WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1926, Page 13

WOMEN IN PRINT.

Mr. and Mi's. Hope Gibbons (of Waugunui) aro in Wellington.

Mrs. W. J. Geddis and the Misses Geddis' have returned to Napier from Sydney.

Mrs. A. Messenger and Miss Betty Cowio are the guests of Mrs. Messenger, Masterton.

It was decided at a meeting held in Masterton by tho local branch of the AVomen's Division of the N.Z.F.U. that the matter of lowering the" ago of candidates for Junior National Scholarships in its relation to country children would be the subject for consideration at the next annual conference. Mrs. Barrer (president) was asked to mako inquiries regarding the scale of tariffs on kitchen utensils and domestic electrical appliances. It was decided to send a: strong delegation to the demonstration to be held shortly in Wanganui. A useful movement in the cake decorating world is mentioned in a London paper as follows: —For the benefit of those who feel that.birthday, Christmas, and other cakes for special occasions should be home-made, useful sets |of icing decorations aro being sold. They consist of a gaily-coloured cakefrill, an iced centre with words piped on it, the required number of tiny candles for the top of the cake, and iced flowers to put round it. In England the candles are usually set on the table, but tile American liking for diminutive illuminations fixed in sugarholders round the iced lottering lias "caught oit" over here. The effect is certainly very pretty. A sugar novelty for children is a buttonhole, with tho flower—a rpse, sweet pea, or daisy —in sugar. At one time these iced dainties were imported from Germany in great quantities, but the English trade has now captured the market.

Tho Victoria League of Christchurch was approached by the Cadets of Christchurch and asked to nominate a queen for the Fourth Cadet Battalion for the Military Tattoo and Pageant which will be held in Christchurch later. Tho Cadets had drawn tho Queen Victoria costumes in ballot, and tho Victoria League very soon met the Cadets' committee with the news that they had selected the queen and her maids of honour from among members- of the league. The queen to represent the Cadets Battalion will. bs Miss Nancy Gardner, the maids of honour being Misses Adrienne Acland, Margaret Stevenson, Betty Overtoil, Joan Cooper, and Molly Bean. Miss Gardner and her maids are to be present at a concert' held at the King Edward Barracks, when they and the Cadets will be introduced to each" other. It is expected to be a very happy ceremony. The wedding took place at the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church of Myrtle, fifth daughter of Mrs. James'M'Gill, of "Wellington, and Joseph, eldest son of Mr. and Mra. J. Moug, of Brooklyn. The Rev. Mr. Baird officiated. The bride wore a charming frock of whito silk marocain, trimmed with silver lace, with the usual veil and orange blossoms, her shower bouquet being of cream and pink roses. The bridesmaids wore the two little nieces of the bride, Miss Mavis M'Gill, in pale blue crepe de chine, and Miss Dorothy Wills, in palo pink crepe de chine, and each carried shower bouquets to tone with their frocks. Mr. E. ■ Anderson, of' Wellington, was best man. After the ceremony a reception was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Clyde quay, where the many ■ guests were received by the bride's mother, who wore a frock of navy blue crepe de chine. Later the bride and bridegroom left for the North, the former in' a fawn costume with hat to match.

The.modern dressing table is far from ■being the subdued affair of tho time when silver, ivory, or ebony, appointments wefe practically all that the shops offered, except to the fortunate individuals who could afford tortoiseshell and gold. Both lacquered and enamelled sets provide tho dressing table with a row of bright brush backs, and in addition there is the gaiety of coloured'tops for scent bottles and trinket boxes. The lovely peacock blue shades obtainable iv sets in enamel on silver are the most popular, although the pink and yellow enamels are almost equally attractive. Very pretty and inexpensive sets in an imitation of quartz effects are a novelty, the favourite shades, being pinks and blues. The oval brush is substituted in these sots by the shingle brush, which is round, and fits the shorn head better than the old shape. Shingle combs are also supplied, and. the pretty, squat little mirror matches the brush. The set is as suitable for a child's table as'for an adult's. The price of! tortoise-shell, by the way, is by no means prohibitive at the present time, and tortoise-shell appointments inlaid with silver or gold are having a considerable vogue. ' The Wellington Free Kindergarten met yesterday, Mrs. D. C. Peacock presiding. During the week the annual graduation party will be held, at which the certificates will be presented to those students who have completed their training, and successfully passed the free kindergarten examinations. The council is very grateful to Mr. E»dney Pankhurst for organising a cabaret evening, part proceeds of which have been donated to the Kindergarten Association. Much appreciation was oxpressed at the action of the students of Queen Margaret College in also donating part proceeds of a bazaar which they had organised. The council thanks all who have so kindly given gifts to th£ kindergarten during the last month, especially the Ford Motor Company for a donation of beautiful models of cars, lorries, etc. The children's Christmas tree parties are to be held shortly. Each little child receives a gift from the tree, but perhaps the most beautiful and touching thing about the Christmas parties is the way in Which the little ones prepare their gifts for their fathers and mothers, making beautiful and useful presents out of all sorts of odd materials which in the ordinary course of events are never used. Christmas time affords a groat opportunity of demonstrating one of tho ideals of kindergarten—thought of others. . During the last month the association has acknowledged the following subscriptions and donations: —£5 5s from Mrs. J. B. M'Kenzie; £3 from Anonymous; £2. 2s from Mr. R. Panklmrst and Miss Jean Brown; £2 from Queen Margaret. College; £l.ls each from Gear Miat Co., Bristol Piano Co., Whitcombe and Tombs, Equity Boot Co., Jones and Co., Mr. 3\ J. Jones; £1 each from Mr. Mason, Mr. Mouat, Mr. Davidson, Mi. Burnett; 11s 6d from Mrs. Eamsay; 10s 6d each from Burns, Philp, and Co., Union Clothing Co.; 10s each from Mrs. Pockley, J. H. Bethune and Co., Messrs. Guiness, Valentine, Wansborough, Wynne, Lynde, Wyles, and D. B. Graham; 5s each from Miss Hay, Major Watson, Mr. Galloway, Miss Muir, Miss Shack, Mrs. Williams, Miss Williams, Mifjs Seymour, Mr. Meek, Mrs. E. Kennedy, and Mrs. M'Nair. A vote of thanks was passed to the members of the Arts and Crafts Circle of the Pioneer Club for a most generous donation to the kindergarten. The council also gratefully acknowledges a gift of £10 from kindergarten students; which is to bo put aside to help with the purchase of a piano for the .new; kindergarten at Berhampore.

