WOMEN IN OTHER LANDS

Evening Star, Issue 22890, 23 February 1938, Page 17

WOMEN IN OTHER LANDS

From Mr John Kay, a member of the famous Weintraubs, the instrumentalists at present in Dunedin, “Diana” was able to gather some very interesting sidelights on the position of women in the various lands which he has visited in recent years. The Weintraubs spent a whole year in Russia, and so were able to judge of woman’s place in the Soviet order of things. Here, said Mr Kay, women are absolutely on an equality with men, and take their place with them in every profession and position available. In the engineering and building trades they work in every department, doing the heavy work as well as the designing. They hold posts, high and low, in all the Government departments, while in the professions they make efficient doctors and lawyers, and may even rise to be judges. In politics they have equal rights with men, and some haye risen to take their seats as Deputies in the Soviet Government. In every post which they occupy women are given two months’ leave on full pay before and after the birth of a child, to safeguard their health. Women in Russia have proved themselves to be not only the equals of men, but often their superiors, for their brains are often better developed and they are more industrious, especially in the matter of learning. Women in the East.

Going to the East, Mr Kay found women holding a very different status. The women of Japan are still slaves, and are dependent on men for their very existence. In China, on the other had, they a,re fast becoming emancipated, and are quick to learn and appreciate Western culture. So far, however they remain “ the power behind the throne.” China is governed in reality by its women, but as yet they are not publicly credited with the power. In Spain and Italy, where the Weintraubs have recently been, women are still kept in the background, and are slow to advance. In Germany,,they have freedom, but within bounds, for they are limited by Hitler's plans for them. Coming nearer home to Australia, where these artists have just finished a six-months’ tour, Mr Kay found the women versatile, clever, and very sporting. “ They have nice figures, and are good to look at, often being superior to their menfolk, said Mr Kay. The Weintraubs have been only a month in New Zealand, which they visit for the first time, but they are struck by the domestic happiness of the people generally. _ They find New Zealanders very musical, with great talent displayed in their homes, and in their church music. He would judge the women to be highly intelligent, but seeking domestic life for preference. lt In Australia we found,” he t said, almost everyone interested in horse racing and beer; but in New Zealand it is quite different.”

Cooking As An Art. From this we drifted to the subject of food. “Alas!” said Mr Kay, “we sigh for some better and more varied cooking. I personally could recite the menu in any Australian or New Zealand hotel without looking at it. There is no imagination. Roast pork and apple sauce, roast beef, roast lamb, and so on ad lib. Could your hotels not introduce some of the Hungarian of Viennese dishes and so get a little variety? Apfelstrudel, for Instance, the best apple pie in the w.orld, or some of the very good Swedish dishes? In a Swedish hotel one may find as many as 100 dishes, hot or cold, served cafeteria fashion in the dining room. In China, too, there are excellent cooks.” Once in Korea, where the Weintraubs spent some weeks, only Japanese dishes were obtainable, and they soon learned to appreciate Sukyaki. Here is the recipe: The only utensils needed are a fire and a pan, with basins and chopsticks for serving. In Korea it was a charcoal brazier, the food being prepared at table and cooked to taste. The ingredients arc thin, small slices of steak, onions, lettuce, and other green vegetables, noodles made from soya beans, Worcester sauce also made from soyas. The method: Heat the pan and rub well with suet. Put in all the ingredients, piled up, and stir about while they cook, lightly browned to taste. Break into a bowl two eggs, and mix with the chopsticks. Then take pieces from the pan, dip in the egg, and eat with the chopstick. “Very good, indeed!” At least, so said Mr Kay. “ A last word on New Zealand cooking,” as he was whisked off to rehearsal. “ Your tea is excellent, hut, oh! your coffee!”