“WOMENS WORK.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2428, 13 May 1922, Page 3

“WOMENS WORK.”

A very interesting address was delivered by Mrs Campbell-Taylor, under the auspices of St. Monica’s Girl*’ Guild, to women and girls in All Saints’ Schoolroom on Thursday evening. There was a fair attendance. The speaker said that society was faced with a war of even greater magnitude than the past great war. They were engaged today in a spiritual war, not to wrestle against flesh and bldbd but against principalities and powers. There was conflict among nations, communities and individuals and they 4 were faced with a lowered standard of morality. Wherever one looked, there was trouble and sorrow. The question was asked how can women help and where? In the past women had led the way in Refjbrm. Elizabeth Fry had been responsible for prison reform, Josephine Butler’s work on behalf of girls and women, and Florence Nightengale, the pioneer nurse and heroine, said the speaker, were “pathfinders” and led the way where women to-day could follow. Women’s influence in home life was touched upon and the Plnnket Society’s operations in this connection were commended. The education of the child, necessity for proper food, hygenic surroundings and the inculcation of good habits was stressed; women could assist in removing from the picture screen pictures which had a baneful effect upon the child mind and insist on pictures of an educational and uplifting character. Good books and above all good parental eramples were needed. Religious instruction was an essential. Secular education, said the speaker, had been a failure. Children should be taught the great law of brotherhood, ehilvalry to women and obedience to parents and all in authority and obedience to God’s laws would follow. By this means, concluded the .speaker, women could assist in building up noble characters, better citizens and a nation founded on righteousness.

At the conclusion of the address the speaker was heartily thanked for her instructive address.