Women's Influence

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 111, 24 September 1930, Page 2

Women's Influence

■IN PUBLIC AN® NATIONAL ■ AFFAIB. MISS E. M. MOORE’S ADDRESS. A lecture ,of extreme interest, and . ope that rathe/ upset mere man’s cherished regard of woman as 4>eing the weaker, or fair sex, was delivered to members of the Waipukurau branch of the Worker’s Educational MIB3HC3W nor t Moore, at the Masonic Hall last night. Miss Moore was one 'Australian delegates to the Pan--Paetfie Conference just concluded at Honolulu, and he? lecture yWomep’s /nflirence ; in ; Public lAffkirs,” 1 had -special reference to the conference.

In her address Miss Moore certainly Spelled aHpllds|diih*about the supposed weakness of woman, and their place being in the home, when she related what women had done in public affairs in both ancient and modern times, and proved that they were fitted both physically and mentally to assume responsible public offices, with credit.

His Worship the Mayor, Mr R. McLean, presided, and in his introductory remarks said that he would have liked to have seen a larger attendance, but that perhaps was unfortunately unavoidable, by reason of the fact that Waipukurau and district was in the throes of a political by-election. Everyone was following it with interest, and besides this fact there was a number of counter attractions. However, His Worship continued, if there was not “quantity” present, he was sure that there was most certainly “quality,” and he felt sure that the members would follow Miss Moore in her address with the greatest of interest. Miss Moore was thoroughly conversant with her subject, and as the audience was no doubt aware, had attended three International Women’s Conferences, and had been a delegate to the recent Pan-Pacific Conference, held at Honolulu. The chairman then referred to Miss Moore, who in coming forward to deliver her address was greeted with applause.

The Lecture.

The lecture might well have a sub-title, said Miss Moore in opening, "The Influence of Public Life on Women.” It was remarked at the recent Conference, that the delegates looked remarkably youthful, even though many of them were mothers of grown-up families, and several were grandmothers, and that from this aspect alone, the entry of woment into public - affairs might be justified, since a wider range of interest helps to keep mind and body fresh, young, and vigorous.

On landing at Honolulu, and leaving the seaside towns and going into the hills, everyone is struck with the beauty, and orderly surroundings of the city, the avenues of beautifully coloured flowering trees, the pleasing absence of advertisements posters. This has been the work of a body of women called "The Outdoor Circle,” who have devoted themselves to the planting of beautiful trees and the clearing away of eyesores, with the happy results which have now become famous.

Speaking of modern times Miss Moore said it was very interesting to consider the historic meeting of women in Holland in 1915, when representatives from warring and neutral nations met to consider whether they could do ahything to shorten the war, or if not, whether they could help with suggestions for a just settlement when the war should end. Their findings were carried personally to official centres, and were received seriously and courteously and listened to patiently. At the time, however, they seemed to have no effect. Three years later, the leader of those women, Miss Jane Adams, again met*a very prominent statesman, the late Woodrow Wilson, a former president of the United States of America. He drew from his pocket a much thumbed document, and said “Do you know what this is?” It was a copy of the findings of the women’s conference, and the President went on to say that he had studied them thoroughly, and found them the best formulation of international principle he had come across. Several of them were embodied.in the famous "fourteen points,” and a striking instance of effective influence of women in public affairs.

The influence of women in public affairs is an old tradition in Hawaii, whose queens in the days of the monarchy exercised great power, and broke down many of the tabus. It was through the moral courage of Kapiolani, one of the queens, in defying the goddess of fire at the very mouth of the crater, that the

worship of that cruel deity was abandoned, and the god of kindly courage adopted instead. A tremendous revolution in the religious superstitions of the people, brought about by the moral courage of a woman.

