WELLINGTON UNION.

White Ribbon, Volume 43, Issue 7, 18 August 1942, Page 6

WELLINGTON UNION.

SPECIAL MEETINGS.

On July 15th Wellington Union had a small attendance, owing to severe weather, to hear a talk by Miss Atkinson on the women of Turkey. The District President, Mrs. Sired, was in the chair, and welcomed visitors.

The speaker gave a brief resume of Turkish history up till the last war and the Turkish revolution of 1920. Between that date and 1935 the emancipation ot Turkish women was made complete. She has advanced from a life of complete seclusion to equality with man in every profession. In 1930 she acquired the municipal franchise and tour years later the republic granted her the vote for the National Assembly and also made her eligible as a candidate for the Assembly which corresj>onds to our House of Representatives. At the first election after these privileges were granted 17 women were returned as members out of a total membership of 399. In other fields woman has also proved her worth and adaptability. Mrs. Bade moved a vote of thanks which was followed by a short discussion of great interest. Afternoon tea. August 12th: Mrs. Bade (President) took the chair for a lecture by Miss England on the women of Russia, when theic was a very good attendance of members of this and other unions and friends. Solos were sung by Miss Atkinson, and tea was served.

Miss England said that the emancipation of Russian women had begun during the last century when thinking Russians were inspired by England’s example of liberty and greatly influenced by the works of England’s Charles Dickens. Russia’s government frowned on these ideals and suppressed those who followed them. But e.fter the Revolution in Russia during the last world war women were placed on a footing of absolute equality with men in professional walks of life as well as in factory and farm work. Women’s skill in all three types of work has proved outstandng. Home life and children are provided for by special nursery schools and creches ai.d excellent care of mothers before and after child-birth. As a result of these privileges prostitution is practically nonexistent and the methods of the schools are cultivating responsible, happy young citizens of the U.S.S.R.

Several questions were asked the si*eaker, a J ter which Mrs. Grigg, business manager of the "White Ribbon,’ proposed a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation.