WOMAN’S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 195, 15 May 1922, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(Bi

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Miss Ellen Donovan has resigned her position as district nurse at 'Waikanae. Mrs. Martin Renner returned to Wellington on Saturday from Auckland, whore she had been spending the past fortnight. Mr. and Mrs. F. J. White (Hobson Street) and their son are visiting Hawke’s Bay. The engagement is announced of Miss Dorothy Abraham, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Abraham, of “Risby,” Palmerston North, to Mr. Lawrenco Sherriff, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Sherriff, of Wanganui, At Saturday night’s opening meeting of the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association, the Mayoress (Mrs. R. A. Wright), Miss Chaplin, hon. secretary of the association, and Mrs. Caughley (wife of the Director of Education) were presented with very pretty bouquets from the Wellington branch. The’ weekly sales of the Wellington North Division, of flowers, home-made cakes, preserves, and sweets, held in Harcourt’s building every Friday for the Memorial Military Chapel Fund, are now well established. Last Friday Mrs. F. Ward was in charge, and very good results for the morning sales were secured. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Watkins, of Betting Street, North-East Valley, Dune- ' din, celebrated their golden wedding at the beginning of last week. On behalf of the firm of R. Hudson and Co. Ltd., of which Mr. Watkins is an employee, Mr. Hudson presented him with a well-filled sovereign case, and Mrs. Watkins received a gold wristlet watch and two easy chairs. From Johannesburg, nows has arrived of the engagement of Mr. Leonard Caro, of Durban, and Miss Vera Altson. The former is the son of the late Mr.' David Caro and Mrs. Caro, of Christchurch; the latter is the daughter of Mrs. I. F. Altson, late of Bedford, and Addison Mansions, Kensington. “No less than 71 per cent, of the pupils of the primary schools now get some kind of free secondary education; 90 per cent, of the pupils in the various secondary nnd technical schools are free-place pupils,” said Miss Coad in her presidential address to the N.Z.W.T.A.’s annual conference. On Saturday morning the staff of l the Accounts Division of the Repatriation Department farewelled Miss 0. L. August, who is leaving to take a position in a commercial house in the city. In the course of a happy little speech, the Director of Repatriation (Mr. J. R. Samson) voiced the general regret felt by all at the departure of Miss August, and wished her every sucess in her new position. On behalf of her fellow members of the Accounts staff he then presented her with a. leather bag as a token of their regard.. The recipient feelingly responded, and a pleasant little gathering terminated with the singing of “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”' A number of cases were reported at the meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, some being of cruelty and neglect of children. Some are under investigation, and others were reported as satisfactorily settled. Mrs. F. Chapman presided at the meeting. Subscriptions were acknowledged from Mrs. \v. Nathan, £1 Is. ;■ McLeod, Weir, and Hopkirk, 10s. 6d ; W. F. C. Brailsford, 10s.; Mrs. Maudsley, Mrs. W. I<. Mackenzie, R. Jameson, Miss A. L. Shaw, and New Zealand Express Company, ss. each. One of the vital problems which secondary schools have confronting them, said Miss Coad, at tho annual conference of the N.Z.W.T.A., is tho largo number of early withdrawals. No less than 54 per cent, of the girls have left by the end of the second or during the tliird year; only 18 per -cent, stay till the end of the third year; the rest stay longer. The reasons for early withdrawals are: (1) Economic necessity, real or imagined; (2) doubt on the part of tlie parents as to tlie value of secondarj 7 school education to their children in after life. At any rate, whatever the reasons, the needs of this large number of early leavers were entitled to special consideration, and they could best be met by a simpler and more practical curriculum, and short vocational courses which would prepare, in the larger girls’ schools, for the domestic, commercial, and teaching pursuits. Presentation to Miss Chaplin.

