EDUCATION WEEK

Southland Times, Issue 25310, 13 June 1935, Page 8

EDUCATION WEEK

ADDRESS TO GIRLS INFLUENCE OF WOMEN’S DIVISION COMMUNITY’ WOftK The influence of women and of the Women’s Division of the Farmers Union on the community was the subject of an interesting address to the girls attending the Educational Week by the Dominion president, Mrs W. HWard, yesterday morning. There was a fair amount of confusion among some people as to what th? Women’s Division really stoqd for Mrs Ward said. The organization was in a sense a chance one, for the women who formed it went to Wellington for a holiday while their husbands attended the farmers’ conference. These women were invited to a tea party, and it was a very clever man who invited those women to the tea party. It might have been very different if they had been invited to a meeting. As the girls knew ten years ago women were afraid of meetings. There was no calling, except perhaps the ministry, where a woman was so closely connected with her husband as was the woman on the farm, Mrs Ward said in dealing with the necessity which had arisen for organization in all walks of life. She urged the girls not to ally themselves with that small and narrow-minded group which considered that the farmers were the only producers. Many other sections of the community were producers also. Widespread Growth.

Returning to the first gathering of women in Wellington, Mrs Ward said that the senior organizer of the Farmers’ Union put a proposal before them, and so came about an organization dedicated to the interests of farming women. Nor did the farmers have an idea that from a small start the Women’s Division would grow to a widespread organization. In the early years there was much work to be done in laying foundations, and the women on the land needed much assistance. There was the problem of securing help for farmers’ wives. It was exceedingly difficult to get servants for farms, and this was a problem which the division was quick to tackle. From the employment of three housekeepers at £2 10/- a week for work on farms, the assistance given had grown yearly until last year £9OO had been spent in sending women to rest homes and £lBOO had been paid out to branches. Books had been distributed in very large numbers so that the farm women need not lack for reading material. Public markets had been set up in the towns in order that goods and foodstuffs might be bought by the farmers and their wives at a nominal figure. The returned soldiers’ sons who attended Flock House became the care of the Young Men’s Christian Association and the Women’s Division. It was always the endeavour of the Women’s Division to try to raise the standard of living of the women of the country. The Farmers’ Union was absolutely non-political and non-sectarian. That did not mean that it did not foster the spirit of religion. The Women’s Division was no more political than any organization which passed remits and sent them on to the Government. Varied Activities. The Women’s Division went in largely for educational things in the branches, and for handcrafts. The d’vision had always extended its help to any woman in need, whether she was a member or not. Keenly interested in all New Zealand organizations established by women for women, the W.D.F.U. also tried to maintain an intelligent interest in international affairs. It was solidly behind the League of Nations. The girls of to-day had a wonderful opportunity, for the previous generation was brought up in a narrower groove, making it difficult for the girls of that generation to think internationally. She was sure thjt if all the women of the world planned for peace they would have peace. She was sure that the day was coming when they would abolish the horrors of war. Women had a wonderful influence in the world, Mrs Ward said. It was a great pity that girls should think that marriage was the “be-all and end-all of life. Girls should learn to stand on their own feet, to cultivate their own individuality, and to make a marriage that was really a marriage. The influence of girls in their own homes was immeasurable. Mrs Ward urged the girls to remember that although the older generation did not in the least begrudge the liberty of to-day, it was most undesirable that this should lead to laxity. The baneful influence of drink would have to be combated, girls ought not only keep their own standard high, but also the standard of those with whom they came into contact. In returning thanks for the address, Mrs J. Stewart, provincial president of the Women’s Division, agreed that a great influence was exercised when the women and girls -of the country maintained high ideals. Visit to Rosedale Mills.

The party of girls was shown over the Rosedale woollen mills yesterday afternoon, the various manufacturing stages being viewed with considerable interest. . This morning the girls will visit the Karitane-Hunt Home, later hearing a talk from Matron Ingold. The morning session will conclude with a talk on “Character and Environment,” by Miss A. Eastwood, principal of the Southland Girls’ High School. At 2.30 p.m. there will be a demonstration on foods by Miss R. Blackie, of the Southland Technical College, while the art instructor of the college, Mr T. H. Jenkin, will later give an address on “Art in the Home.” A visit will be paid to the museum, and in the evening a floral demonstration will.be given by Mrs P. A. Thomson. Later a debate, “That Country Life is Preferable to Town,” will be held. FOLK MUSIC ADDRESS JBY DR BROWN. An interesting address was given at the evening session by Dr Stanley Brown, who spoke about singing and folk music. , Singing was a natural instinct by which we expressed happiness, said Dr Brown. Tire younger we were the more we wanted to sing, and one could get a great deal of real enjoyment from this pastime. To get the utmost pleasure out of singing it was really necessary to know something about the subject. Folk music arose from this natural idea to sing, and came from the heart of the singer without any effort. In the Middle Ages European folk music was carried about from place to place by strolling players who sometimes accompanied their melodies with old-fashioned instruments. The old folk tunes had been put down on paper during the last forty years, and many people had spent a lifetime collecting these airs. Liszt and Brahms, two of the famous classical composers, had realized the value of folk music, while in modem times Edward German and Percy Grainger had employed these airs to their work. It was inter-

esting to note that a great deal of modem music was based oh these torn with the subject of singing, Dr Brown said it was merely modified speech. In singing the first requirement was breathing. Apart altogether from the subject of singing correct breathing was necessary for the maintenance of good health. After giving some hints on voice production, the speaker said the majority of Southlanders pronounced their vowels badly. When singing it was very necessary to pronounce the vowels correctly It was possible to let people know what one was singing about, and this was a fact that was sometimes tork Expression was all important. Richard Tauber’s singing was Really delightful because of his interpretation of the words and music. It did not matter what type of song he presented Laurence Tibbett could be placed m the same category, though he was perhaps guilty of exaggerating a little One’s efforts in this direction shou d not be obvious. The audience should not be conscious of the singer s attempts at correct interpretation. Rhythm also had to be t^ en into account. To-day everything was interpreted in terms of rhythm. Dr. Brown then spoke about the various types of folk music. The people of the Hebrides spent their lives in toil, and had many songs of labour, he said. Thev also possessed a tairy music, being a very superstitious people. One of their songs, the Death Croon,” was very beautiful in spite ot its rather foreboding title. The Irish people had suffered persecutions, and this resulted in a sad type of folk song. This note of sadness .also characterized the Scottish music, although it also possessed warlike qualities. The most interesting folk music was that of the America negros. This dark race bad been transported from their native land and had been ill-treated in every way When this was taken into consideration, remarkable work had been produced. Although these people spoke in broken English, the words of the songs had a majesty possessed by no other folk music in the world. To illustrate this fact, the speaker repeated a verse of “Go’ Down Moses,” a well-known spiritual. The stories of the Old Testament appealed to the negroes who themselves were in captivity. Not till after the emancipation of the slaves were the songs written down. The Jubilee singers had toured America and Great Britain presenting the songs to delighted audiences, and had raised hundreds .of pounds for negro education in America. After referring briefly to sea chanties, Dr. Brown touched upon modern music. Many of the composers to-day were endeavouring to find something new, he said. One man had written a symphony uf noises in a factory, and this effort was typical of some of the music being written at present. To add emphasis to many of his remarks, Dr. Brown sang a Hebrides folk song, a negro spiritual and a Chinese folk song. Messrs Rutherford Brown, R. Wesney, Lex Fraser and K. Kennedy also presented enjoyable part sones. The accompanist, Mr Rutherford Brown, played the “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” On the motion of Mrs Stewart the speaker was accorded a hearty vote bf thanks. __________