Can Homes and Jobs be Combined?

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1946, Page 10

Can Homes and Jobs be Combined?

With women’s organisations carrying the banner for equality of status and opportunity for all women, at the same time deploring the fall in the birth rate, it is interesting to consider just what the achievement of all the fine objectives might mean to the community, says “a writer in the Sydney Morning Herald. Earlier feminists were given to argue that men wanted to keep women in the homes as bearers of children and slaves of the stove. Modern feminists, urging wages for wives, seem to have a programme which will mean that women in the home might be only bearers of children. They might become slaves to a job outside the home which would make less contribution to the general well-being of the community than if they remained at the stove. Community Kitchens

Some women’s groups are asking for creches, for nursery schools, for kindergartens, for child-minding centres, for community laundries, for community kitchens which will prepare meals ready to be taken home, for more help in the home. All of these, of course, are admirable, and, given them, it is assumed that the mother would then have time to take a job in an office or a factory. What then would she do in return for the proposed 30/- a week wage as a wife, or does she get the wage only if she doesn’t take a job? “That being so, she would have so much leisure on her hands while her children were being taken care of by the various agencies, and somebody was doing her housework, that she would go crackers,” said one woman. The argument is not as silly as it sounds, although it is admitted that during the war women had a tough time with the household chores —a tough time that is not yet over. Community children’s welfare facilities can help give mothers more rest and leisure, but that leisure should also help mothers to become better mothers, not enable women to take non-productive jobs merely to escape housework. There are exceptions, of course, and women with families, who have also particular skills and talents should be able to develop them. Eliminate Drudgery. So that wives might have more leisure to be companions to their husbands it should not be necessary to relieve them of all responsibilities in the home. Relieve them from the intolerable burdens of a 24-hour day, seven days a week, certainly, provide facilities that will eliminate' so much of the household drudgery. But do it so that the home still remains the pivot of family life, and not just a place which is kept dusted ready for the parents to return home after work and the children to be brought home from the public nursery. Fifty-four Years a Fiancee A thin, sweet-faced old woman sits among her Victorian furniture and bric-a-brac in Sidbury, England waiting for her “young man.” She’s sure that he’s alive and that some day he’ll come around in his shining horse-drawn trap to take her to the parsonage. Her wedding gown—which she. had made more than half a century ago—is packed away in mothballs ready for the great day. Miss Elizabeth Chapman will be 80 on her next birthday, but she doesn’t pay much attention to the passing years. She lives in the romantic past when Bill Lidderdale —Mr. William, she always calls him—was a handsome and dashing young banker courting the pretty Betty Chapman. A few oldsters remember that Bill Lidderdale disappeared the day before he was to marry Betty Chapman back in 1892. They recall the newspaper stories which said, bluntly, that he had jilted his bride-to-be. But the white-haired old woman doesn’t remember that, nor the gossip that he ran away with a wealthy Spanish beauty. Her senile mind does recall that there were reports of his death in an accident aboard the Spanish beauty’s yacht, and that the London newspapers even published obituaries of her betrothed. But her day-dreams are never troubled by visions of a “Mr. William” who is either dead, or faithless to his fiancee.

Villiam Lidderdale may have gone to his reward more than 50 years ago, but there is convincing evidence that he was still on earth as late at 1896, although he never made an appearance in Ilminster, the town where he took Betty Chapman out riding in his snappy horse-drawn rig. It is quite possible that he is not now among the living, for he, like the woman who feels she is still engaged to him, would be in his eighties.The white-haired spinster never lets that probability enter her mind; life would be dull and depressing, if she didn’t believe in the kind of love that never dies and in romantic dreams that, however old, may yet come 'true.

Women’s Institute Barrytown. Mrs. Butterworth was hostess at the monthly meeting of the Barrytown Women’s Institute which was held recently at her residence. Mrs. Rowe presided and opened the meeting by asking the members to read the aspirations in unison. The motto for the month was, “If you want work well done select a busy person. The other kind has no time.” In the roll call, “Something belonging to grandma,” two exhibits were outstanding, one being a beautiful antique teapot and the other a sampler consisting of letters of the alphabet worked in wool on canvas. The monthly competition (plain scones) resulted: Mesdames Wafer and Butterworth, equal, 1; Mrs. Langridge, 2. Mrs. Wafer was winner of the flower competition and Mrs. Butterworth won the wandering 2/6. Other competitions held during the social hour were won by 'Mesdames Johansen and Wafer. Blaketov/ii Women’s Bowling Ciub There was a full attendance at the first annual meeting of the Blaketown Women’s Bowling Club held in the Elaketown Hall last week. The following officers were elected for the ensuing season:—President, Mrs R. Longstaff (re-elected); vicepresident, Mrs C. Collins; secretarytreasurer, Mrs J. Dowdall; committee, Mesdames F. McEnaney, A. Steel, J. Goodall, W. McNee and H. Lamont. The annual report of the president was adopted, as was the balance shee showing a satisfactory financial position.

