Miss M. Enright Reviews 34 Years With “The Press”

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27750, 30 August 1955, Page 2

Miss M. Enright Reviews 34 Years With “The Press”

“Women have not made nearly as much use as they should have made of the privileges they have received, and it is a grief to me that they do not have more power in civic and political affairs,” said the lady editor of “The Press” Miss M. Enright, in reviewing last evening her 34 years with the newspaper. “Consider that in Christchurch alone there are many women capable of holding Important positions—clever women who are able speakers, who have a grip of financial affairs, who have a sane outlook on life, and who would be wise counsellors, but the ability of few of them is being used,” said Miss Enright “I think it may he that they are a little diffident because of the rigours and hurly-burly of election campaigns. It certainly is a pity. There are so few of them in public bodies that they do not exert as much influence as they should for the good of the community.’.’ There can be few in Christchurch as well qualified as Miss Enright to speak of the growth of women’s activities and voluntary social welfare organisations. She has taken a personal interest in, and attended meetings and functions of almost 250 such bodies. The growth, of women’s activities had been really remarkable. Miss Enright said. The amount of voluntary charitable and welfare work done - by the women of Canterbury was never appreciated by the public. In the years Miss Enright has been with “The Press,” the. Women’s Division and the Women’s Institute have been founded. The Women’s Division, which now has a membership of nearly 30,000, had done wonders for country women, she said. It had been founded little more than 25 years ago. The Women’s Institute had more than 37,000 members in 1000 branches, but it had been founded at Rissington. Hawke’s Bay. by Miss Jerome Spencer as recently as 1921. It had been established in the South Island, at Waimate, in 1927. The Women’s Division catered mainly for country women, the Women’s Institute for women in small towns and villages, and for town dwellers there was the Townswomen’s Guild, also established by Miss Spencer to bring into the lives of town women what had been brought into the lives of country women. The guild had been

formed after the Napier earthquake, and now there were 13 guilds in Christchurch and its suburbs. Kindergarten Movement The kindergarten movement was another that had expanded greatly since she joined “The Press,” said Miss Enright. Thirty-four years ago there were very few kindergartens, she said. They included the Sunbeam kindergarten at St. Albans. Her first assignment on “The Press” had been to attend a gathering of the Kindergarten Association, at which she had made many friends—Miss Laura Tabart, who had devoted a lifetime to the work, Miss M. Bromley Cocks, Mrs J. R. Evans, and Mrs Percy Overton. In the last . few years, Miss Enright said she had attended the openings of many kindergartens, and there were now. she thought, 28 of them. In recent years there had been the founding and great extension of the League of Mothers, garden clubs and circles, parent and parent-teacher associations.

There were also the different groups of “Friends.” the Red Cross, with its “meals on wheels,” the Plunket Society, whose committees worked very hard indeed to raise sufficient money to meet the society’s rapidlygrowing commitments, and many other organisations, Miss Enright said. Women, she thought, showed much more social consciousness than they showed earlier. Perhaps the most remarkable example of the growing interest of women in other people was the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association, which met in Christchurch in 1952. “It was the most humbling and enlightening experience,” Miss Enright said. “It did us the world of good and brought us down to the right level,” she said,

Sport for Women The amount of public interest taken in women’s sports could not possibly have been foreseen said Miss Enright. About 1930, she said, she had asked the then editor of “The Press” whether he would agree to increase the space given to notices of women’s golf. She had had to tell him just how many were interested, and he had then agreed. Soon after, as a result of a good deal of cajoling on her part, he had agreed that she should go to Timaru to report a women’s Dominion golf tournament. She had been the first representative of a metropolitan newspaper to go outside its own city to report women’s golf, and she had been “rather a showpiece.” Since then she had reported a good many Dominion tournaments, said Miss Enright, who was at one time secretary of the Christchurch Ladies’ Golf Club. She had made many friends at the tournaments. She had been at a Dominion tournament at Napier in which a team of Australian women took part, at another at Heretaunga, where a British women’s team played, and in 1949 she had reported the tournament at Invercargill in which another young Australian women’s team had competed. In the same period, basketball and women’s cricket had developed to a considerable extent, said Miss Enright, and women's hockey had held its place. A more recent, and quite novel, experience was when she was asked to send down the first bowl to open a women’s bowling club. “Mercifully, it stayed near the kitty,” she said. Women’s bowling had grown tremendously. Miss Enright has met many of the leading figures in women’s sport, among them Mrs M. Hodson, captain of the British, golf team, Pam Barton, who was killed soon after her visit to New Zealand, Judith Percy, Maxine Bishop, and Joan Fletcher. Australian golfers, Pat Borthwick, and Betty Kernot, who had twice visited New Zealand as manager of Australian golf teams. More recently there had been Miss D. Chambers, a notable English player and administrator, and Miss Jean Donald, probably the first women’s golf professional to visit New Zealand. In tennis she had known such fiotable players as May Speirs. Melva Wake. Kathleen Nunneley, Ruby Wellwood and her sister Eileen, and more recently Kathleen Armstrong, now Mrs Colin Hart.

