WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 135, 25 February 1918, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Tho National Government Candidate. The Ladies' Committee who havo been canvassing for the National Government candidate for AVollington North (Mr. J. P. Luke) givo i most enthusiastic reports of the success which has attended their efforts. During the course of their campaign the.v Imvo found that Mr. Luke is well in the lead in public favour. Mr. Holland comes next in the number of supporters, and the other candidates are anywhere. Great interest they found was being shown in regard to the meet ing to be held in the Town Hall <m Tuesday evening, at which the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward will speak, and they strongly advise women supporters who intend going to the meeting to go very early _ so that they might 'secure good seats in the hall. All In Her JJay's Work. The "British Journal of Nursing" is responsible for tho following story A nurse was hurrying along the London streets while the sinister bloom of the anti-aircraft; mns sounded from all directions. "Take cover, nurso," shouted the policeman. "I can't, I'm on my way to a case," was the quick reply. "You must take cover," ordered a special afew yards furthei on. "If I take cover it may.ba hours before 1 get to my case," replied the nurse. "Well, you" must tako your own risk. Run for your life or you will be killed." And she did run, and got to her destination at the home she had pledged. Well done, Nurse 1

Eve the Delver and Adam the Spinner,

The simple demarcation of human activities that prevailed when "Adam delved and Eve span" is fast becoming blurred, and one begins ,to wonder ■where we shall finally "bring up" on the road of change (states a writer in the "Australasian"). It seems as if masculine and, feminine powers ar/j far more interchangeable than we have imagined. Women, to whom the needle is a hereditary weapon, are amazed to/ nee how dexterously it is handled by men—when they choose. In many of the convalescent homes returned soldiers are charming away the tedious hours of recovery by doing embroidery. To see a gaunt soldier clad in a bluegrey dressing gown absorbed in working a cluster of flannel flowers 011 a panel of grey cloth is surprising, but what is more amazing still is to see how exquisitely he does it. On the other hand, girls are displaying all sorts of unexpected taßtes and aptitudes. They can delve with the best men when they want to. Women gardeners have proved their capacity, and there are flower lovers about Sydney who say their fruit and lawns and pastures have never thrived so well as since they were given over to feminine hands. The next to arrive is the lady agriculturist. That attractive picture drawn by Kipling of a [girl "playing a plough" by reversing frdm time to time (in the intervals of her knitting) an electric controller that guided a five-plough cultivator half a mile away has not yet come into view here, but women are tackling heavy field work with the implements at hand. One even hears of pretty and educated girls taking on shearing and "simply adoring it. AVhen ono remembers the physical strength required, the incidental greasiness, and several other things, one can only wonder what the next development is going to be.

Lady Russell passed through .Wellington last week on her way to Christchurch, and with her daughter, Miss Russell, is the guest of. Mrs. Boyle.

Mrs. and Miss Hay ward (Hutt), who havo been visiting the West Coast and Christchurch, left for Wellington at the end of last week.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Matthews (Featherston) are visiting Auckland.

Professor J. Macmillian Brown and Miss Macmillan Brown have returned to Christchurch from Wellington.

Nurse Violet Barker, who hasv been nursing for two years in Walton-on-Thamos Hospital, has returned to New ,-Zealand on sick leave.

Some women in villages near tho front havo as much sang-froid as the most experienced veteran. Emory Pottle describes one of these strongnerved women: —"Mere Marin had an oar for shells. What an ear! By the sound of them in the air she knew infallibly if they came or went, their sine, and their probable nearness. She took them as calmly as if they wero bumble bees."

The January number of "Kai Tiaki," the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, has been received, and is, as usual, full of interesting matter, among which is to be found, the movements of nurses on active scfl'vice, records of their experiences, and matters of interest not only to the nursing world, but to people quite outside the profession.

At a procession which was organised in Feilding, and held on Friday, for the benefit of the Gift Parcels Fund for tho men at ihe front, the sum of over £100 was collected. The Mayoress and her Patriotic Committee are to be congratulated upon the success of their effort.

What is believed to be .the first election of a woman to a chamber of commerce—at least as far as the. Dominion is concerned—took place at Devnnport last week. Mrs. G. A. Smith, who is carvv tig u business formerly conducted by her late husband, was elected a member' of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce.

Miss Lavinia Dock', a well-known American nursing organiser, has been arrested for picketing with suffrage banners "in front of the AVhitn House, and sentenced to thirlv days' iinnrisoument. New Zealand nurses will remember the very interesting bonk "The History of Nursing," written by Misses Dock and Nutting, and presented by Miss, Dock to the Nurses' Club in Wellington, states "Kai Tiaki."

Soldiers' Danoe in the Town Hall. The dance for soldiers which was held in the Town Hall on Saturday evening by the Mayor's Entertainment Committee was very largely attended, and in spite of tho heat the enthusiasm for dancing showed not the least sign of flagging. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) and Mrs. Luke did much to secure the enjoyment of those present, and assisting them were Mr. G. W. Wilson, Mr. Seaton, and tho ladies of the committee, who were in pharge of the supper arrangements, and who liad quite a strenuous time. Thu Frentham Band provided inspiriting music, and previous to tho dancing wore entertained at tea by the committee, Mrs. R. Logan (Samoa) has returned to Auckland from a. visit to Christchurch. Saturday's takings at the Red Cross Mart, New Plymouth, were to be handed over to the Scottish Women's Hospital Units Fund. A donation of £50 to this fund was handed over to the Mayoress of New Plymouth by -the In■glewood Ladies' Patriotic League.

There was ideal Weather on Saturday afternoon when the Thorndon Bowling Club held its annual friendly contest with representative team's from the other bowling clubs in and about Wellington. The green was in excellent order, and some close and interesting games resulted, tho home team winning by 53 points. Afternoon tea was provided by tho members and thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors and their friends. Mrs. 11. J. Collins, assisted by Mesdames Upham, Ronaldson, Mason, Staff, Lyon, and the Misses Ronaldson, Chittey (2), and Upham 1 (2), looked after the guests, 1 and at the finish the president (Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G.) thanked them on behalf of tho club.

On Tuesday next there will be flowers, sweets, lemonade, and cakes for sale at the Red Cross Shop on Lambton Quay. Tho calces will be provided by tho Wadestown Women's National Reserve, and a special appeal has been made by them for a generous supply. It is hoped. that the appeal for saleable goods for the shop will be responded to by all who. wish to help on the Red Cross Funds. Gifts will be gratefully received on Tuesdays and Fridays, and if the gifts should become plentiful an effort will be made for a daily sale. With the exception bf next Friday and the third Friday in March, the Friday niarket days and Tuesday flower days havo been satisfactorily filled till July, and the committee desires it to be known that all offers for lied Cross days, whether with big. returns or small, are greatly appreciated and warmly welcomed. If anyone should wish to undertake either of tho two vacant Fridays) or would send gifts to help the work on these days, their names will be gratefully received by the hoii. secretary.