CONDITIONS IN INDIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1046, 9 August 1930, Page 10

CONDITIONS IN INDIA

ADDRESS BY MISSIONARY '

Auckland's appreciation of, and in • terest -in, missionary work was indicated by the exceptionally large attendance at a gathering held in the St. Paul’s schoolroom yesterday afternoon, when Miss L. O. Mitchell, missionary traveller, gave an account of conditions in India. Mrs. Mac Murray presided and apologised for tlie, absence of the Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, and Mrs. Fancourt. Miss Mitchell, in speaking of the conditions in which women live in India, gave a vivid description of her many visits to zenanas, where on© could see the sad lives to which widows, many of them still children, were condemned for the rest of their existence. They •were often confined to one small room, pariahs among their fellow women, with no hope of any kind. Miss Mitchell also told of the work in some of the factories, in many of which were employed thousands of men and Women in the tpost unhealthy conditions. Children were to be seen accompanying their mothers to these factories and living In the dreadful factory atmosphere. Missionaries, however, were powerless to do anything beyond trying to arouse public interest to make some alteration to tho most degrading conditions. And under such conditions there liV-ed millions of people.

Tt was fortunate, however, that the educated classes were beginning to realise the pitiful circumstances, and there were many girls eager to learn how they may help their countrywomen and bring some light into their lives through the knowledge of Christianity. Several examples of the peculiar garments and ornaments worn by women in India were shown by Miss Mitchell.