Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 109, 5 November 1917, Page 9

Women in Print.

Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward went South on Saturday evening and are staying with Mr. and Mrs. 'Cyril G. Ward, Merivale-laae, Christchurch. The College Old Girls' Literary Club recently completed its season with a musical evening, m Bartlett's Studio Those who contributed to the programme included Mieses Fama Griffiths Moncrieff, Sutherland, Macdonald, and Martin. Mr. and Mra. Henson, of Wellington, have gone south. Miss E. Mantell is another Wellington visitor to Christchurch for Cup Week.. The sum of £50 was realised at the Navy League Ladies' Auxiliary Stalls on Our Day." The engagement, is announced in the Hawtos Bay Herald of Miss Rita Jenkins, daughter of the late Dr. Elystan Jenkins, of London, and Mrs. Glanmore Jones, of Sydney, to Spr. C. L Williams, A.E.F., son of the late T. O Williams Prince Edward Island, and Mrs. Williams, of Gisborne. The Soldiers' Dance in the Town Hall on Saturday night was a big euccees, the large assemblage of soldiers and friends enjoying to the full the entertainment provided for them. The Trentham Band supplied the dance music, and prior to the commencement of the dance were entertained at tea, at which the Mayor presided. The supper arrangements were in the hands of the Entertainment Com- • mittee, with Mrs. Moorhouee, Miss Clarke, and Miss Bocke in charge. Much regret was expressed at the absence of the Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke. The matron of the H<»pital desires to acknowledge gifte for patiente in the Military Ward from Lady Liverpool Hutt Patriotic Guild, Mns. M'Menamin, Mangatainoka School children, Soldiers' Comforts' Guild, St. John's Ladies' Guild, Mrs. Eolleston, Mrs. Hale, Unitarian Church, Miss Somerville, Mns. Moorhouse, Mrs. Blundell, Mr. F. Curtice, Natives' Association, Mrs. Johneon, Mre. Salek, Miss Fraser, V.M.C.A. 1 me. Maltby, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Tull, I Mrs. K. Simpson, St. John AmbulanceAssociation (Feilding), Salvation Army, Rev. Mr. Shirer, St. John Ambulance Nursing Division, Karori Bowling Club. For the General Hospital gifts were received from Mre. Hill and Mrs. Price; for the Children's Hospital, from Mrs. Denniston; for Clifton-terrace Hospital," from M». Eichelbaum, Red Cross, Mrs. Moorhwise. The dressing of the ladies at the V.M.C.A. Gymnastic Carnival on Saturday night struck a bright and pleasing note. The black and white striped tunics Worn with turbans to match were effective, and the vari-coloured "smocks" worn in the wand exercise were also pretty and shown to advantage in the march maze. The class uniform of blue and red looked well, and altogether the frocking was a, noticeable feature. The girls wore dainty spotted frocks and ribbons to match, and looked fresh and girlish. When the marching evolutions brought them into uniform line the scene was decidedly quaint and well conceived. Clowns in gaily-coloured costumes caused fun and added to the colour scheme. The contrast afforded by the becoming suits of the ladies with the white and. black outfits of the men was very striking. Two of the leaders, Misses R. Crane and D. Harrison, received bouquets and sweets for their excellent display. Major and Mrs. Sweeteer, of Featherston, are on a visit to Christchurch. A sale of work in aid of the Bed Cross is being organised by Mrs. J. M'Manaway, of 118, Tinakori-road, and will tako place this week. A fine collection of miscellaneous goods has been arranged for. Tho annual reading competition for pupils of secondary schools for prizes given by the Wellington Shakespeare ■Club was held on Saturday. Keen interest was evinced by all the competitors, and some decided histrionic talent was revealed. Good and intelligent readings were given, special mention-being made by the judges of Miss Grant's rendering oB Queen Catherine's defence ,(Henry Vni.). There were twelve competitors, including two boys, representing six schools. The prize for boys was gained by L. A. Riddell, of Wellington College, with 77 marks; the only other ] competitor, J. F. Zohrab, also of Wellington College, running him very close with 76 marks. The prize for girls was won by Alison Grant, of Wellington Girls' College, with 86 marks; the next in order of merit being Katherine Withy, Fitzherbert-terrace School, 81 marks; Maud Duthie, Chilton House School, 77 marks; and Joan Tully, Fitzherbert-ter-race School, 76 marks. Sister Marian WiUne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkie, Waimate, holder of the Royal Red Cross and New Zealand Hospital Medal, was recently married to Major Hargiot, a New Zealander on active service in France. The era of women on the land appears to be looming, if Christehurch and Tima.ru activities in this direction may be accepted as a criterion, of what may happen in New Zealand. The idea of associating domestic service in the country house with the. maintenance of national efficiency in' production on the farm connected therewith seems to be growing in popularity. Mr. G. J. Frosfcick, the National Efficiency Commissioner in Christchurch, and the Women's National Reserve are taking up the subject with keenness, and as a lesult of representations this various branches of the reserve are being asked to record tho names of all women who are prepared to undertake work on farms. The fanners are crying out for indoor and outdoor workers, and women are wanted to serve the country without asking for conditions other than comfortable sleeping quarters, fair wages, and protection. The gift parcels packed and despatched to New Zealanders on a. warship abroad by Mrs. J. R. Gibbons and helpers were supplied by the N.Z. Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy League and the Citizens' League, the scheme having been initiated by the Navy League ladies. A Christmas cake was included in each parcel. Miss K. M. Curtis, M.A. (flret-class honours in botany), formerly of Auckland University College, and Senior University Scholar in botany, who has been doing research work for the pasttwo years at the Imperial College of Science and Technology under Professor Farmer, hjls been recently awarded the diploma of the Imperial College. As the Commissioners of the 1851 Exhibition Science Research Scholarships are making no awards daring the continuance of the war, Miss Curtis was granted a special scholarship by the University of New Zealand to enable her to pursue her research on "The Black Scab of Potato." "It has ever been a part of a wounded warrior's cure to have the consolation and attention of woman," says the current istae of tho New Zealand Red Cro*s Record. Many of our nursing sis-

