstrations on various subjects were a feature of the Women's Section. The lecture room, however. proved much too small to accommodate all those who came to hear these lectures. In the arched portion of the section was placed a loan collection, a unique collection of antiques, old jewellery, and treasures of many kinds. This was a place in which to linger. Memories came like glimpses of forgotten dreams, and to the older generations many old-time happenings must have been recalled —here, by a piece of an old dinner service; there, by an old sample laboriously worked by childish fingers, in the days wher e there was time to spare, or perhaps by a piece of jewellery cherished from generation to generation. What a lesson to be learned by the ohil dren of to-day, whose • reverence for old things is often lacking! It is to be hoped that the eolleetion from past days, so generously lent, may have taught us nil the value of old things as well as the pride there may be in the possession of such things. The Women's Section lias shovn to all the value of womans’ work, and that to every woman in these days is given the opportunity “to taste the joy that springs from labour.” The organising of this exceptional section. the designing, planning, anil financing was an achievement by women unique in the history of exhibitions and “That which they have done but earnest of the things that they shall do.”