Business and Professional Women’s Chub

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 55, 8 March 1944, Page 2

Business and Professional Women’s Chub

The opening- of another year's activities of the Palmerston North Business and Professional Women’s Club on Monday last was marked by international night celebrations, when the impressive traditional candle-lighting ceremony was carried out by members to indicate the growth and affiliations of federations throughout the world. Miss E. Jones presided and conveyed greetings from sister clubs, also from New York headquarters. Miss Elsie Bennet, general secretary of the Auckland Y.W.C.A., was the speaker, her subject being “Tfte Bole of Women in Post-war Rehabilitation.” At the outset the speaker stressed the fact that the international federation of B. and P. clubs had originated in the American Y.W.C.A. So much that was good had sprung from the Y.W.C.A., such as the “Travellers’ Aid,” which was not always recognised. She went on to speak of the important role of the clubs overseas, and one of the biggest pieces of work in England had been tackling the anomaly with regard to compensation paid to women in comparison to that paid to men. Miss Bennet confessed that she felt a little hopeless about the role that would be given to women in the post-war world and said it was wrong to have an easy optimism, instancing some of the enormous problems that would have to be tackled. An International Rehabilitation Board had already been set up and some publicity had been given to the fact that Miss McGeachy, of the British Legation in Washington, the first woman t.o bo granted diplom c status by Great Britain, had been appointed. Certainly Miss McGeachy must have the background of knowledge of women’s work, she said. Miss Bennet ventured to suggest that the rehabilitation of families—the reuniting of families—would be women’s sphere. ] It would take years to re-establish industry and no country had as yet given a lead as to where economic re-organisation was going to start. There would need to be a reasonable balance between extreme views. Continuing, Miss Bennet said the Y.W.C.A. had a plan on lines not concerned with material things, though material things could not be ignored. The Y.W.C.A. had two world offices now. one in Geneva and one in Washington, with trained emissaries ready to go out to countries whose doors were closed but had been affiliated with the Y.W.C.A. I They hoped to' work through voluntary I organisations with any nucleus left. The [speaker feared that woman’s i-ole in the | post-war world would be one of frustration despite the leading part she had [played during the war. Women’s part would be to keep the family together, and permeate through the family to men’s minds that woman as a part of the family had a place in the community for the community. There Mas too much muddled thinking, Miss Bennet contended, and a challenge to face reality. Take up reality and go to it by the Will of God,” she concluded. The thanks of the meeting were conveyed to the speaker by Mrs. Shailer (secretary) and endorsed by Miss Jones. Supper concluded the evening.