Women in Print

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1917, Page 9

Women in Print

The exhibition of work done by tho Dominion Stocking League at/ the Y.W.C.A., Herbert-street, is well worth seeings. Wonders have been done with materials that in past years were absolutely wasted, and the garments are not only warm and well made, but tastefull, so that they will be a plea-sure as well as a comfort to the little wearers. The exhibition will be open again this" evening from 7 till 8 o'clock, and those who appreciate clever work should not miss the chance of seeing it. All the garments will be sent to various societies in England for distribution among very poor people.

A discussion took place at the meeting of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Council, held on 3rd September, concerning the system of raising funds for the relief of soldiers and their dependents by means of carnivals, art unions, etc., and the following resolution was forwarded to ill© Prime Minister :— "That s-uch methods are objectionable for the following reasons : (1) They ara wasteful and inadequate, absorbing valuable time a«d energy in nonproductive work; (2) they are unfair to the general public, who do not need to be bribed before doing their duiv to the men; (3) they are most humiliating to our soldier friends and relations, who are thus made objects of charity; (4) lastly, they cause real moral harm to societies by encouraging scenes of excitement and frivolity at a time when such terrible suffering is being nobly endured on the battle fielßs of Europe. For these reasons we feel that, as women, it is our duty to draw the attention of the Government to the matter, and to urge that the required funds should in future be raioed by. properly graduated taxation of wealth, the only method both adequate and honourable to all."

A very pleasant a-fternoon tea was ■given by the council of the Women's National Reserve at the Salvation Army Citadel, in Vivian-street, yesterday. The occasion was to help the Army in its self-denial week -effort, the proceeds of which go ito help the various splendid works of ithe Annyr^which is, indeed, an all-pervading influence for good in the world. Commissioner Hodder gave some very interesting details of the work accomplished in the Dominion and in other parts of ithe world. About 150 girls and many boys (who. came to the Army under the saddest circumstances sometimes) ara being r.wed • for in pleasant, wellimanaged homes in various parts of the country, where the aim is to Iturn them out thoroughly self-reliant, good citizens in the future. A number of their ex-boys were filling good positions with credit in civilian, life, and there were many at Ithe front doing their duty to King and country. The work at the front was a very great one, and was carried on by Chaplain Walls and others, who wero right up in the ttrenches. Their 'hutments were close to tho firing-line, and had been erected at a cost of £70,000. Coffee and bread and butter, at the cost of one penny to the ..soldiers, wero served' there, and_ 400 eggs were cooked ait a time. Thirty motor ambulances had been -equipped and staffed by the Army, and 15,000 troops had been gathered and taken to hospitals. There wero seventy-seven hostels and homes in' different places in the British Isles, and on© specially for soldiers in Russellsquare, London. A great work was done in ithe streets and at railway stations in the way of protecting the men from land-sharks of all descriptions, and also -with men who were the worse for drink. Commissioner Hodder gave some details of the work, and mentioned with gratitude the great help which had been given by Mr. Whatman,, Mrs. Lowyy, and others. Dr. Platts-Mills, president of the W.N.R., expressed her pleasure at seeing so many members of the various branches present, and said that when Captain Burton asked the help of the .Reserve for the occasion, it was readily and unanimously given, as all appreciated the splendid work done by the Salvation Army. The tea was daintily served, and afterwards the visitors went round the stalls and found them excellently furnished with goods of all kinds. The hall is arranged with Maori, hut stails, very cleverly painted, and some charming rocky scenery, with trees, etc., which form an excellent representation of a. pa. During the afternoon Miss Dall sang delightfully, and the children from one of the Homes gave some chorus songs, and a little one gave a good recitation. The ladies who were the hostesses for the afternoon were Dr. Platts-Mills, Mesdames Bethune, Corliss, Crump, 11. Hall, HallrTiiompspn, J. A. Hanan, M. Holmes, James M'lienzie, D. M'Laren, Porter, G. F. Robinson, Seville, Townsend, and L. 0. H. Tripp.

Further arrangements have been made to ensure » sucoessful day in aid of the Christmas Gift Fund on Saturday. Promises of flowers have been received, daffodils, violets, peonies, ranunculus, and others. The Trentham Military Band will assist, and will parade town and play at various points. The more money, the more and the better parcels for our soldiers at the front, should be remembered by all on Saturday, also that when tho parcels will be dehvex'ed it will b6 in the dead of winter, when the need is the greatest.

Mies Etella Murray, of Christchurch, is staying with Mrs. Guy Fulton, Northland. .

Mrs. G. Rhodes (Christchurch) arrived in Wellington yesterday.

Mrs. and the Misses O'Donnell, of Marion, are visiting "Wellington.

Mrs. Bennie and children have gone for a. short holiday to "Kapiti House," Paraparaum.u.

The 128 th meeting of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Council was held •at Taranaki-stroet on Monday. Present: Mis. Gill (in the chair), Mesdam.es Dixon, Ewen"," Andersen, Haye, Watt, M'Kenzie, Dr. Paterson, Mi3ses England, Helyer, Stowe;! and Seatoii. Accounts to •the amount of £105 6s lid were passed for payment. The reports from the kindergartens, were satisfactory. Plans in connection with the coming bazaar were discussed, and «> produce stall arranged, for which gifts will be gratefully accepted.

The secretary of the Soldiers' Comforts Guild would be glad to receive some old umbrellas for the soldiers at Victoria Military Hospital. The men there are ajjle to enjoy the sun nn tlie verandah all day long, but the glare is sometimes too much for their eyes, and an umbrella would just give the required amount, of shade. The gifts may be left at the Red Cross depot in Mcreor-stvßot-

At the age of 83 years, an old resident of Auckland, Mrs. Sarah Ann Postle->va-ight died at her residence on Monday. Bbr%>was born at Yarmouth, England, and went to Australia, when a girl 18 years of age. There she was married to Mr. John Postlewaighi, and they name to Auckland in ■ 11362. The husband saw service during the Maori Wiir, iiiid afterwards was in the. employ of'tho Auckland Gas Company until his death, twenty two yoavs nft'i. Mia. l'osijevroijrht was tlio mother o[ 23 children, of whom Baven survive her. There, arc 52 grandchildren, 28 , great-grandchildveu.

One son "and five grandsons are on active service, and another graudsou was killed in France.

The monthly meeting of the trustees of the Wellington Convalescent Home was held at Miss Coates's, Hobson-street, on Wednesday. ' There were present Mesdaroes W S. Moorhouso (in the chair), 0. S. Watkins, A. Pearce, Joseph Joseph, Litchfield, A. Martin, Miss Coates, Miss Harcourt (hon. treasurer), Miss Miles (hon. secretary) Monthly accounts and wages were passed for payment. The matron reported that eighteen patients were admitted to the Home, and ten discharged during the month.

A very good entertainment will be given at the Day's Bay Pavilion oa Saturday evening by , the convalescent soldiers who are at the Taumaru Military Hospital, Lowry Bay. An amusing play, "A Breach of Promise/ will be given, and some good musical items as well. Thp proceeds will be given to the Day's Bay Ladies' Day at the Wellington Red Cross shop, and it is hoped that a large audience will reward the soldiers' efforts.

The eireei stall which the Ladies' Auxiliary of the V.M.C.A. organises every month in aid of the war funds of the V.M.C.A. will be set tip at the corner of Boulcott and Willis streets to-morrow. Mesctaxnes Piper and Bray, who are in charge of -the enterprise, have secured a tempting array of useful goods to offer to the public in aid of this excellent cause.

' The Women's Municipal Party, of which the Duchess of Marlborough is .president and chairman, has recently issued its third annual report, says the Gentlewoman, showing the advance this Bociety continues to make, gaining influence every day. The chief aims of the Women's Municipal Party are to stimulate women's personal sense of citizenship and to secure their election as candidates for municipal bodies. Ms work is now recognised as' filling a need which undoubtedly existed. Such an org*nisation, being non-party, will be invaluable during the reconstruction that will follow the close of the war. when it is anticipated women will take a far greater chare in the administration of the country, especially in questions of local government. The annual report includes some interesting tables showing the need for a greater number of municipal maternity and infant welfare centres, women sanitary inspectors and health visitors in the metropolitan area; also a table of local governing bodies in England and Wales, which draws attention to the lamentably small number of women serving on these bodies. The party has the support of many of the bsst-known social workers in the country, who i-ecognise that the aims of the party will further women's work on behalf of social welfare.