A presentation to Miss Chaplin, a former president of the N.Z.W.T.A., and now its secretary, was made at the social function at the Pioneer Club on Saturday night by the Mayoress (Mrs. Wright), on behalf of the association, the gift taking the form of a pendant set with pearls and amythests. In an interesting and thoughtful speech, Miss Chaplin thanked the donors and the Mayoress for her appreciative remarks. WORK OF THE WOMAN TEACHER ITS IMPORTANCE NOT FOLLY , RECOGNISED. In thanking the representatives of the N.Z.W.T.A for the gift they made her on Saturday evening. Miss Chaplin, B.A. (hon. secretary of the association). after briefly outlining the history or the association, which took birth about eight years ago, .spoke of the beneficial effect it had exercised upon women teachers and their work. Miss Chaplin, in discussing tho latter subject—women teachers and their work—said that it had been somewhat generally felt that their work did not meet with the appreciation that was duo to it. Those who were in a position to know, however, knew that tho women teachers had the best interests of the children at heart, and were doing their utmost, in their way, for the welfare of the country' at large. They had tried to uplift and make the most of the best that was in the individual. Children were very important, and it was certain that they were not put iu ns high a place as they Should be. The development of character played an important part in tho development of the race. She did not think the State always realised how important the teaching of children was. Women teachers had not been free to do what they would have liked to do in the teaching of the children—what they’ felt would bo better for them. -If it were true that the best teaching for children lay along the lines of natural adaptability, tho same belief should be applied to the teacher. In the primary schools the woman teacher , had been held back. If opportunities were given her for development, <she would develop, and that development would be good for the race. If she were cribbed, cabined, and confined, her natural abilities allowed no expansion, it was impossible to get her best results. To give wider opportunities io the woman teachm- to-day was but to be in accord with the spirit of tho 1 times.

Where Skirts are Short. Discussing the advantages and otherwise of short skirts as against long skirts, an exchange remarks tdiat, after all, we do not know so much here about the really short skirt. For fuller knowledge, if any desires it, we would have to go, it appears, to the States. That, at least, is what we gather from a recent incident in Sydney, when a constable, seeing a young women in the centre of a crowd of deeply-interested spectators, found that she was •wearing a very short frock, just reaching her knees, and stockings, rolled down below',the knees. The official mind jumped to conclusions. “Are vou an advertisement for anything?” he asked. He was assured that she was “only an American tourist,” puzzled to know what interested the crowd. “Why, in New York everybody is wearing bare knees. It is fashionable to have them rouged and powdered.” The production of a powder puff was the cue for the policeman to “move on” the fascinated gazers, who, ho evidently thought, had seen as much as was good for them. It seems a long way from this . young woman, displaying her bare, powdered knees in a city street, to the bride whose “feet beneath her petticoat, Like little mice, stole in and out, As if they feared the light.” Yet we have only to go back a little further than. Sir John Suckling’s day to find traditional authority for today’s short skirt, ns well as for another fad, in the ballad of “Tho Nut Browne Mavd,” whose lover, the “banished man,*’ telling her of tho hardships for which she must be prepared if she marries him, says that she must “Cut your hair up by your ear, Your kirtle by the knee.” There is, too, the example of Maid Marian. But the skirts of these, two maids were meant to meet exceptional conditions, not the whim of some man drcss-designer in Paris, adds tho commentator. Forbidden Feathers. By the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act some measure of .protection from destruction will be assured to foreign birds. With the sole exceptions of African ostrich and eider duck, importation of feathers of any bird becomes illegal, unless special permission has been obtained. Birds of paradise and other tropical birds of particularly beautiful plumage are not likely to be imported under license for many years, as the demand has been so great, and collections so foolishly reckless, that several species were approaching extinction. Figures relative to the South African