Women’s sports clothing had changed tremendously. Miss Enright said. She liked the skirt which was, she thought, more becoming and just as serviceable as shorts. Miss Enright was herself West Coast tennis champion at one time; she said she favoured the white dress with short sleeves worn then. She did not, however, object to the modern dress which gave ease of movement and which looked well while the wearers were young and had good figures. Fashion Changes Speaking of fashions generally. Miss Enright said she had seen long skirts and short ones, tight skirts and very full skirts, long sleeves, short sleeves and sleeves of bracelet length. “I think the women of the present day are most fortunate in the choice of beautiful fabrics available,” said Miss Enright. “They are intrinsically more beautiful than they have ever been in the whole of my experience. J have seen nothing lovelier, than the debutantes of this year, with 'their filmy and very full dresses. Dresses for older women are really rich ana di~nifled and beautiful.”

The rapid, changes in fashion must be very trying for business houses and for the women who had the ambition to be in the forefront of fashion, but her experience was that most women, especially the better-dressed women, did not follow ' fashions slavishly, but adapted them to their own requirements and to their' suitability for themselves and for the occasions on which they needed to wear them.

Leading Personalities Just as Miss Enright has come to know so many leading figures in women’s sport, so has she seen much of leading personalities in other spheres. Her first interview was with the English actress, Maud Fane, who. was very pretty, with brown eyes and

the most beautiful golden hair she had ever seen. She did not know at that time that hair could be brought artificially to such perfection. An interview that remains in Miss Enright’s memory with particular clarity was one with Rosina Buckman, the Marlborough singer, who was touring New Zealand with her husband, Maurice d’Oisly. Miss Buckman was having a triumphant tour of New Zealand. She had been bright and entertaining in conversation. Mr d’Oisly had been one of the most considerate men she had met. Other random recollections of visiting personalities included Lord Mountbatten (“friendly and good looking’’), and Lady Mountbatten (“an excellent speaker, with no mannerisms, and no notes”). One of the nicest things about Lord Mountbatten had been his recognition of Mrs H. T. J. Thacker, who had been Mayoress of Christchurch when he had visited New Zealand with the Duke of Windsor about 20 years earlier. Helen Keller, Sir Anthony Eden, and the members of two Parliamentary delegations are others among the personalities Miss Enright remembers best. She was particularly pleased to meet, with one of the delegations, Lord Lis*' towel, whose Irish seat was Miss Enright’s father’s native place. She had asked one handsome young man from the British Honduras, who was in the second delegation, whether women sat in parliament in his country. “Oh, no,’ 7 he had replied. “We try to keep our politics pure.” Miss Enright also recalled Lord Kilbracken. who had been very particular in explaining that he was an unimportant worker in Fleet street and not. as some had said, occupying a superior editorial position.

Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson she had found very charming, and she recalled the entertainment of Lord and Lady Elibank at a beautiful reception at the home of Mr and Mrs Norton Francis in Fendalton. She had been very impressed with the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Fisher) and with Mr Alfred Duff Cooper (later Viscount Norwich) and his wife. Lady Diana Manners. Mr Duff Cooper had been an excellent speaker. Lady Diana Manners had been •‘lovely, with the gift of being able to sit perfectly still for an indefinite time.” Miss Enright also mentioned Mrs James Conant, the wife of an American professor, “a grand woman.” and Dr. C. J. Austin, for 20 years in charge of the Makogai leper colony, and Mrs Austin. Of the great occasions during Miss Enright’s term with “The Press.” she singled out the meeting of the PanPacific Women’s Association, the science congress in Christchurch about 1949, the centennial, the Royal visit, the opening of the Lewis Pass road.

