WOMEN UP IN ARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 11 February 1926, Page 8

WOMEN UP IN ARMS

CRITICISM RESENTED WHAT THEY DO IN SWEDEN. ] (By Telegraph.) " (Special to "The Evenins Part") AUCKLAND, This Day. The women of Auckland who to indignantly resented the criticism of a male Swedish visitor on New Zealand women's dress and bobbed balr hare found an unexpectedly in one of the antic's own countrywomen, Miss Vera Fridner, who is visiting Auckland. "I can quite understand that the women of Auckland will probably feel astonished, even angry and insulted, at tha remarks made by Mr. Bengtsson," said Miss Fridner, "and on behalf of the well-balanced, fine New Zealand women who I have learned to know and respect I feel it my duty to say a few words in reply. "First, I may say that Mr. Bengtsson's opinions would be those of Swedish men generally. I have visited and lived in over 20 countries, but my own country takes pride of place for producing, the most conservative men in the world. The Swedish woman, alaUhough socially and politically advanced, is still completely submissive to the opinion of her men folk, and for that reason the modern fashion of cutting the hair has not become yon* in Sweden. To change the Opinion of a conservative Swede will take a very long time. Two schoolgirls in my own town bobbed their hair when the fashion started, and it caused a tremendous sensation. They may even bs talking of it yet. I had my own hair cut in California last year, bat I admit I am letting it grow now, for I shall have more important fights; o* my hands when I get back to Bwedea again." A COMPARISON. Discussing American and New Zealand women, Miss Fridner was far more complimentary to the latter than was her countryman. It was refreshing to see their bright, natural faeei, free of daubing paint and powder that makes the American girl look jnst lik# a doll. They have* none of the boisterous manners so common in America, nothing of stiffness of the Englinh, but are natural, human, pleasant, and easy to get on with. , That is how i have found both the women and men ia New Zealand. So far as the whisky drink-' ing'and cigarette smoking are concern- ; ed, ; l do-not think the true womanly qualities are lost/by doing these things. I used to think as Mr. Bengtsssen does, but expedience has taught me otherwise.^ 'One; of 'the best and most genuine women I know does all these things. . la Sweden I have never seen women drink whisky but schnapps instead, which I should think is just about as i strong. "To compare British women with ths immobile, medieval Latin woman, a* this critic does, is nothing less than an i. insult, but as the old saying has it, 'there is no accounting for tastes,'" ■ ■ "The charge that British women ; imitate their men," continued Miss Fridner; "opens up a question that I must, be studied in connection. with another phenomenon which cannot fail to strike every traveller, of experience, and that is the increasing effeminacy of ; men. It certainly looks as though Nature were doing her best to level up the differences between the sexes, and all the conscious movement in that, direction may have a deeper causa than one generally thinks." Although invited to express her opinions as to the effeminancy or otherwise of New Zealand men, Miss Fridner merely smiled a diplomatic .smile. "Quite another matter," she''said. "Thin is just a little talk between ladi> ies," and that ended "it. TOO MUCH PRAISE? (To the Editor.) , Sir, —The criticism by our Swedisl visitor of our New Zealand girls shoulJl be accepted in the right Bpirit. Everyone has the right to criticise, provided it does not lead to vulgar personalities. I think myself that we New Zealandera are in danger of being spoilt by | too much praise. We are so accustomed to being told that'our children are the finest in the world, our girls th» ' most beautiful, and our men so wonder ful, that it is no wonder that we have become slightly unbalanced. In Australia, where the same conditions apply, the Australian youth is becoming . unbearable, andl we do not want that ; to happen here. • ■'„%•■■■ I am no longer young, but I have had my hair cut, and I like it. My ho* , band says it suits me, so why worry! ; During a recent visit to America and Europe, I, made observations from a woman's standpoint. The beat-looking and best-mannered girls and women ' were, undoubtedly those of England, while in Sweden and Germany th« women appeared to me to be still Hi* ing in the middle-ages. , Criticism is good. We have beceansj somewhat "touchy" here. A very at surd example of this was recently showt, . by a Scotch New Zealander in tats* ring to some' quite innocent remark* made by an official of the Salvatioa Army.—-I am, etc., ' MRS. C. L. HENDERSON. 10th February.