ostrich feathers show that there has been a great falling off in traffic during the last few years. Will feathers except those of the ostrich be taboo? asks a “Times” correspondent. Only a few weeks ago a society lady appearing at a meeting to plead for the birds was found to be wearing quite a beautiful arrangement of feathers; but feeling was turned to laughter on explanation being made that these feathers had in fact been those of a home-bred farmyard fowl, long since sent to table, and that tho feathers were intended to show what art and a little adaptation could do without causing suffering to any creature. Possibly artistic inventions may be looked for along that line, so that a new industry may develop with profit to those who have been engaged.in the past as feather workers. Again, there may be recalled the case of the lady'whoso long sweeping “ostrich feather” was cleverly made of fringed ribbon, gathered generously on to an invisible wire, the fringe looking just like fluffy fronds. Mothers’ Day at the Y.M.C.A. The day set apart by the Young Men’s Christian Association throughout the world as Mothers’ Day was observed yesterday. The assembly hall was well filled to hear the speaker, Dr. Truby King. Miss Neuman rendered a special solo, and suitable hymns and Scriptures were selected. Dr. King referred to his association with the Y.M.C.A. in its after-war work at Torquay, in connection with arranging for the provision and comfort and embarkation of the soldiers’ brides coming out to New Zealand. The speaker detailed interesting, incidents in that work and spoke in' high appreciation of the service of the Y.M.C.A. CELEBRATIONS IN SYDNEY. (Rec. Maj’ 14, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, May 14. Mothers’ Day was celebrated in cold, wet weather. The prohibitionists seized the opportunity to hold a procession, carrying banners favouring the abolition of strong drink.—Press Assn. •

WOMEN TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE Tlio opening meeting of the annual Conference of the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association, which took the form of a social gathering, was held in the Pioneer Club on Saturday evening. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright) presided, and there were also present, in addition to the members of the association, the Mayoress, Mr. J. Caughley (Director of Education) and Mrs. Caughley, Professor Tennant (principal of the Wellington Training College), Mr. Gould (vice-principal of the Training College), Mr. and Mrs. M. Renneij Dr. Agnes Bennett, Mrs. W. Andersen, Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth, Mr. Gifford, Mr. Purchas (principal of the Training College, Christchurch), and Mr. ana Mrs. J. C. Andersen. On behalf of the city of Wellington, Mr. Wright extended n welcome to the teachers who had gathered to attend the conference. Mr. Wright’s remarks on the importance of the work of the woman teacher and teachers generally, and those of Mr. Caughley, are reported elsewhere. Miss Coad, president of the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association, spoke of various new movements which were making themselves felt in education. A violin solo by Miss Joyce, and a description of Easter ceremonies in Russia by Mdlle. Tscheremissenoff, with supper, brought the evening to a close. Apologies were received from the Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) and Mrs. Parr, both of whom arc in Auckland, Lady Stout, Miss Mackenzie (Dunedin), and Miss Andrew (also of Dunedin). The Lyall Bay Boy Scouts required drums, and promoted a concert, which took place on Friday at Lyall Bay. There was a large audience and all the items were well received. The Rev. F. T. Read occupied the chair. The Scout troop were seen at the work of first-aid and bandaging, bridge-build-ing and signalling, and gave a demonstration of signalling. The various signs were also shown and explained and the Scout law recited. Master D. Thomas danced the Highland Fling, sheantruibhas, sword dance, sailor’s hornpipe and the Irish Jig. Mr. H. Liardet gave a demonstration of leger-de-main, Mr. F. Philpott made lightning sketches, songs were given by Mr. B. Mayall and Misses Clegg, Bryce and Daniel, Mr. Ward played a xylophone solo, and elocutionary items were contributed by Mr. Dudley Cole. Master •L. Shepherd, and Miss Laura Rutledge' (pupils of Miss George). Miss Ngaire Phipson, Miss Fay Smith, and Miss Bryce. Master McKinlay played a pianoforte solo. The audience at the request of Mr. Sando, the secretary, expressed their appreciation of an excellent performance by acclamation and the chairman returned thanks for th« liberal assistance given to the Scout funds.