“The Goodness of the People” “The unfailing generosity of the public towards less fortunate people has been wonderful.” Miss Enright said. “My time with ‘The Press’ has done much to increase my faith in humanity. Through the appeals I have made I have received hundreds of pounds, dozens of radios, a projector, pianos, an organ, scores of umbrellas, bassinets and go-carts, specially-built tricycles for physically-handicapped children, as well as thousands of books and other things. I think the secret was that when I appealed people knew that within a day. or perhaps two. their gifts would go to tne people on whose behalf the appeal was made. That is my lasting memory—the goodness of the people.”

CURRENT NOTES

Mr John Andrew and Mrs Andrew (Hyde, Otago) have left by air for Rome, and will visit America and Britain before returning to New Zealand.

Mrs L L. M. Coop left last night for to attend a meeting of the national co-ordinating ..committee of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Country Women’s Institutes. Mrs E. P. White, of Claudelands. Hamilton, is visiting Christchurch. The City Council last evening expressed sympathy with the relatives of Mrs F. A. Tait, mother of Cr. J. E Tait.

The Rev. J. Harris spoke on the sanctity of marriage at the August meeting of the New Brighton branch of the League of Mothers. Mrs H. McDougall presided, and Mesdame* Quickenden and Sutton were in charge of the creche.

The August meeting of the Sheffiel Garden Club was held recently, witl Mrs Jenkins presiding. Dr. Andrewand Mr Stuffkins were the speaker-: The competitions resulted as follows posy bowl, open, Mrs Eaves 1, Mr. Baxter 2, Mrs D. Jenkins 3; novice Mrs Barnett 1, Miss J. Moray 2, Mrs Norton 3; cut flower. Mrs Eaves 1, Mrs N. O. Judd 2. Mrs Barnett 3; vegetable, Mrs Jenkins 1, Mrs Eaves 2.

An afternoon concert was presented by Hilda Reeve and her party at the Pensioners’ Memorial Hall recently. The following artists took part:— pianoforte solos, Gwyneth Ledsham land Anthony Reeve; songs. Mesdames Lilian Jenkins, M. Orr and Miss Kathleen Manguels; elocution and humour. Mrs Helena Napier. Communitv sing ing was led by Mrs Reeve, who was accompanist for the programme. An interesting talk on first aid in the home was given by Mrs Lake at the Merry Wives’ Club of the Y.W.C.A. A competition was arranged by Mrs Fisher. Mrs Burney presided. A children’s concert organised by Mrs V. Thomas was much enjoyed by a large audience at a meeting of the Brynawr branch of the League of Mothers recently. Items were also contributed by Miss Edna Neville. Mrs Alma Schumacher gave an interesting talk on her recent visit to Sydney at a meeting of the Randolph group of the Pioneers’ and Descendants’ Club. The hostesses were Mrs Elsie M. White, Mrs C. Foweraker, and Mrs J. Inwood. Miss Mary Wigley presided, and thanked the speaker. Hearing Aid Services. Hereford Court. It is so central—batteries for all aids. All aids serviced. Ask to see the new Fortiphone. 'Phone 77-782.

First Grade College Panamas, all sizes, only 18s 6d. Williamson’s, Hat makers for 50 years. ’Phone 76-767. —Advt.

The prettiest answer for spring beauty begins at Georgette Millinery with one of our enchanting model features in fashion’s exclusive colour range. At the Georgette Millinery Salon, Ballantyne’s Buildings, 122 Cashel street, and Ashburton. —Advt. Who ever you are. where ever you go. You will not find better quality frocks and suits in all sizes than at La Boutique. 142 Hereford street (first floor between Woolworths and florists). —Advt

SALON CELIA, LTD., STOCKTAKING SALE. A sale not to be resisted for lovely clothes. Spring and summer clothing at saving prices, with quality, style and chic. Salon Celia, Ltd., opp. Eallantynes, over Whitcombes, upstairs. (Take the lift.) ’Phone 65-152. —Advt