| Miss Valeric Corliss has left for Dunedin, where she will give lectures for tho Summer School for Music organisation. She will afterwards lecture in Christchurch on the-same subjects. Tho Country Women's Association opened a week's campaign in New South Wales recently, and it was well organised by members of tho association in each place. They aro "out" for & 25,000, which will bo largely used for improved medical facilities for women and children in the back country. They want maternity wards in all country hospitals, and health centres placed in isolated places where attention can be given to the less serious cases which might become troublesome if not attended properly at an early stage. From these centres, also, information will be given to mothers to make them more efficient when dealing with the simple cases. Great sympathy is extended to the women in the country by towndwellers in Australia, and each State does something towards relieving their necessities, but the feeling is that there i 3 an immense field yet for good work.

The wedding was solemnised recently at St. Mary of the Angels' Church, Boulcott street, of Miss 'Ada Hill, younger daughter of Mrs. M. Hill, of Wellington, and Mr. • Arthur Stanley Tollan, third son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Tollan, of Roscneath. The bride _ was charmingly dressed in a frock of ivory georgette and silver lace, with which was worn a beautifully embroidered veil and coronet, adorned with orange blossom. A bouquet of whito roses, orange blossom, and pale pink carnations was carried. The bridesmaid, Miss Veronica Berry, wore a pretty frock of shell-pink beaded georgette, and a large picture hat to tone. She carried a bouquet of pink roses and mauve *rrf smoncs. The two littlo flowergirls, Maureon M'Gill and Denzel' Wilkinson, were .in petalled frocks of mauve georgette. Their headdresses wore Dutch caps of mauve tulle, trimmed with small coloured flowers, and they carried pink and mauve posies. Mr. Arthur L. Holloway was best man. After the-wadding reception Mr. and Mrs. Tollan left for a tour, the bride travelling in a navy ensemble suit, hat to match, and skunk stole, tho gift of the bridegroom.

Hand-painted scarves and dresses aro regarded as beyond the means of most people, but the prices asked for tho newer fashion in "hand-painted hats are more modest, says a -fashion writer. Last year these hats were displayed in one or two shops of an exclusive nature —and. in a few art shops—but this year they are making a conspicuous show in a much greater number of shop windows. Their chief characteristic ia that, whether the material be felt or straw, they should be untrimmed, and only display in front a conspicuous cluster of fruit or flowers in bright colourings. The fashion is giving employment to artists, who are always on the lookout fov fresh designs, and even go to the aquarium to reproduce some of the beautiful tints on the scales of fishes. In place of hand-paint-ing one sometimes fmds hats trimmed with applique work, or embroidery, which can be carried out at home by any girl with skilful fingers. It is noticeable that at the more oxclusivo milliners place is found for. hats with pronounced brims. They aro 'usually turning downwards, especially on the sides, and their crowns have got away from the all-prevailing dome shape. For trimming there are many novolticß in high upstanding clusters of flowers, rather stiffly arranged upon a rigid foundation. But thore are also many novelties in feathers, and drooping clusters of ostrich feathers in tiny sti'ipings of black and white are to be seen on many good models.

