PERFECT WOMEN.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17707, 8 March 1923, Page 2

PERFECT WOMEN.

AUSTRALIAN GRAZIER'S IDEALS. A REMARKABLE BEQUEST. Crnou otm own corkespondent.) SYDNEY, March 1. The ideal of the perfect woman held by the late Mr Peter Mitchell, a wealthy grazier of New South Wales, who died last year, lives after him, for, under his will he left a large part of his huge fortune of £-178,000 to provide competitive prizes for the discovery and encouragement of his ideal. Also, the testator did not overlook the perfect young man and for his benefit, too, competitive prizes were provided for. The will has come before no less an authority than the High C° ur t of Australia, in the form of a case stated foi the opinion of the Full Bench as to whether the moneys to be set apart for the discovery and development of the grazier's ideal con/stituted charitable bequesfs within the meaning of the War-time Profits Assessment Act. The deceased grazier left an annuity of £.5000 a year to his widow, to provide for which a large capital bite out of the estate will be necessary. Nevertheless a considerable sum will <be available for the pursuit of the grazier's fancy, and the question for the Court to consider was whether this bequest, to be known as the Peter Mitchell Trust, could be described as "chantage, religious, scientific or educational"—all of which purposes are covered by the term "charitable" in the Assessment Act. The Commissioner of Taxation said that the bequests did not come within the section, and assessed the whole for the payment of duty. The trustees said that the bequests were for the purposes of "public education," and claimed exemption from duty. Hence the appeal to the High Court and the Full Bench's deliberation on the purpose and terms of the testator's bequests, which were set out in the will as follows: ~.,..,, "Now I. Peter Stuckey Mitchell, consider that, though gifts for the benefit of the weak, failing and sick are highly praiseworthy and to foe commended yet more lasting good is to be effected by providing means to encourage and help the capable, healthy and strong to develop and bring to fruitiou their natural advantages, and which will act as. an incentive to all sane, normal and healthy persons of both sexes to improve as far as possible their natural, mental, moral and physical conditions. It will enable the worthiest among them, by a process of selection and by competitions, • whereby they shall end the profits hereby intended, still further to better those conditions, develop themselves, broaden their outlook as citizens of the Empire, and so provide a leaven of strong, well-bal-anced and self-reliant individualities who, mixing in daily intercourse with their fellows, will tend by their example and >by the magnetism of their bright and healthful personalities to benefit and assist those with whom they may so daily mix. It will also, in the natural course of events, reproduce in future generations those quali-, ties which they themselves possess. Accordingly, I now direct that my estate shall be divided intb equal parts, to provide prizes for. various competitions mentioned, in the schedules attached to this my will, including, inter alia, prizes and bonuses for fifteen of the fittest unmarried females, not exceeding the age of 30 years, who shall be British subjects and bona fide residents of the Commonwealth of Australia, of a white race and not the off-spring of cousins. Qualifications of each competitor to be considered are:—

1. Her physical excellence and the good of her general health. 2. Her freedom from hereditary taint or disease, particularly of the intellect. 3. Her brightness and cheerfulness of disposition and the fact that she is a person who may be calculated generally to bear and rear healthy, normal children.

4. Her knowledge and understanding of the main elements of history of the British Empire, apart from mere memorising of dates and facts. o. Hlsr general knowledge of the climates and geography of the Commonwealth of Australia and of its main natural products.

6. Her knowledge and understanding of standard English literature. 7. A sound and appreciative knowledge of the Bible.

8. Her knowledge of elementary anatomy and physiology and the main functions of the human body, and her knowledge of first'aid. ?•. Her ability to ride on horseback and to swim.

10. The soundness of her knowledge of practical housekeeping and domestic economy, and of the necessity at all times for clean and sanitary surroundings and conditions, and the best practical means of attaining them under ordinary circumstances in the Commonwealth.

The Main Test:—The last and main test -is to be her practical and theoretic knowledge of nursing, in sickness and in health, handling, management, training, care and rearing to perfect health and strength of babies and young children. The testator has not overlooked the question of fit mates for model women, and his will also provides for competitive prizes for males, under 21 years of age, "who must have honourably fulfilled all military obligations imposed upon them oy the Commonwealth; be able to swim, ride a horse, and shoot reasonably well "with the rifle. Other qtialifications to be considered are the excellence of physique, knowledge of the history of the British Empire, and the Australian geography, knowledge of elementary anatomy and physiology, and the main functions of the human body and first aid, and knowledge of standard English literature and the Protestant Bible as defined in the conditions relating to women.