Can You Spare

Native Women's Clubs

Can You Spare An Hour?

An appeal to European women to help in organising and assisting at local Women’s Clubs was made in Lae recently as part of a drive for the advancement of native women of the Territory.

Most educational, social and sport ing activities have been directed towards the men and the children— although the native community of P-NG is not going to advance very far until such time as the women are playing a vital part in the advance ment.

Two young women who were both born in the Territory, Miss P. Ure and Miss Lois Niall, were appointed some time ago as Welfare Officers and their job has been mostly visiting Women’s Clubs that have already been estab lished—about 20 around the Port Moresby area, and some in other Papuan centres.

But the demand far outruns the capacity of these two girls to deal with it, and it is essential that some of the work now be taken on by other European women in a voluntary capacity. The native women want to learn how to sew and cook, something about hygiene, games such as basket ball. child-care, English—and even how to set a table. All of these things are elementary in our domestic set-un but they constitute the first step towards advancement for these native women. As the clubs meet only once a week, a group of volunteers—anyone who can cut out a pattern or cook a custard—would have to attend only once every few weeks.

The Clubs are useless and simply fall apart without the guiding hand of some European woman who will give a little of her time to this work. Some missionaries, who already have more than enough to do. have given their time. The need now is for other women to make a contribution. Any one interested should inquire at the local District Office.