FRIEND OF INDIANS

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1930, Page 9

FRIEND OF INDIANS

Social Work of Former Viceroy's !; , . Wife Praised.* DEATH OF LADY READING. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 31. The Marchioness of Reading, who passed away yesterday, had been ill ever since her return from India with her husband, on the conclusion of the latler's term of office as Viceroy. The newspapers speak" of her beneficent social work in India. Through her energetic appeals a sum of £100,000 was raised to endow a hospital at Simla for women and children and for training nurses. She founded the Indian National Baby Week, which has been instrumental in reducing enormously the high rate of infantile mortality in that country. When her health broke down she had so won her way to the hearts of the people that prayers for her recovery were said in temples, mosques and synagogues throughout India. No appreciation of Lord' Reading's career in India would be complete, said a writer in 1926, when he left India, without the warmest tribute to Lady Reading. In spite of her very delicate health, she never failed her husband in his public functions when her presence was desirable. She invariably presided with great personl charm over his social functions, however trying her health would render such occasions. She took to her heart the cause of the Indian women and infants, and-lias thus done untold good directly and indirectly, literally to millions. In the autumn of 1925 a spontaneous and generous tribute was paid to her by the ruling princes of India, who ■ requested the Viceroy to postpone the meeting of the Chamber of Princes in Delhi until Her Excellency should. have sufficiently recovered from the operation which unfortunately became necessary a few months before.