A NATIONAL NEED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19961, 20 November 1934, Page 9

A NATIONAL NEED

TOWN AND COUNTRY CO-OPERATION ROTARY CLUB ADDRESSED A scheme to bring about closer cooperation between town and country people to their mutual benefit was outlined by Mrs Allan Gillingham, organiser of the Hospitality Circle of the Fairlie Women’s Institute, in an address entitled “Hospitality—A National Need,” at yesterday’s weekly luncheon of the Timaru Rotary Club. The president (Mr F. I. Washbourn) presided over a large gathering which included representatives of Women’s Institutes, the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, the wives of Rotarians and other visitors the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) and the Mayoress. “We read of the Manufacturers’ Association and the Secondary Industries on one side, and the Farmers’ Union and Primary Producers on the other side, and we see the pity and the waste of it. United, they could do great things, divided we see them working one against the other. From the thought, “What can the W.I. do?” grew the thought, “What can I do?” for to advance, we must start from the individual,” said Mrs Gillingham. “Each individual forms the whole, and only when each one pulls his own weight can our home life, our business life, our civic life or our national life attain to anything other than mediocrity. The Fairlie W.I. Hospitality Circle at present consists of 16 members. Each member is active in that she offers personal hospitality in her own home, or she will let a furnished cottage or rooms for the holidays, or she is merely the organiser of it all, as I am.”

The movement did not wish to compete with hotels, but catered at reasonable rates for those would not otherwise have a holiday—and especially for women and children. Nor did they compete with house agents, because the majority of people, who had given their homes to let had given them to help the scheme, and had not previously thought of letting them. As far as terms were concerned, these varied according to requirements, and this must be so. We are going to have as a standard rate the terms quoted by the Youth Hostel Association in Great Britain. This would be a standard price for those who were willing to live as members of the family with no extra attention, and to be responsible for the doing of their own rooms. If greater comfort and a higher standard of living v ere required, it could be given them at higher rates. If any found it difficult to pay standard rates it would be possible to make other arrangements. The speaker had spoken to several townspeople about the standard rates, and the* higher rates. They thought them very reasonable from the town’s as well as from the country’s point of view. “The first, and primary aim, of this Hospitality Scheme is to make possible that personal contact between townspeople and country people which will increase the mutual knowledge and understanding necessary for cooperation. The carrying out of this primary c’.m will bring other advantages. The Scheme will bring more life and brightness into the countryside; it will increase the social usefulness of country women and lessen their isolation; it will bring added health and happiness to the townspeople. Our King has said recently that open spaces are as necessary to health of body as onen librr "*ies are to health of mind. Do you not think that open spaces are most healing to body, mind and spirit, and that in the hurry and bustle of modern days quietness is sometimes needed to prevent our sense of values from becoming distorted? Secondly, organised hospitality will encourage New Zealanders to see more of their own country. Other centres are watching us and waiting to see the result. Fairlie is pioneering a path, not for her- , self alone, but that others may follow in her footsteps. “Are public spirit and civic and private enterprise alive in Timaru? If they are your town is growing greater, more popular and more beautiful every year. If they are not what is each individual going to do about it? Did Timaru not at one time rank as fifth town in New Zealand? The country centres look upon ? Timaru as their chief town. As these brancnes prosper, they add beauty and strength to their main trunk, Timaru. When Timaru, working in with her country districts, can count as her own not only beautiful Caroline Bay, but the mountains, fresh air and sunshine records of the Fairlie district; the native bush around Waimate and Geraldine, the joys of Temuka fishing and numerous other attractions these outer districts, as well as Timaru itself, can offer, then will Timaru get that greater growth and wide recognition so necessary for expansion. Timaru is beautifully situated. This Hospitality Scheme will help her to make the most of her environment. Timaru in giving assistance to this scheme will gain both directly and indirectly as the Scheme grows.

Third, organised personal hospitality will provide added incentive for overseas people to visit this country. This scheme will cater for all, irrespective of creed, or race or birth. It is becoming more and more necessary that the white and the coloured races should live together in harmony. We must train ourselves not to look merely skin deep. This calls for the highest qualities, humility, knowledge and understanding. It was hoped, said Mrs Gillingham, that the Rotary clubs, in co-operation with the Women Institutes would, with enterprise and vision, be responsible for the bringing of hundreds of visitors to the country. It was suggested that typed particulars be sent to every Women’s Institute and to every Rotary Club in New Zealand, with a request that members be encouraged to support this scheme. To sum up—organised hospitality would (1) bring town and country, and all sections of the community into closer touch with one another; (2) encourage New Zealanders to see more of their own country; (3) provide an added incentive for overseas visitors to come to New Zealand: (4) be a real power in promoting national and international peace and goodwill. This scheme was not just theory. It was actually working and working \vell. “As I said before we are pioneering a path that others may follow—so the sooner we are successful and more than successful—the better. Then will New Zealand recognise that organised personal hospitality is a national need,” concluded the speaker. Scheme Praised. Mr W. Thomas, in moving a vote of thanks to Mrs Gillingham lor her address, said that he had listened with joy to the address. In his opinion the Women’s Institute was one of the finest educational institutes in this country so f-r as education for leisure was concerned. The Women’s Institute and jfroba’ 'y the Drama League had done more, so far as leisure education

in New Zealand was concerned, than all the schools put together. He was sure that if the Rotary Club could do anything to further the scheme it would only be too willing to help. The time had arrived, he thought, when we should think more of the community as a whole, and Mrs Gillingham had struck a very happy note when she rooted her scheme in the national life. The Mayor said that the scheme appealed to hin as offering closer cooperation between town and country people to their mutual benefit and it should engender friendships which would bring about reciprocity in the matter of visiting. On behalf of the citizens of Timaru he congratulated Mrs Gillingham on the scheme and wished it very success. Mrs A. G. Macdonald, a member of the Dominion Executive of Women’s Institutes, supported the scheme outlined by Mrs Gillingham, and said she hoped that it would receive the support it deserved. Mrs E. J. LeCren, on behalf of the South Canterbury Women’s Club, said she felt sure that her organisation would be only too pleased tu* give any possible support in furthering the scheme. Mrs Gillingham was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation.