WOMAN’S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 153, 25 March 1925, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

(BY

IMOGEN.)

Miss Mollie Plimmer has returned from a motor trip to the north.

Miss A. Haise is the guest of Miss Roy, New Plymouth.

Airs. Roskruge has returned to Wellington from a visit to Christchurch.

Mr. and Mrs. Freeborn-Parsons, “Bcnmorc,” Marlborough, left by the express on Monday for Auckland.

Mrs. Gilbert Clark lias returned to Wellington from a visit to Mrs. Ken. Groves', Longbush.

Mrs. Frank Loughnan, Wellington, is the guest of Mrs. Sinclair Thompson, Geraldine.

Dr. and Sirs. R. Noble-Adams, who have been spending a holiday in Austtalia, have returned to Blenheim.

Dr. .and Mrs. Bell and family have been the guests of Mr. and Airs. W. Bell, Flaxmere, Hawke’s Bay, prior to leaving for Dunedin, where they intend to live.

Tiie engagement is announced in an exchange of Ngaire, youngest daughter of Mrs. F. E. Lincoln, late of Palmerston North, to Cyril, eldest son of Air. and Airs. A. F. Whitaker, Wellington.

The Chamber of Deputies in Rio de Janeiro lias before it a Bill making Brazilian women eligible for all public offices, including the Presidency of the Republic.

Miss Heywood (England) and Miss R. Heywood (Christchurch) have been visiting the southern lakes and mean to tour the North Island before Miss Heywood returns Home.

The engagement is announced of Beatrice Slav, youngest daughter of Mr. and Sirs. J. Shirtcliffe, of Reamera, Auckland, to Donald Mackay, only son of Sir. and Airs. A. Howitt, of Lyall Bay, Wellington.

Sir. and Mrs. W. F. Ward and Miss Ward purpose leaving for Sydney this week to join the Oronsay for England and the Continent. They intend to. be away about nine months.

Amongst those who are leaving by the lonic on Thursday morning for England are Miss E. D. Duncan, of Heretaunga, Airs. Sydney Johnston, of Takapau, Airs. Goring Johnston, of Palmerston North, Mr. and Airs. W. S. Pearce, and Sir. and Airs. E. Salmond, of Wellington.

Two notable women have recently been created Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, and one created Dame of the Order of the Britisli Empire. They are, to name them by their new titles, Dame Millicent Fawcett, Dame Ellen Terry, and Dame Louisa Aldrich-Blake.

The fashion tea at the Ambassador Cabaret was well patronised again yesterday afternoon, and _ those present were not disappointed in the display of new frocks for day and evening wear, and of wraps of many kinds. A feature of tiie evening frocks is the revival of the “bateau” neck, and a graceful line which lends itself to all sorts of pretty trimmings. Especially charming werd» the evening shawl capes of wool and silk wraps of black marocain and fuchsia satin.

Air. and Airs. W. Pegden and Miss Pegden rethrned to Palmerston North on Monday night after an extended world tour. The party visited Britain, France, Switzerland, Belgium, the United States, and Canada, and also spent a month in Australia before returning home.

Glorious weather ensured a record attendance at Miramar yesterday on the occasion of the opening of the Ladies’ Golf Club there. It was estimated that there were ninety-six players, many of them visitors from other clubs. The competition was a four-hall bogey, and each Miramar player partnered with a visitor. Some, excellent play was seen, and three pairs shared the’ honour of being three up. They were Mrs. Spiers and Miss Gambrill, Miss Jarvis and Mrs. Nagle, and Mrs. Shailer Weston and Miss M. Ward. Delicious afternoon tes was provided. The visitors were the guests of the Miramar ladies, and a most enjoyable afternoon was spent.

Among the arrivals from Sydney yesterday was Miss Mary Mallon, said to be the only woman in the world who has written, produced, and financed a picture as an individual enterprise. This picture, n domestic drama entitled “The Price,” is a story of the Australian Turf, which was successfully exhibited all over Australia, and which will shortly be seen here. Miss Mallon, who is only 24 years of age, had the itch to write scenario for pictures since she was 16 years of age, and feeling that in “The Price” she had something really worth while, she summoned all her resources, and had it produced in Sydney, Mr. Stewart Dawson, of the Ambassadors, loaning her his splendid cabaret for certain of the interior views. Miss Mallon states that on one occasion she- wrote a scenario entitled “Happy Valley,” and had the mortification of seeing it on the screen, practically unaltered, but under another title and under another’s name. As it was not copyrighted, and,, in atty case, the Australian copyright docs not run in America, there was no recourse in law, but the incident taught her that if she wished to see her work on the screen she would have to do it herself. So fat as Miss Mallon is aware no other woman has written, financed, and produced her own work on the screen, and the Sydney Press gave her all manner of praise for her pluck and enterprise.

