THE WOMEN OF INDIA
* EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY An idea of the wide extent of the e.Torts which are being made in India to improve the status and better the conditions of living of Indian native women of all races, creeds, and religions was given in an interview yesterday by Miss Jean Begg, a New Zealand woman who is national secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association for India, Burma, and Ceylon, and who is spending part of a year's furlough in Christchurch. Miss Begg has been in close touch with the principal movements for the betterment of women in India. During four years in her present position she has been greatly impressed with the growing sense of responsibility among the better educated native women, and with the active part they are taking in the development of their nation. Before going to India Miss Begg for a number of years was general secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association in Auckland. Her home is in Duncdin. where she received her school education, going later to America. She was in the United States for five years, gaining the diploma in social science at Columbia University. She worked in Samoa for 10 years for the London Missionary Society. Women in rublic Life "I have been very much impressed with the emergence of Indian women into public life, and with the desire of most of the educated women to go abroad to widen their outlook," said Miss Begg. "Those who have gone abroad usually return to India, and today there is a large group of educated women who are really concerned, about educational reform. There is an increasing number of educated women entering the professions to-day. and these are playing no mean part in the solving of India's problems and in the securing the future status of their fellow-women. Where women 10 or 1:0 vears ago were practically all 'in purdah.' or behind the veil, they are row coming out and taking part in miblic life as teachers, doctors, nurses, -md lawyers." Mr Gandhi '•The most widely respected and most venerated man in all India." was the description given by Miss Begg of Mr Gandhi. "People are apt to question Mi- Gandhi's motives," she said, "but aetuallv ho has given an impetus to a real desire to assist the less fortunate ones in India. He is looked on as one v ho has as his sole object the betterment of the peoole. His influence is eauallv great among nil classes and religions, and the people will haten P. what he has to say on all kinds o tniestinns. He has clone a great deal towards stirring the social consciousness of Indian women." . While the Young Women s Christian \---ociation was definitely a Christian er-anisauon. said Miss Begg, it stood lor inter-racial and inter religious -oodwill. There v.ere in India many non-Christian members of the associaijr.n who admitted a belief m the broad niimjso of the association. At tne same time, it was a mam purpose ot the association to bring together the Christian peoples of India. More than 50 nor cent, of its staff to-day wero Indian Christian women, and grartu■,i]v the whole organisation was becoming a part of India: it was ir> longer"a Western organisation imposed noon the country. Child Marriages Work was still being done for the abolition of child marriages, said Miss Bee At a recent All India women s conference an appeal had been made lo the Government to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act so as to empower every first-class magistrate m British India to issue injunctions tot in- stooping of child marriages. The -• -ncnl'was now being considered by the Government. At the same conferan appeal was made to all foreign ,uihorities-as at Goa and oncl.-ciicrw-and to the Indian /latts. to provide no facilities for child mai--1 '"All the women in India were I'tiprecented at this conference, whether Hindu. Mahommedan, or Parsee, said Miss Begg, "and they were all united m the requests made. The member, of this conference are really the lead ers of the women in India They arc active also against immoral tiaific in women and children, f"d heie they are helped materially by the League of Nations. Though comparatively little progress has so far been made, the mere fact of Indian women conferring together is a great step towards the breaking down of communal barriers." Labour Conditions Miss Begg said that a comprehensive icport had been brough .down not long ago on the conditions ."Oder which women were working in the mines and efforts were being made at mprovement of their lot. The owners Of cotton, jute, and silk mills were now becoming alive to the need lot welfare organisations to care for the proper housing and the health of the. U The Christian missionaries were doing splendid service in India, she caid With the rapidly-growing oesire among the people not only to become politically independent but also to assume their own national responsibilities, the missionaries were called up to be doubly wise and patient in their endeavour to help the churches to be really self directing and self supporting. The present was certainly not the time for the churches to withdraw their support from foreign mishlMiss Begg will leave Christchurch next week for punedin. duties. The control of juvenile lodges was invested in the board of management to draw up regulations and rules governing these members. A new rule providing for the admission of junior members bstween the ages of 16 and 20 years cf age was adopted. Officers Elected The election of ofiiccrs resulted in the following brothers being elected: —Grand President, Brother R. E. Bigg; Grand Vice-President. Brother G McKenzie; Grand Secretary. Brother T. E. Talbot; Grand Treasurer, Brother J. T. Collins; Grand Guardian, Brother V. H. Keay; board of management, Brothers H E. Beckett, J. H. Denison, -T. L. Herriot, F. W. Hughes, R. J. Roberts A Latimer, F. Legge; judicial appeal committee, P.G.P's. Bros. F. George, D. W. Bartram, G. Bates, R. H. Parker, and C. I. Barnes; Grand Lodge auditors. Brothers F. W. Hughes, L. A. Morrison, and H. Ballan; Grand Lodge trustee, Bro. G. Gyde, re-elected: Senior Grand Lodge Trustee, Bro. Jas. Anderson. The installation of officers was carried out by the visitors. Grand Presidents G. H. Lethaby and Grand VicePresident H. R. Hunt. Grand President Brother G. H. Lethaby presented the retiring Grand President, Brother L. B. Freeman, with a Past Grand Presidents regalia. I.P.G.P. Bro. L. B. Freeman was appointed to represent Canterbury at the bi-ennial Grand Lodge meeting of the North Island Grand Lodge, and Grand President Brother R. E. Bigg at the Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland. P.G.P. Brother F. George, who has retired from the position of Senior Grand Trustee after a number of years, was thanked for his services to the Order. Christchurch was fixed as the next place of meeting.
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Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 7
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1,155THE WOMEN OF INDIA Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 7
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