HOME AND FAMILY WEEK AT TIMARU WAS UNDOUBTED SUCCESS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 52, 4 June 1948, Page 3

HOME AND FAMILY WEEK AT TIMARU WAS UNDOUBTED SUCCESS

Helpful Instruction On Family Problems

“They say that Timaru can’t be moved, but look at this.” • The speaker excitedly waved his hand over the crowded hall. Every one of the 650 seats was occupied and all around people stood. They had come to hear the Brains Trust in the Home and Family Week programme. “As it is obvious no more people can get in, we shall begin at once,” said the Questionmaster, and the meeting commenced a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule. That gives some idea of the interest roused in Timaru by the Home and Family Week. Thus wrote Re.v Malcolm W. Wilson, chairman of the South Canterbury branch of the N.C.C., in an article published in “Outlook” and the “N.Z. Methodist Times.”

A Home and Family Week is a united effort by the churches and other community organisations to impress citizens with the importance of home and family life, and to give information and advice on marriage, parenthood, and family relationships. Such united efforts have been made in many of the towns of England during recent years. A New Zealander, the Rev. E. P. Blamires, took part in some of these English Home and Family weeks and was so convinced of their value that, on his return to the Dominion, he urged the National Council of Churches to inaugurate similar weeks in New Zealand towns. The result wai's that the South Canterbury Branch of the N.C.C. agreed to organise a Home and Family week for Timaru and, after nearly five months of preparation, the week was duly held between April 25 and May 2. There was an Exhibition demonstrating the work of various agencies and services which serve home and family life. Stalls were arranged by the Youth Departments of the Churches, the Boys’ Brigade, the Girls’ Life Brigade, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Guides, the Education Department, the Health Department, the Plunket Society, the Free Kindergarten, the St. John’s Ambulance, the Public Library, the Savings Bank of the Post Office, the M.E.D., and the Gas Vompany. This Exhibition was housed i nthe Bay Hall, was open each afternoon and evening, and drew large numbers'of the public. There was also in the hall a Literature Stall which sold large quantities of excellent books and phamphlets dealing with marriage and parenthood. Every afternoon a short talk was given in the hall. Mothers were able to listen attentively as their babies and toddlers were cared for in an adjacent play centre. Every evening a lecture was delivered in the same hall by highly qualified speakers. The increasing size of the audiences at these evening meetings is significant. Estimated numbers were—3oo,3so, 400, 900 (Brains Trust night), 800 (Youth Rally. The final meeting was held in the largest theatre in Timaru on the Sunday evening at 8 p.m., when an audience numbering 1,000 heard a powerful appeal to build home and family life on a foundation of Christian faith, Christian worship and Christian practice. The effects of the week, of course, have not ceased with its ending. The literature which was sold is being read, people are still discussing the matters brought to their attention, and almost certainly a permanent Marriage Guidance Council will be set up in Timaru to continue the work of instruction and advice.

Many factors contributed to the success of the week. Perhaps most important of all the effort was a truly united one.) Not only did all the Churches work together harmoniously and enthusiastically, but the civic authorities and community organisations also co-operated whole heartedly. The Roman Catholic Church shared in the effort, holding a series of similar meetings for its own people during the week.