tera are actually roughing it ia the casualty clearing stations within the range of guns and Taubes, with no search after personal advertisement, but carrying out allotted and voluntary duties cheerfully. The "Ladies of the Lamp," as they are called by the admiring men from the trenches, flit from tent to tent, or hut to hut, with a word of cheer to all. Mesdames W. Barton, W. Toogood, and B. Speedy were hostesses at the Anzac Club, Featherston, on Friday night. The Military Band supplied music, and others who contributed enjoyable "extras" were Mesdames Wickens and Hotop, Misses Toogood, Kilmartin, and Bish. Mr. ~S. Brabant made a capable M.C. Mrs. P. Selig, of Christchurch, is at present in Wellington on her way home after a stay of four months in Sydney. Miss Beryle Selig is remaining in the ■New South Wales capital for another three months. Miss Borlase's assembly in the Gorfngstreet Hall on Saturday evening was well attended by soldiers and others. Among the dancers were also noticed many returned men. The function was most enjoyable, and Miss Borlase and her committee had a busy time securing partners for the large number present. The monster Kindergarten Fair in the Town Hall was brought to a successful conclusion on Saturday evening. A programme of a varied nature was gone through, among those assisting being the Boys' Institute Band, Turner's String Band, Miss Nesta Carwell-Cooke, and Messrs. Blight and Hoole. The girls' cooking competition was won by Miss Walls, with Miss Muriel Haye in second place. The takings amounted to approximately between £200 and £300, but actual figures will not be available for a few days. The public are appealed to for further subscriptions to assist the building fund. Much credit is due to Mrs. Gill (president) and Miss Seaton (secretary) for their tireless efforts, and to all who assisted in the fair. At 2.30 o'clock on Wednesday next Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool will open the sale of work organised by the Cambridge-terrace Congregational Ladies' Guild. The new school hall is being transformed into a fairy bower, and numerous, innovations are to be in- I troduced in decorations. A feature is being made of a "meat" Ijea devised for the convenience of male patrons who may visit the fair after their business hours. The season is for two afternoons and evenings, and there will be an entertainment each evening at 7.30. In writing of the poverty caused by the strikes, an Australian writer says that it has brought quite an "epidemic" of poor folk selling things at the door, particularly in the suburbs. She says: Their wares are of inferior quality and excessive price. But as Tolstoy says, "The poor are our little 'brothers," and in a typical home a good deal of allowance must always be made for "the little brothers." There are people who scold one for giving relief at the door to unknown, unvouched-for petitioners. They declare that deserving "cases" will alj ways receive prompt assistance at the proper official institutions. I happen to know that things do not run so smoothly all 'that. Once upon a time I suddenly bethought me to write an article upon certain features in Melbourne slum life. The idea came to me on a Saturday forenoon, and off I hurried there and then accompanied by a woman friend, to make enquiries at the various offices, depots, and "barracks" concerned with the statistics of paupers and penitents. As for «J1 wo kneiw we might be visiting the homes of extreme indigence, we. arrayed ourselves in a manner befitting our mission, and set forth all agog with youthful enthusiasm. Our ardour was soon abated, for the authorities we consulted were impatient to close their doors and hasten out of town for the week-end As the result of checked energy, our faces fell and became as gloomy as our frocks. .There was nothing to show that we were not a brace of helpless, hopeless, penniless creatures. But at each philanthropic bureau, when we asked for the Key. Mr. So and So, or the deaconess, or the sister, or any other official philanthropist, we heard that he or she was unattainable until Monday. Suicide or starvation, or worse, might have been our lot twist Saturday and Monday, for aU those goc<l people knew to ihe contrary. Hence I believe in a threepenny bit given promptly, rather than a letter paasjngon "my little brother" to the good offices of a philanthropic official m a formal building, in the midst of the bewildering city. m!' 801"^ w^ al ,lMl uaJities Between ivien and Women" was the title of an address given at a luncheon under the auspices of the Citizens' National Movement (says the Western MaflV. The speaker thought that the continued existence of various disabilities was because men had really failed to grasp the fact of their existence and their nature She spoke very strongly Tx. , jl. facfc of women bein<r debarred from sitting on juries, as so many cases concerned women and children, and the presence of women jurors would be invaluable, and simply justice also. In the municipal world there were many departments far better and more practically underetood by women than men, especially with regard to home sanitation, and the milk supply. It was time ako that the women's point of view with regard to the licensing bars should be represented better by men or that women should represent it themselves. The legal position in relation to the guardianship of children was a serious one. Guardianship lay entirely with the father during his lifetime, and he had power to remove the children from the mother and put them in other hands. That was not right, and most unfair, and should have been rectified long ago. There should be women Justices in the Police Courts, to deal with the women and children's cases. There should be laws punishing eolicitation by men as 'well as by women, and the illegitimacy laws needed amendment, and should be submitted to women for opinion. If achild died intestate the whole of its property went to the father, whereas if the father died before the mother the latter had to share all property with the children. In reference to the appointments to the University Senate, although women were eligible they were never appointed, while Labour members of little or no education were placed there. No women had been placed on Food or Cost of Living Comm^eiona, though thefr point of view was the practical one. The speaker then went into the question of equal pay for equal service, and several of the men present spoke in favour of the various points in the speech, which was well received by all present.