WOMEN'S PART

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 59, 7 September 1938, Page 9

WOMEN'S PART

THE EXHIBITION

LIVELY INTEREST ABROAD

"It, was really remarkable what a high opinion the people abroad .have of New Zealand," said Mrs. C. P. Hainsworth during- an interview this morning with a representative of the "Evening Post." Mrs. Hainsworth, who is honorary organiser of the women's section of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, returned yesterday from a ten months' tour of Great Britain, the United States, Canada, and Australia, she and her husband, who is the general manager for the Exhibition Company, having been in search of ideas and attractions for the Centennial celebrations. Mrs. Hainsworth say! she. had distributed prospectuses for the exhibition to the women's organisations, in all the countries they had visited, ana everywhere great interest had been shown. She had received replies from a number of prominent organisations saying they would like to contribute exhibits. She and her husband had an interview with the private secretaries of the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace and the following day they had received a letter to say that the Queen would be glad to lend personal belongings of her own and of Princess Elizabeth for the Exhibition; QUEEN MARY'S EAGERNESS. Queen Mary had promised to lend a mirror of modern workmanship, and had even had it packed, up for Mr. and Mrs. Hainsworth to bring away with them, but they had requested that it should be sent out in time for the exhibition as they were unwilling to undertake the responsibility of having it in their possession for so long. Lady Smith-Dorrien, who is in charge of the Royal School of Needlework in .Kensington, London, had also promised to s"end some exhibits. Mrs. Hainsworth said that their object was to not so much to make a great collection for the women's section as to have exhibits that were choice and of the highest standard of workmanship to show what can be done by the women of the British Empire. "FASHION THEATRE." The fashion theatre at the Glasgow Exhibition had greatly impressed Mrs. Hainsworth. Shel stated that about half a dozen shows were given a day and there, were always long queues of people wanting to get in. Sixpence was charged for admission, and they were "simply coining money.'^ It was one of the most profitable parts of the exhibition, and it was hoped to have^a similar theatre for the New Zealand Centennial. x The "fashion theatre" had a wonderful semi-circular stage with a back--ground made entirely of mirror glass so that the audience could see the dresses worn by the mannequins from all angles. The object of the show was> not so much to exhibit the styles as to show what can be done with British-made materials. The fabrics were supplied by British manufacturers. Feville, one of the most prominent dress designers in London, had designed the styles. Mr. and Mrs. Hainsworth had a letter of introduction to the director of Reville's. They told him what it was planned to do in Wellington, and he was very much interested and said he would be willing to design frocks for the Exhibition if he could get in touch with. Wellington importers of .* British-made fabrics. A particularly interesting feature of the "fashion theatre" show, was a display of original period frocks, some of them over 300 years old, which had been lent by a London collector. Negotiations with this collector were in progress, and Mrs. Hainsworth stated that she hoped he would lend at least a portion of his collection for the Wellington Exhibition. Mrs. Hainsworth. had a long and interesting interview with Miss Haslett, Director of the Electrical Association of Women in London. Miss Haslett said the members were great'travellers, and she would find out if; any would be in New Zealand at the time of the Exhibition,' in which case she would ask them if they would give lectures and demonstrations. « l ADVISE THE MEN! During their-visit to New York, Mrs. Hainsworth met Miss Walsh, who is in charge of the women's interests in the World Fair, which is to open in New York in May. Miss Walsh told her that the women of America' did not believe in working for a section devoted purely to women. They considered themselves equal to men in every way, and there were women on all the committees for the World Fair who would give the men advice on all matters In Toronto, Mrs. Hainsworth was v shown the Canadian craftswomen at work making jewellery, pottery, and weaving; Miss Dicken, manager of the' woman's section of the Canadian National Government.Exhibition, took her' round in her car. Among the many things that it was hoped to get for the Exhibition was one of the beautiful quilts made in Honolulu, some of which are valued at £2000. Mrs." Hainsworth said she,was convinced that there would be a great many visitors to New Zealand for the Exhibition, especially from Australia. Everyone had shown tremendous interest. The great problem, of /course, would be providing sufficient accommodation.