WOMEN'S FORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 21, 26 January 1933, Page 13

WOMEN'S FORUM.

SWORDSWOMEN. Duelling has long been illegal in England, the world is talking of disarmament; but the women of England are showing an enthusiasm for swordplay unknown in the history of fencing. It is estimated that there are some 500 fencing clubs in Britain. Fencing has its devotees of every rank. Enthusiasm is shared by members of the Royal Family and members of working lads' clubs. But its strongest appeal is to business and professional women, whose hours for recreation and exercise are limited mainly to our proverbially wet week-ends and dark evenings. What is its appeal? One can fence all the year round, independent of light and weather. The sport is adaptable to all ages, is inexpensive, and provides vigorous, but not heavy exercise, developing balance, control, quick decision, and judgment of time and distance. And it does not demand special accommodation. What more can be asked of a healthy and exceptionally jolly sport? A crowded" Salle d'Armes awakens the romantic and combative in our nature, while this chivalrous sport appears unrivalled, and is well on the way to becoming a national pastime. So, to arms! Perhaps our international disputes may once again be settled by single combat!

A BIRTHDAY GIFT.

There is an essay by Stevenson in which "R.L.S." declares that he will give his own birthday to a little girl who had had the misfortune to be born on Christmas Day. The girl was Annie H. Ide, the daughter of an American land commissioner, who was at that time living in Samoa, and Stevenson drew up what he called a deed of gift assigning to her a day which he said was no longer of much use to him. "I have,' he wrote, "transferred, and do hereby transfer, to the said Annie H. Ide, all and whole my rights and privileges in the thirteenth day of November, formerly my birthday, now hereby and henceforth the birthday of the said Annie H. Ide, to have and to hold, exercise and enjoy the sa.tnc in her customary manner, "by the sporting,of fine raiment, eating of rich meats and receipts of gifts, compliments, and copies of verses, according to the manner of our ancestors."

The "New York Herald Tribune" recently announced that Annie',H. Ide, who is now Mrs. Cockran and who lives in Fifth Avenue, New York, has kept the birthday thus ceded to her for 40 years. Because of the death of a friend she did not celebrate it as usual on November 13 of this year, but she declares her intention to do so at an early date. If she fails in this intention perhaps the shade of "R.Ij.S." will evoke that other article of the deed of gift: "And in case the said Annie H. Ide shall neglect or contravene either of the above conditions I hereby revoke the donation and transfer mj rights in the said birthday to the President of the United States of America for the time being."

WOMEN AND WORK.

On November 15, the Permanent Court of Justice at The Hague gave a decision which was an illustration of the muddled enlightenment and barbarism of our contemporary world, says "Time and Tide. The Court is a definitely civilised and hopeful institution. The decision, made by six votes to five, wafi a typical hangover from prejudices flagrantly out of place at The Hague. It was a decision that the Washington Night-work Convention, prohibiting night work to women in "any public or private industrial undertaking," should apply also to those who hold supervisory or managerial posts. Such prohibition has been based largely upon confusion of mind. Women in administrative and managerial positions were never discussed at Washington; they were not mentioned in the Berne Convention; no one in bis senses could think of tnem as helpless industrial victims; no single organisation or government pleaded before the International Labour Conference for their inclusion; on the contrary, many delegates definitely expressed their antagonism to. such inclusion. The new prohibition undoubtedly, confers great hardship upon women qualifying for highly-skilled (and highly-paid) managerial positions. In this country, 14 women's organisations are asking the Prime Minister to take action on the matter. They have every right to be heard.