An interesting experiment in the way of a "migration training scheme" for domestics is mentioned in the London "Daily Tolegraph" as follows:—The statement that "the roluctance of young women to enter domestic sorvico appears to be brooking down" forms an encouraging feature of the Ministry of Labour's report for 1925. Mistresses, however, Should not build too much on the belief that their difficulties in getting servants, especially generals, will promptly disappear. There is not quite the same rigid resistance to the idea of service shown by unemployed girls. But while things are moving in the right direction some time must pass before an improvement ia really noticeable. An interesting experiment made on a small scale this year is to be devoloped. It was prompted by the realisation that the labour exchanges form a ready-made system for ascertaining where the shortage of sorvants is most acute and where unemployment among girls is worst. A small colony has been created in a good residential London suburb of mistresses willing to-'take "imported raw material" from the industrial areas. These girls come chiefly from towns in Wales, tho North of England, and parts of Scotland where trade ■ depression is greatest and there is nothing for them to do. They have had thirteen weeks' training at one of the centres provided undor a Government scheme. A mistress has to make a "sporting effort" to meet the difficulties that inevitably arise at first on account of the girls' inexperience. In connection with tho servant question it is curious to observe that the coming of the cheap motor-car has helped to reduce the demand. From May to October many young housewives arc out so much that they dispense with a maid and employ daily help. The Labour Ministry's report reveals that 31,492 girls went as resident servants during the year, and three times that n'.imber were placed as dailies. In towns like Brighton tho demand for daily domestics greatly exceeds that for resident helpers. A few years ago households that employed large staffs were always asking the labour axchanges £<fr kitchenmaids, housemaids, cooks, and, indeed, girls in every domestic capacity. The problem of supplying the large houseß seems to be decidedly less acute. That does not indicate that skilled servants grow on bushes. They could always command high wages and. be sure of a choice of good situations.

The secretary of the Mothers' Helpers reported at the monthly meeting of the committee that there is still need for more workers, there being an everincreasing demand for the excellent assistance given by the visiting helpers. Tho question of raising funds for next year's services to tho mothers and sick people of the city was discussed, and it was decided to hold a jumble sale early in March. It was stated that during the summer, several friends had agreed to lend their lawns for tennis parties'in aid of the society. Mrs. Arthur presided at the meeting and there was a good attendance. The Pan-Pacific Women's Conference, to be held in July, 1928, Will be attended by some notable women. The honorary president will be Miss Jane Addams, known through her work at Hull Settlement House, Chicago. Dame Adelaide Anderson, at present with a British Commission in jOhina, will also bo a member of the conference, and Mine. Hsiung Hsi-ling, Bed Cross worker, wife of a former Premier, and head of a big home for children near Pekin, one of the most wonderful women in China, is planning to attend with h'or daughter, now in college in the United States, as interpreter.

Twelve men, resident in North Kensington, London, were responsible for an unusual decision as regards the responsibilities of paternity, when in

1920, they formed a Council of Fathers in connection with the Lancaster Road School for Mothers, one of the Infant Welfare Centres for the district. Womenfolk smiled with approval and helped them overcome their awkwardness and now these stalwart pioneers have multiplied to 60, and most of them can be relied upon to bath the baby or fill the bottle, as well as its mother can. Once a month the council attends lectures by doctors- or nurses on various subjects of infant welfare. The subjects range from "The Use of Sleep!' to "First-aid" and "Care of the Teeth." In return for the instruction the fathers help considerably with its funds, contributing over £100 yearly towards its upkeep.

The Returned Soldiers' Association has an announcement in the advertising columns to-day" of great interest to the young ladies of Wellington and district. Instead of choosing a candidate and asking her to select her own maids of honour, the returned soldiers are inviting the public to choose the queen and maids of honour by public competition and vote. The city has b en divided into districts, and each district is asked to compete for its representative maids of honour, and from the eleven maids thus elected the maid most suitable to take the position of Margaret of Anjou, the RiS.A. queen candidate, will be chosen by popular vote. The country districts are also being given an opportunity to join in the election, and the maid of honour chosen by the country district will be assured of throe woeks' holiday in the city. As the dresses of the maids and queen are all provided, and for the period are very effective, the young ladies elected will make an imposing array." It is hoped that all queen candidates and maids of honour > will be presented to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, who, as far as is at present known, will attend the tournament. ' Nominations will close on 17th December, but any candidate whose nomination is accepted at once may proceed with her campaign. An elaboration of the idea of feather buttonholes, lately so popular, is to use feather flowers for table decorations, says a London writer. Most of the feathers used are in their natural colour, and are principally those from poultry and game. Tho most usual are from hens, guinea fowl, and duck, though moulted plumage from parrots and exotic birds is also utilised. Orchids aro a specialty by a maker who is exhibiting her work in London just now. The flowers are arranged in graceful sprays and can be used very effectively.^ The pale" grey and soft brown feathers of poultry are very suitablo for making the orchids. Other feather flowers shown represented clematis, tulips—for these ducks' plumage was used—magnolias, fuchsias, and passion flowers. Peacocks' feathers are used very effectively for the centres of some of the flowers.