THE OUTSIDE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 17

THE OUTSIDE WORLD

TWO FINE ADDRESSES

A particularly interesting meeting, under the auspices of the Women's Social Progress Movement, took place at tho homo of- Miss M. M'Lcan, C.8.E., yesterday, when Miss M. 13. Richmond and Mrs. Hutchetis gave addresses. Mrs. H.D. Bennett presided, 'and introduced the speakers. Miss Bichmond repeated by. request the fine address she gave at Kelburri recently, entitled." Russia To-day" (reported in "The Post"), and'added a little more regarding- the attempted extermination of religion. It waa rather curious, she said, that, only the Protestant sects retained any vitality after the crushing of the Soviet authorities. The Greek Orthodox Church had ceased to function altogether, while some of the smaller Protestant sects persistently kept the flag of religion flying in spite of difficulties. Miss mond quoted partly- from a book written by a Russian, and partly from the experiences of some < friends who had recently visited that "most distressful country.'fc The "dumping" of Russian goods, she said, was due to a certain amount of desperation, as they were faced with starvation on an immense scale, and that might bring about, the 'downfall, of those who..'are. ruling at present. It behoved: New! Zealanders to watch the progress of .trading, very carefully, and to see ..that;.their' own country was not drawn into .undeserved suffering on account of the introduction of "cheap" goods from outside. Miss Richmond was listened to' with keen attention; and the' vote'of thanks, proposed' by Mrs. Bennett, had-!a most hearty response.- ■.'■■'• i■■ '■ . ,;...,•'■" GLIMPSES OF OLD WORLD LIFE. Mrs. Hutchens , gave ar very charming talk, partly about her wide, travels and keen observations from abroad. She remarked that the "balancing of budgets" was not a necessity^only from the Governmental • point of view, but also within the lives of wonien',. in'-'their clubs,, and in their homes.". She spoke sympathetically of the 'difficulties of the women who were tho household financiers, and had to make "ends meet," sometimes under very great difficulties. If G-overnment or municipal spenders found things impossible, they could conr suit others, or hand over ;to another section of the community, but the mother of a famr'y had to face her difficulties,. and could not shift respon^ sibility. She was of opinion that both churches and schools taught far too little about the conduct of life, which, after all, was the great consideration, and. made for success or failure in a nation. The Social Progress Movement had come in to fill a very necessary place, and to help women to know a great many practical things that were helpful and not taught anywhere else. Mrs. Hutchens offered quite a different view ' of life jrt ■■ the wealth' y rontres of: the Old World than that usually given. She had looked below the surface at Nice, Monte Carlo, and Paris. At Nice she looked.critically at the people who indulged' in the "Battle of Flowers" and other amuse-' incuts, and found that they were often elderly, painted people, who looked as if they were tryiiig to gslvahise themselves into a spurious youthfulness in a way that was quite repulsive and depressing to her. The-people in the gaming saloons seemed to her the same —weary,' rather shabby people in tte, majority, and:an air of tragedy over all. While appreciating the great beauty of the country and many natural advantages, the life seemed to be vacant to a degree. ,■;. :. . , ..'■,',,: THE "SHOWS" OF PARIS. The: "shows" of Paris, so mefeiricious and unpleasant in many directions, were run by Greek and. American finance, and Parisians begged them not to imagine that that was the "real Paris;" but that French home life is a , real thing, and loved by the large majority of the people, f Excesses are committed by a-noisy minority," said Mrs. Hutchens, "and it is the same in this country; We are told, for instance, that this or that picture is visited by so many1 thousands of people, both here, and in London, and it sounds very wonderful, but in comparison with-the hundreds of thousands who do not go to see these unpleasant ones, the numbers are small.?? She urged that in. the history of the world it was seen that war always followed excesses of pleasure: in a nation, and she urged that there' should-be more-home life."hero were many people who never' spent an evening at home if they could help it—home' was just an eating and sleeping place. She. contrasted some of the fine homes they had had the opportunity of visiting in England and Scotland, Lady Aberdeen's and that of the Duke of Buccleugh, where there was practically no smoking or ■■■ drinking, though plenty of home pleasure?. She urged those present to.' look for the true values ; in life, and-help to right the present chaos, which could be largely remedied from the homes. Mrs. Bennett, in thanking. Mrs. Hutchens for an interesting and able address, spoke of the value of right thinking which led to right action, Delicious afternoon tea was served, Mrs. Pengolly sang "The Rowan Tree" delightfully, accompanied by Mrs. Dallard, and a charming recitation was given by Miss Doreen Piirdie. Later Mrs. Bennett gave a brief. address on "Work Among the Young,'?. Bpeaking .with knowledge and sympathy.- The meeting' was largely attended, and proved .most interesting throughout. ;