WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 38, 14 August 1917, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

The linen shortage is soon to be felt in Now Zealand. It is expected that all linen goods manufactured from Irish hemp will soon be of the past, at least so far as New Zealand is concerned. Fine tablecloths, table napkins, and such lika were, in pre-war days, manufactured from' Irish hemp, and even the ordinary flour bag is bnt the dressed and woven fibre of the same plant. According to the Manawatu Standard, which recently sought information from a gentleman interested in the trade, the wav has changed all this. Raw Irish linen has leaped from 12s per stone to 30s, and even more. Then the comnnMideering by the British Government of all stocks and crops of raw flax, the use of weaving factories on Government contracts, had combined to effect almost a cessation of the manufacture of domestic and fa,ncy linens. It can thus be understood why the old pi»waf flour bags uta now worth nearly 3s each. That cotton substitutes will soon be -replacing the finer grade linens is the ■opinion of the Palmerston gentleman.

The despatch of Christmas gifts to the men at the front is now occupying the attention of the members of the Mayoress's Countess of Liverpool Fund Committee and of the Citizens' League Christmas Gift Fund Committee. Over 100 cases have already been sent forward, and the ladies at the Town Hall are still' busily engaged preparing further cases.

Those wishing to send hampers to their friends at the front will be pleased to learn that a sale of cakes, sweets, etc., is to be held at the Technical College at the end of the- month. Christmas plumpuddings, prepared for sending to the troops, will be a special feature. In addition to this there will be stalls for flowers, fancy goods, and produce. The proceeds of the sale will go to the fund for supplying comforts to the wounded.

Miss Williams, of Gisborae, daughter of Archdeacon Williams, is on a visit to Wellington.

Colonel and Mts. Moorhouse, prominent in Red Cross work in Wellington, have gone to Auckland on a visit.

Mr*. C. R. Beadel, .Miss Beadtel, and Lieutenant Geoffrey Beadel, of Christchurch, . have come to Wellington.

Melboums policewomen, Mrs. M. Connor and Miss E. J. Beers, have commenced thedr duties. They wear no distinctive uniform, but carry badges to show their authority. They patrol plum areas where neglected children need assistance and women will ho looked after. Their duties also include patrolling) wharves and railway stations in ordter to advise, where necessary, women and children arriving by long distance trains or steamers.

Mr. Mrs.,' and Mies Ewarfc, of the* Wairarapa, have been on a visit to Wellington.

Letters received from members of the Motor Boat Patrol complain of neglect in the matter of gift parcels from New Zealand, when every other branch of active service is being bo well looked after. A movement is on foot in Wellington to arrange for the despatch of Christmas gifts to the men labouring at sea* under arduous and dangerous conditions.

The Manswatu Standard says :—The death occurred in Wellington a few day 3 ago of Mrs. Elizabeth Tew, for many years a resident of Palmerston. She was 62 years of age, and had been suffering for' a long time. She leaves a family of two sons and three daughters, amongst whom are Mr, A. Tew, of Towoomba, Queensland, and Miss Tew, schoolmistress at Mangarawa, Pahiatua.

Thousands of business and professional men in England who have enlisted have transferred their bank accounts and cheque books to their wives. While the husband is with the Army it devolves upon the wife to manage and settle everything, rent, rates, education, wages, household and all other bills. Most of the women who are now cheque signers never before had a banking ac-. count. But the manager of a big London bank said recently that his admiration for the capabilities of the war time woman has been heightened by the intuition and system she displayed in tackling her absent husband's finances. "Women," he said, "are very methodical in their- banking. Woman customers pay in promptly, and are more attentive to their pass books than many men. It is very seldom that women incur overdrafts."

"How Women are Revolutionising the Industries of Europe," is the subject of an excellent article in the July' issue of the American journal, Cui-cent Opinion. It is estimated that more than 9,000,000 women work in German factories, on farms, and elsewhere, and that nearly 2,000,000 aro doing the samo in Great Britain. Over 300,000 women are registered for farm work alone in England, and the advent of the millions into tho ranks of labour constitutes one of the most important and significant features of the war. Practically all the train and 'bus conductors are women, the Military Tribunal Justice having assisted the companies in getting rid of their men by wiping out exemptions from military service. Men have been constantly weeded out and replaced by women in the 6000 munition, factories now operating in the British Isles, and Glen Laughery, recently back from England, tells in the New York American that some are paid as high as £7 a week, while skilled operatives earn as much as £10. Behind all the desks in hotels and restaurants. English and Irish girls are working, while the usage'of waiters for military service has opened up more positions to girls and women. Ten women have obtained positions in the Supremo Court of Judicature as a test, a concession without precedent since Nell Gwynne's appointment in the reign of Charlesll.

Mrs. Monteith Nahr and her daughter Noelle, accompanied by Miss Marion Monteith, who are leaving for Sydney shortly, are at present staying at the Royal Oak Hotel.

The marriage took place recently at Kent-terrace Presbyterian Church of Miss Meta Park, of Hafeiitai, and Mr. Stanley C. Rea, of Belfast, Irela,nd. Rev. Dr. Kennedy Elliott officiated. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. William Park, of Hawera, was attended by Miss Claudia Brndey, of Pahautanui. Mr. Ghas. Scott was best man. The wedding reception was held at the bride's home, Wnipapa-road, Hataitai, Mrs. Park receiving the guests. Mr. nnc' Mrs. Rea left later by the Auckland express, the bride wearing a handsome eqnirel coat, with velours hat, over n smart, navy costume

The Victoria League will be in charge of th« Red Cross shop, Lambton-quEiy, on Friday. Much work is being expended to make the day a success. There will be h. plain clothes stall as well.

Tlio V.M.C.A. ladies' .auxiliary is now concerned with a new venture, that of opening a- cake loom in Lambton-quay, where 1 home-made goods will be on sale for the first lime to-morrow. The room is ever LiUleJahti's premisM, .aitd i* made bright aad cfawty, Ponabtions of

The ladies of the Catholic Knitting! Guild' are holding a dance in the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith-street, on Saturday night. Proceeds are for patriotic purposes, in aid of the Red' Gross shop, edibles will' b© gratefully received by the promoters. The same rooms will bo used on Friday by the Minamar Ladies' Golf Club for its weekly sale of cakes and flowers. Mesdames Piper and Bray are the Y.M.O.A. convenors, and they will have charge of the cake room tomorrow.