WOMEN CITIZENS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 October 1926, Page 6

WOMEN CITIZENS.

ADDRESS BY MISS CANDY. There was a large attendance at the meeting of the Timaru Women’s Citizens’ Association when ..Miss Candy M.A., of Canterbury College, gave an address on “The Modern Political Theory.” . Prior to the address a little ordinary business was taken. - Mrs Kemslied, who presided read correspondence from. Dr Chisholm, of ,Queen-; Mary Hospital, Hamner, and from Miss Barr, Lady Principal of the Timaru Girls’ High School, regret,ting their .inability, to. lecture . before the Association this year, owing to lack of time. ' It was decided that the next meeting, of the Association should be the annual mooting, and that it be held in Tea Rooms. ' . Miss Balt, secertary to the Y.M.C.A. Dunedin, briefly addressed the meeting pn the project for the erection of a Girls’ Hostel in Timaru. She stressed the value of such an institution, and appealed for strong support from all sections of the community. There was*need for a girls’ hostel in Timaru; it would be sail-supporting when it was erected, and they wanted to see it built as soon as possible. Miss Candy, who was given a very cordial reception, then spoke for a little more than an hour, on the subject of “The Modern Political Theory.” Dipping into history Miss Candy first took her audience back to medieval times and told of tlio different political movements through which men and women sought to givo expression to their lives in - the fullest way, aiid of the part that the state had played in these movements. Then she dealt with the movements for self-expression in more modern times, showing, in a most interesting manner the changes which, had been brought about by thought, action and experience until society became tip. they knew it to-day. ' Socialism, syndicalism, communism were each explained in detail, with informative side-lights which added to the value of interest of the points made. If the matter were considered calmly, the lecturer said, it would be seen that the socialists had doiie a, lot of good in focussing public’attention on certain outstanding evils’and getting them remedied, in part or in whole, .some system of decentralisation was advocated by ■which the state would' keep less power to itself and place more power in the lands of the individual, or groups of individuals, in order that personality might find fuller and better expression. The state was too far removed from the people and too impersonal to do all that was essential. What they - really needed to-day was a leader, as Sir J ames Allen had said in Christchurch the previous night. In conclusion Miss Candy stressed the value of education as an" agent to lead them onto a higher and bettor state, and invited her

hearers to study the various schools of thought on this all-important question. Most of tlieir troubles she added, came from setting too high a value on materia] things. ■ The conclusion of tho address was ■the signal for hearty applause. A general discussion followed, Miss Candy replying to several questions. On tho motion of Mrs Kemshod, (who described the lecture as clear and lucid), seconded by Miss Ban-, (who said that the lecture had been most 'in- . structive and full of interest), Miss Candy was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. ■ '< ■