BURNS' LIFE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 47, 27 March 1930, Page 8

BURNS' LIFE

-i a— INTERESTING DISCUSSION AT ' HAVELOCK. UNUSUAL DEBATE BY LADIES. INDICATIONS OF PROGRESS. At the meeting of the Havelock North W.E.A.", held in St. Columba's Schoolroooi last evening, with Mr R. Clayton presiding, the subject for the evening Avas "Robert Burns' Works, etc."' The gathei'ing was composed almost entirely of women and girls. Records of Burns' songs were placed on a gramophone and Mrs Clayton read the biography of Burns between the items of music. A visitor thought that the life stocy of Rohert Burns was not a very fitting theme for detailed discussion at such a meeting, but the women and girls piesent appeared to. think it an occasion for improving their minds, and when, during the closing discussion. it was stated that no excuse could be made for the vicious conduct of a man enlightened as Burns was, a small storm of opposition arose among the women. According to them, Burns was an honourable man, and as the discussion became centred 011 illegitimacy, they agreed that we bad progressed so mucli since the time of Burns thatwhat was thought to be wrong then was ' not regarded as sinful now. ' For the honour of womanhood it was thought .that those women present would revolt from such a subject of debate, but it was discussed by yopng and old with ease and cold blood, and the one dissenting memher, wlio mention'ed the Ten Commandments and the parable of the talents, was regarded as having limited sensitiveness and as being incapahle of comprehending the wonderful advance of modern thought.