WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 147, 19 July 1909, Page 1

WOMAN'S WORLD

THE WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA. '2',. i LADY DUDLEY'S VIEW. It was a stirring speech that Lady Dudley recently <lelivered to the women of Australia through the medium of a meeting of tile New South Wales Na- ■ lional Council of Women, mid every word of it strikes one as being sincerely said. "These Australian councils seem to me," said Lady Dudley, ''like the distant outpos'ts of that considerable army of workers who are the head and front <■( so much social and moral progress and reform at the other side of the world. "I have heard more than one warm tribute paid to important work accomplished toy the different councils, but I' have as yet had few opportunities of I observing it for myself—although I hope to find many in the near future. It takes more than eight months to make oneself acquainted with the inner life of a new country. All that I shall permit myself to 6ay is', how strong, how forcible is the im.pressioa upon me of the greatness of the opportunities which lie ready to the hand of the women of Australia. ''Here you have a young country in all the strength and pride of its youth, and recognising its responsibilities and eager to fulfil them. You have social conditions unhampered to a great extent 'by the evils' of over-civilisation. And though in every age the influence of woman has been great—as in every age they have set the social standards of their time and generation—in no case of an ancient civilisation can the inspiration of the woman be as potent or shine as clear as in the early days of the history of a young "nation whose impulses are towards' the light, and whose desire is to be for ever free from the stains which disfigure the darker pages of the history of older centuries. Perhaps it may be fanciful, but since I have been in Australia I have thought that, though the heart of her is controlled by her sons, and her very heartbeats seem like their footsteps march-1 ing towards accomplishment and pro-, gress, yet the soul of her—tire essential the spiritual part, which is to be her ultimate inspiration, lies with the women of this country, and will be I given to her by them." So that I feel) the work of these Australian coun-1 tils is deeply important, and I welcome this opportunity of assuring you of my I desire to serve and further their interests as far as possible while I am here. 11 1