Looking back over the course of English history, back to old Roman and Greek times, back to old Bible times, many great examples may be cited to show that the entrance of women into public affairs is not a modern freak, but is the welling up of a strong natural impulse which has been inherent in the race ever since it was human. It is objected sometimes that these great women were, and are exceptional. That is true; so are great men exceptional, but both set a standard towards which lesser people do well to move. The criticism that the home is likely to suffer when women go out into public life must be considered. It is usual to speak of the home as the foundation of national life, but that is hardly true, for what we know as home life, is a fruit of civilisation, not its root. Primitive nomadic tribes know nothing of home life, and it is in the oldest civilisations, such as those of China and Japan, it is found that the home and the family, are developed almost to the point of a religious cult. At the Pan-Pacific Women’s Conference every one of the delegates was in some sense a specialist in some form of public service, and three-fifths of the time of the Conference in all sections was given to questions concerning the well-being of infants and children, from the pre-natal period to adolescence. These used to be classed as matters entirely for the home, but it has been found they are matters for specialised study, and that the woman who is a trained scientist can bring about surprising improvements in home conditions. It was found at the Conference that in several of the countries where the death rate was high among infants, the obstacle to better conditions was the grandmother, persistent in traditional unhygienic ways. The whole trend of modern life is the separation of the child more and more from the mother, for its own good and hers. Even tiny babies are found to thrive better when put in cots apart, and the creches, nursery schools, and kindergartens, together with the infant welfare centres, have kindergartens, and these with the infant welfare centres, have brought about healthier and happier conditions for the homes which are able to take advantage of them. This of course means that in those homes the mothers have more time, more freedom, more energy, and they can use some of this in taking an inter-;

est in wider affairs. By the time a women reaches middle-age, her children are grown-up and have no more need of her constant supervision. She can then use the twenty-five or thirty years which remain for public usefulness; a period of life which seems

to have been provided by nature especially for that purpose. The question was raised at the Conference, what has woman suffrage accompolished, in those countries where it has been in operation for a considerable time? In 1905 a list was drawn up in Sydney of twenty-six reforms which were then considered desirable, and which it was hoped that woman suffrage might help to bring about. It is interesting to note that all except two have been achieved, either wholly or in part. Woman in public life is favourable to improved social legislation. The two reforms which remain to be brought about are better management of public finance, and settlement of international disputes by arbitration instead of war. With regard to world peace, women are seeing more and more that they must make this their special concern. When, as the outcome of the PanPacific Women’s Conferencee of 191 0 a continuing organisation was formed called The Pan-Pacific Wo-m-m’s Association, its first object was stated to be "To strengthen the bonds of peace among Pacific Peoples.” Women, however warlike in sentiment they sometimes are, through education and training, never go out in numbers to fight with other women, such action is entirely contrary to their nature, and the more independent they become, the more they s are encouraged to make their contribution to public affairs fearlessly and directly from their own minds, the more will public life tend to be like the best homes, a place where both sexes meet on terms of equality. No country which does less than that for all its citizens can fairly be called civilised, and civilisation of that kind cannot be established until women have their full share of influence in the management of affairs.

A number of interesting views -•"/of Honolulu, depicting the wonderful natural scenery, and the beautifully laid-out streets and parks, were shown after the lecture, w r hich added a further interest to the address. At the conclusion, Miss Moore was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, which was carried unanimously.

“Sensation in a Restaurant'” That was the heading of a news item in * recent issue of the ‘ ‘ Sunday Chronicle.” It relates how a smart “girl of the period” after finishing dinner at the fashionable London restaurant, produced a small briar from her handbag, filled, lit up, and, leaning back, proceeded to smoke with evident gusto. Diners at adjoining tables stared open-mouthed. Apropos of this the “Chronicle” states that many big departmental stores now feature “pipes for women.” Well, why not? As the paper says: “It’s alright so long as the tobacco’s alright.” Quite. But unfortunately most imported brands are all wrong. Choked with nicotine. The right brands are the Toasted New Zealand. Scarcely any nicotine in rhem. You see they are toasted. The toasting kills the nicotine. And how good they are! Only four brands —Riverhead Gold, Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3, and Cut Plug No. 10. They are all famous for flavour and aroma, and are all saf9~ to smoke to any extent. But of course there are imitations!* 124