WOMEN’S LIVES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 2

WOMEN’S LIVES

“Independence

In N.Z.”

The independence of the New Zealand woman’s life compared with ber Swiss counterpart came as a surprise to Mrs B. Treier, the French wife of the director of tours of the Swiss Automobile Club. With 20 other dub members Mrs Treier is visiting New Zealand during a tour of nine countries in the Pacific and Asia. “Swiss women have yet to obtain the vote, and they defer to their menfolk. It is rare to see a woman in the hotel business in a position where she can give orders to a man, guest or staff.” said Mrs Treier. Although Mrs Treier has seen some beautiful cottons in New Zealand, she and the other five women in the party have found that clothes here are too expensive to buy. “The quality of the shoes cannot compare favourably with European shoes for the price,” she said. Women in Europe are no longer wearing hats. "It is considered old fashioned to wear a hat at home now, so it was quite surprising to see the number erf women who are wearing hats here,” she said.

Mrs Treier considered that rations in New Zealand are about three years behind Paris. “Of course in Switzerland we are almost next door to Paris and we are still six months behind, so it is only to be expected that tu€re is a longer time lag for New Zealand.”

Church Worker. Miss Beth James, a schoolmistress from New South Wales, arrived in Christchurch yesterday to undertake a year's service among the Durham street Methodist congregation. She will work with students and assist in the care of the elderly