WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

Mrs. F. Townsend, one of the most energetic patriotic workers at the Town Hall, has returned from a visit to Sydney.

The Auckland Soldiers' Mothers' League has forwarded a resolution to the Defence Minister asking that the Home authorities be approached with a request that the home-coming transports be not over-crowded in view of the danger of infection.

Mrs. and Miss Knowsley, who have been suffering from the prevailing epidemic, are now recuperating at Oriental Bay. .

The St. John Ambulance Brigade Rod Cross Rooms will close from Friday MKt for the holidays, and will reopen 6n a date to be announced. It is hoped that all goods to be sent in will reach the rooms by Thursday next.

The Wellington branch of St. John Ambulance Brigade has received an appeal from Lady Jekyll, St. John Ambulance Warehouse, London, for walking sticks of strong make for the use of wounded men. Owing to timber being cut down and commandeered for Government purposes, the source of supply at Home has been gradually . diminishing, and, the need being urgent, gifts of sticks would be appreciated by the local society for inclusion in fnrthtr consignments of Red Cross goods.

Rifleman Humphrey Doig Thorpe, eldest son of Mrs. Thorpe, of O»rterton, late of B,ai Valley, Marlborough, was married in England recently to Miss Winifred Webb, of Ilford. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Otfcenway, Vicar of Ilford, in St. Alban's Church. The bride, who was given away by her step-father, wore a dress of cream satin, with an overdress of cream eolienne, and a small satin hat and veil. The bridesmaid (sister of the bride) wore a dress of pale blue eolienne, with a black hat, and carried a bouquet of pale mauve sweet peas. A tiny'brother of the bride, dressed in cream serge, acted as page boy. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. Webb as best man. The couple returned to Codford, where Rifleman Thorpe, who was wounded at Messines, is now stationed.

The following resolution has been carried by the Auckland National Council of Women and forwarded to all members of Cabinet and Auckland members of Parliament,: —"This special meeting of the National Council of Women views your attitude re wom«n entering Parliament with strong disapproval in view of legislation in other progressive countries which is giving recognition to the part played by the women of the Empire during the world waiyand the need of their assistance in the reconstruction problems."

The wedding took place recently at St. Peter's of Mr. W. J: Cornish, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Cornish, of Boy-Btreet, to Miss Gladys K. Blakemore. The Rev. Mr. Watson officiated. TJio bridesmaids were Miss Eva Le Compte and Miss Eileen Geary. Aftdr the ceremony, the guests were entertained at the residence of Mr. S. Geary, Buller-street. Mr. F. Cornish was best man, Mr. C. Blakemoro groomsman, and Mr. 8. Geary (uncle) gave the bride away.

According to an Australian paper, Dr. Robertson, Chairman of the Victorian Board of. Health, has suggested that it might be possible to got women, as. a precaution against influenza, to wear the yashmak, or veil, adopted by Arab women. Beneath it could be worn two or three pieces of gauze, which would give ample protection against infection. He suggests that the yashmak might first be worn by some prominent ■woman. This would make it fashionable, and it would thfen become a custom with a utilitarian value;

Yesterday, Mr. H. Baldwin, Chairman of the Hospital Board., visited the Medicine Department at the Town Hall (Epidemic Committee), and afteT observation, it was decided that the depot should be opened daily between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Those requiring" medicines are requested to bring their own bottles. The manager wishes to thank Messrs. W. Hildreth and Son for the gift of a gross^ of bottles, and also other citizens, for similar donations. The depot wili be continued until further notice, as there is still a demand for medicine, though it is reduced.

The Key. Mother Theophane, who died last week in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Kaifcoura, was 55 years of age, had spent 37 years in. religious life, and Bad had charge of the convent for the past two yearg. Heir death was directly due to her devotion to duty; she contracted acute bronchitis while oil a nigM visit to a family afflicted with influenza. In private life deceased was known as Miss M'Lane.

Mrs. George Pearse, of Silverstream, whose death occurred last week as a result of complication's following influenza, was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. W. P. Barber, of Tfentham, md a sister of Mr. W. H. P. Barber, chairman of the Wellington Woollen Company, and of Mrs. liewens, of Trentham. The deceased lady, who was born in Wellington 52 years ago, is survived' by her husband, two sons (Messrs. Edward and Clive Pearse), the latter of whom is away at the Front, and a daughter (Mrs. King, of Wellington South). The lat« Mrs. Pears© was an energetic and earnest worker on behalf of the Eed Cross.

"Motor-driving, is as much a woman's job as working a sewing machine," said the secretary of one of the largest schools of motoring in tflis cdufctry, Says a writer in a London . paper. According to ifee same authority, experience shows that about 80 per cent, of the women who enter upon the necessary training become capable- drivers. But the training must be adequate. Motor-driving is riot learnt in a day. Insufficiency of tuition is accountable for many of the accidents) and the much more frequent "narrow squeaks" which occur on the roads at the present day. It is not that women, as a class, are reckless drivers—far from it. Moreover, they have a delicacy of touch in the manipulation of the steering apparatus which is a distinct advantage, though against this men, speaking generally, are more blessed with that nerve which, with, "road knowledge," forms a large part of the personal equation* Cer' tain of the schools for motoring which have sprung up in all directions grant what are described as "proficiency cer* tificates." Without suggesting that these are not what they purport to be, it is obvious that only a public authority cavi adequately secure what is aimed at, The war emergency course designed to give the necessary preliminary training for positions of national importance 13 divided into three stages. The understanding of the mechanism of the motor car is embraced in the first. The general principles and construction of motor cars are explained at the outeet, and then follows a detailed description of the engine, carburettors, ignition, accumulators, coils, magnetos, clutches, steering, and other matters. The second stage relates to the cure and manipulation of tires. The third is tuition in driving, which is entirely practical, the whole being carried out on the road, beginning "vo

quiet thoroughfares, and finishing in traffic. Each pupil receives the undivided attention of an experienced instructor, in order that the correct method of driving may be acquired from the beginning. As the duration of each driving lesson is only half an hour, anything short of'the full ten lessons cannot be regarded as sufficient to enable a driver to undertake the sole responsibility of a car in the public streets. While it is no doubt true that there are drivers who are really not qualified, there is certainly no demand for the untrained, and efficient drivers in the long run will assuredly displace the others. The demand for women motor car drivers, particularly for the Air Service, the Red Cross, the Women's Legion, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, and other service organisations, has outstripped the supply, however, and a premium has consequently been put upon hasty instruction in too many instances. The Automobile Association is prepared to take action where the tuition obligations have not been carried out.

An emphatic protest against the prolonged sitting of the House of Representatives was raised by a brood of sparTows. There is a nest in a hollow of the cap of a column in the chamber above the Press Gallery. During the first few dlays, through all manner of debates, and replies to questions, with or without notice, and the general buzz, of a sitting, the hungry chirrup of the young bird's has been heard. After daylight this morning the young family began to call out for breakfast, and the parent birds began to fossick The fanlights through which they usually flew had been closed. The male bird' became ia useless vagrant from one column to another, but the ben managed to find another open window, and fed her little ones.