WOMEN OF ENGLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22774, 7 July 1937, Page 6

WOMEN OF ENGLAND

NOTABLE PERSONALITIES A number of women, well known for their activities in various spheres of work in London, were described by Mrs. E. Newland-Fletcher, a voluntary hostess for the Overseas League, to members of the Victoria League yesterday afternoon. The president, Miss J. A. Mowbray, presided.

The distinction of having been the first woman in the world to be made governor of a prison belonged to Miss Lilian Barker, who for a time was governor at the borstal institution at Aylesbury for girls and women. Given a free hand to reorganise the institution, Miss Barker made many improvements in the establishment, her main idea being to give the inmates plenty of physical outdoor exercise. Miss Barker was now deputy-inspector of prisons for all England. Another important woman in her own particular sphere was Commandant Mary Allen, founder of the women police service in 1914. The women police were doing invaluable work in England, and every woman who became a member of the service was tabulated for a national emergency, Mrs. New-land-Fletcher said. Everything of which these women were capable, such as domestic work, car driving and so on was tabulated for this purpose. The founder of the infant welfare movement in England, Miss <T. F. Halford, was next referred to. In this Avork the Margaret Morris Homes, where working mothers were able to leave their children for the day, were among the most valuable activities of this movement.

The Women's Electrical Association, of which Miss C. H. Haslett was the director and founder, had started in one small room in 1914 and now had premises in Lower Regent Street at a rental of £IOOO a year. The association maintained that women knew what was wanted in the home in the way of electrical apparatus, and vans toured lingland teaching the women of the country towns tho uses of electricity. A brief musical programme, arranged by Mrs. Humfrey Gordon, was presented, and comprised songs by Miss Nancve Hanna and violin solos by Miss Ida Lockwood. Tho accompanist was Mrs. Reginald Reed. Afternoon tea was served at the conclusion of tho speaker's address.