FARM WIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 126, 31 May 1939, Page 11

FARM WIVES.

WORLD CONFERENCE.

Germans Hostesses For N.Z.

Delegates. ONE MAN PRESENT. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON', May 30. Farm wives from many countries, distinctively clad, were eclipsed by the sole touch of English pageantry marking the opening of a conference of the World's Associated Countrywomen in Central Hall, Westminster, representing 4,000,000 of their sex, and including Australian and New Zealand delegates. The English touch was supplied by the only man present, namely, the official herald, arrayed in an emblazoned

tabard and medieval small-clothes, who announced eacii speaker with a trumpet. England was otherwise drably represented in comparison with the striking peasant costumes of more imaginative countries. The Xew Zealand actress. Miss Marie Xey, spoke a prologue, and Lady Denman, wife of the former Australian Governor-General, welcomed delegates. Italians and Germans gave Fascist and Nazi salutes. The Germans are the hostesses of the Xew Zealanders. Marie Fix. brilliant actress, known as Marie Xey. was born in Chelsea, London, nearly 44 years ago, and as a child was brought to Xew Zealand, where she was educated at St. Mary's Convent, Wellington. and trained for kinderwarten work. But. having won marked success as an amateur actress, she decided to make her career the stage, and joined Alan Wilkie's Shakespearean company. Her professonal debut was at Melbourne 11 1916. when she played the widow in "The Taming of the Shrew." and later she went to London, passing from success to success. In 1930 Miss Xey married Mr. T. H. Menzies, a Scottish rubber planter in Malaya.