WOMEN'S WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 225, 21 September 1921, Page 10

WOMEN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL, JOTTINGS. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gilfillan and Mrs. Lewis and family arc staying at Mon Desir. Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Alison, jun., of Auckland, were staying at the Portman Hotel, Portman Square, London, on August 11. Mrs. H. Lloyd Brett is on a visit to Auckland, and is at present staying with her daughter, Mrs. Guy Pierce, Remuera. Mrs. S. K. Norris has returned from a four months' visit to Sydney and Mel--bourne, and is staying at Mon Desir, Takapuna. Dr. L. M. King, of Christchurch, is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. King, who have lately taken up their residence in Auckland. Mrs. F. J. White, who was Miss Madge Salmon, of Auckland, and Mrs. B. R. Salmon, are residing at 29, Schubert Road, East Putney, London. Nurse Mcddins, of Trenthain Military Hospital, who has been spending a few days' leave in Auckland, returns to Wellington by the Main Trunk this evening. Mr. and Mrs. -T. Wallace and the Misses A. and E. Wallace, of Devonport, were last month at the Regent Palace Hotel, Piccadilly Circus. They arc returning next-month. On Monday evening Dr. Buckingham , gave the second of a series of lecture- [ before the National Reserve Division of ■St.. John's Ambulance on "" Emergency Work in Children's D:i>cac*es." Mrs. Baker, a visitor officer from Wellington, wan present. A small dance was given in Wright's Hall on Saturday evening by Mr. and Mrs. W. Carson, of Balmoral Road, in honour of the coming of ape of their daughter, Jean. Amongst those present were:—Mrs. Kilner, Mrs. Horneman, Mrs. Beveridee, Miss Tanner, Miss Burns, Miss McDonald, Miss Newoomb. Miss Horneman, Miss Hawley, Miss Penman. Miss Faslcy, Miss Hardy. Dr. and Mrs. S. Zobel, of Te Kuiti, arrived in England via Panama at the end of February, and went on the Continent at the end of March. They have travelled in France, Switzerland and Italy, visiting all the great art galleries, their four including Paris, Basle, Venice, Florence. Rome. Naples, among other cities visited. On their return journey they intend seeing Brussels, Ostend, Ypres and the Belgian battlefields, and hope to start for New Zealand some time 'in October. The Dramatic Circle's last evening entertainment was taken by the club's " Joybella." This is a group of six girls who have undertaken to provide a bright entertainment at each of the institutions. The 3' have already given eleven concerts. This bright little company gave some pretty dances and some lively songs, chorus work and humorous recitations: also an amusing little play entitled " The Brown Paper Parcel." The members are:—Misses M. Spicer, A. Thompson, I. Baker. D. Jackson. M. Cranston. Greville, and E. Greville. On Friday afternoon, at ""Lochaber." Takapuna, Mrs. Fotheringham entertained a number of her friends, Miss Grace Sharland being the guest of the afternoon, and the recipient of many dainty gifts and good wishes. Mrs. Fotheringham wore pale pink georgette. and Miss Sharland a dainty frock of powder blue flowered ninon and a transparent black hat. Among the guests were Mcsdames Sharland. Fraser, Gould, Cutten, Miller, Dryden, Prater, Horrocks, Orimwade. Hunter, Williamson, Buddie, Holls, Esdaile, Johnston, Nicholson, Batger, Misses C'orrie, Prater, Reid, MeC'alluiii, Bartley, Atwood, Norris, Pickering. ■irCririririririrtt WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL. SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL. The monthly meeting of the Auckland branch of the Women's National Council took place last evening in the rooms of the Business Girl's Club. The president, Miss Melville, occupied the chair. Before the business of the meeting was proceeded with an address was delivered by Dr. Kenneth Mackenzie on the proposed Social Hygiene BUI, in which he placed before those present the desirability of compulsory notification by key numbers, and 'stated that by this method the patient's identity is not disclosed as long as treatment is continued. Mr. Mackenzie dealt with the widespread prevalence of the disease, and said'the public, were not able to grasp half the suffering that sprang from this disease, and he stressed the fact that in the early stages of the disease it was more definitely diagnosed and curable. He state, that the opinion among medical men and social workers is steadily moving in the direction of supporting compulsory notification. He supported the proposal that all patients must remain under treatment until certilied free from disease. At present many patients ceased treatment when the out.ward and uncomfortable manifestations had disappeared, although the infection remained. This was worst in the case of those marrying, and it was a not infrequent occurrence for a doctor to have to stand by and sec an infected man or woman enter upon marriage with an innocent partner. Such an act should be heavily penalised, and in New South Wales a doctor was given the privilege of revealing his knowledge under such circumstances. The opposition to the proposals regarding the examination of suspects was also combated by the lecturer. The speaker said that the crux of the question was whether the compulsory clauses would act as a deterrent to sufferers seeking medical treatment. Medical and sociological opinions of much weight are given both for and against. The war brought a great revelation of the extent and seriousness of venereal disease, and a great propaganda of instruction was carried on by the officers of the. medical corps. The difficulties of treatment are being more and more realised by the public, and the treatment is passing in quite considerable measure from the hands of the general practitioner into those of the specialist. Patients are now much more concerned about the absolute cure of the disease, and he thought this would react against concealment of the disease.

After the address the ordinary business of the meeting was continued. It was reported that the petition being circulated by the Council asking that the age of consent shall be raised to eighteen was being largely signed by both medical men as well as business men. Another petition was received from the Southern branches, which is being promoted by the Hon. Mark Cohen, in favour of women justices of the peace, women on juries, and women police. This petition is for signature by heads of all women's organisations in the city, and will be brought before Parliament this session by the Hon. Cohen.