Considering the Goring Street Hall is associated with sc many enjoyable evenings, especially at race time, it is anticipated that its re-opening will be received with much pleasure by visitors for the races this week, on whose account the new chib is being opened every night. The new scheme of decoration is Oriental throughout. The club is under Hie personal supervision of Air. Rodney Pnnkhurst, who also controls the orchestra.

Ladies would be well advised to visit our handsomely appointed salons which are furnished with all modern’ electrically-installed appliances, such as the Eugene Permanent Waviim Machines. Haliwell Hair Dryers (uT which we are the only operators in Wellington), Violet Rays, Vibrators etc. Our professional staff gives attention unsurpassed in Australasia Please ’phone appointments. Stamford and Co.. Ltd., loilet Specialists 68 Willis Street. ’Phone 21—226.

Weddings to be artistic must have Bouquets to harmonise with frocks. Miss Murray, 36 Willis Street. Deliveries anywhere in Dominion.— Advt.

MOTHERCRAFT ■ * AN APPEAL FOR HELP. Al yesterdav’s Rotary Club luncheon, Dr. \V. E. Herbert stated that from time to time tiie directors of tiie Rotary Club had received appeals from various organisations in the city for assistance io enable them to carry out their functions. It really was not the duty of Rotary Clubs to take on the financing of any organisation in their locality, but it certainly was their function to gee that a worthy institution should not go to the wall through lack of support. It was with rather a shock, therefore, that they heard that the mothercraft department of the Plunket Society was in such a financial condition that it would be compelled to close down very shortly unless the citizens of Wellington came to their aid. It was a great contrast to find that in Auckland. Christchurch, Dunedin and other centres a much better state of affairs existed, and asked them to deal with the matter in the best manner possible. The directors nad decided that Mrs. Hosking and some other representatives of the Plunket Society should attend the next luncheon and speak not only on the financial position of the Mother Help Division, but on the work it was doing and going to do to put the movement on a sound foundation. Six members of the club would be asked to meet and consider the best course to take to achieve the object desired, and next week thev would take what steps were desirable. Members approved of what had been suggested.

The appeal made by Dr. Herbeit at the Rotary Club yesterday, induced a Dominion reporter to make some inquiries into tiie actual position. It seems that of the thousands of mothers who have benefited by the help of the nurses and the use of the mothercraft home few have contributed as they might have done to tiie support of the wonderful institution on behalf of which funds are now so urgently needed. Aliss Ward, the secretary of the Plunket Nurse organisation, was very emphatic about tiie urgency of the case, and the danger of having to close down the ALotliercraft Home in Kent Terrace.

In answer to a question as to whether the amount it was necessary to raise to place the home on a good footing, Miss Ward said the immediate necessities, the amount for which would have to be raised during the coming six months, totalled £5OOO, of which £3OOO was for the mortgage on the home, and £2OOO for other necessary expenditure, although site admitted that to place the instituiou on a satisfactory basis permanently probably twice the amount raised would be necessary. Such wonderful success had attended their efforts so far as the treatment of the mothers and children was concerned that everyone connected with it would be deeply sorry if there was no prospect of placing tiie home on a secure footing.

The Mothercraft Hospital was started as an experiment about sixteen months ago, the matron in charge undertaking to carry on for six months, her successor also making a similar arrangement. Dr. Trilby King and Aliss Pattrick regard this branch oi the work as most important, as it furnished the mother with the knowledge which would preserve her own litinlth as well as ensure the 1 safety of the child. Its chief work is the education of tiie mother, especially in regard to natural feeding. Many mothers arrange to go straight on from maternity hospitals for a few days or a week, the mother being taught how to care for her baby. In many cases, twenty-four hours’ instruction is sufficient to put mother and baby on a satisfactory basis, so saving weeks of worry and sleeplessness to the former, and being of untold benefit to the latter. There has scarcely been an empty bed since the hospital started, and there is generally a waiting list. Despite financial difficulties almost from the start, every comfort has been found for the patients, but that lias only been made possible by the unselfishness of the staff, who have cheerfully done without absolute necessities in order to further the work. It would not be possible to carry on long under such conditions, and unless money is found to build bedrooms, sitting-room, dining-room, etc., the hospital must close down. Of course this work is apart from the ordinary Plunket nurse work, eight full-time nurses being employed covering the district as far away as I'aekakariki, so that any household in or around Wellington can obtain advice from a Plunket nurse. Aliss Ward was delighted to know that such a powerful organisation as the Rotary Club, which had materially assisted in the past, was considering an attempt to deal with the problem on a satisfactory scale—help which would put new courage into a hardworking committee and staff.