A vote of thanks was accorded members of the Blaketown men’s club for the use of bowls and for other assistance during the past season.

Meeting- of Rirnanga ■ Giukl A meeting of the Runanga Cooperative Women’s Guild was held in the Druids’ Hall, Mrs. Reynolds presiding. One new member was welcomed. Mesdames Reynolds and Wright were appointed delegates to attend a meeting, at which arrangements will be made for a tribute to Mr. P. C. Webb. Songs were contributed by Mesdames Taylor, Reynolds, and Bowman. A card-cutting competition was won by Mesdames Oakley and Bell, and a fund competition by Mrs. Hodgson. The hostesses were'' Mesdames Welsh, Pope, and Pattinson. Queen Victoria Was Not Amused “Queen Victoria was furious” — that title was given to a short series of feature broadcasts for London’s overseas audience. The three programmes were about three women who devote their lives to the cause of women’s emancipation, and who worked closely together: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first woman doctor in England; her sister, Millicent Fawcett, a leader of the Women’s Suffrage movement; and Emily Davies, founder of Girton, the women’s college at Cambridge. The reason for the title is that women’s emancipation had no fiercer opponent than Queen Victoria. When the movement began to make some headway she declared she was most anxious to enlist everyone who can speak or write to join in checking this mad, wicked folly of Woman’s Rights, with all its attendant horrors, on which her poor, feeble sex is bent, forgetting every sense of womanly feeling and propriety. It is a subject which makes the Queen so furious that she cannot contain herself. Woman would become the most hateful, heartless, and disgusting of human beings were she allowed to unsex herself; and where would be the protection which man was intended to give the weaker sex?” Hirds and Recipes

Biscuit Hint. When making biscuits use . only enough egg to bind- into a paste firm 1 enough for rolling. Bake in moderate J oven on low shelf.-. Sauce For Baked Apples. Baked apples are transformed I when they are coated with a sauce made from melted chocolate cooked [ with a little water, vanilla and sugar. I The centres of the apples are filled, I the sauce poured over and the fruit [then popped in the oven for a few [minutes, j Fish Stuffing. | When cooking fish, an idea originI ating from Turkey may be used. Ini' stead of .stuffing the fish with a lot of breadcrumbs, make the stuffing l-mainly with steamed, chopped onions blended with a few breadcrumbs, : beaten egg, chopped tomato and cel- ; ery. Season and stuff fish and bake i I in usual way. '

■ Weddings Ramsay—Smart. The wedding of Myrtle Amelia, only daughter 'of Mr: and Mrs. W. R. Smart, Union" Hotel,’ Greyrhouth, to John Jofi’re, second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Ramsay, Wye street, Oamaru. took place recently at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, the Rev. T. G. Campbell officiating. The bride, escorted by her father, wore a longwaisted lace frock, finished with a train. A tulle veil fell to form a second train, being held in place by a hand-tatted halo, trimmed with orange blossom,. She carried a shower bouquet of cyclamen, white stock, white freesias, and maiden-hair fern. The bridesmaids, Miss Joyce Inglis (Greymouth), and Misses Dorothy and Ngaire Otten (Christchurch), were dressed alike in pale blue crepe de chine. Their frocks were similar to that of the bride. They wore heartshaped picture hats, and carried silver baskets of blue and pink flowers. The flower girls, Lynette Harper (Greymouth), and Marie Mikkelsen (Christchurch), wore pink crepe de chine frocks, and pink bonnets, and carried baskets of blue and pink spring flowers. ’The best man was Mr. William Smart (brother of the bride), and the groomsmen were Messrs Russell Chandler .(Greymouth), and Ostell Halliburton (Oamaru). A solo was sung by Mrs. D. Wylde, Mrs. J. Bruerton being the accompaniste. On leaving the chuich, e bride was presented with two horseshoes by Raylene Gardyne and Rosemarie Lee. , „ , A reception was held at Harkei , where the guests were received by the bride’s mother, who wore a navy silk suit with a shoulder spray of oldl lose cyclamen, a model navy hat, and si ver fox fur with navy accessories. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay later left foi Otago and Southland, the bride travelling in a tan camel hair novelty suit with squirrel fur pockets, and brown accessories, and she carried a fur coat.

Treweek— Longley. The wedding took place at St. Pat rick’s Church on Friday of Monica Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mi. and Mrs E. C. Longley, 21 Thompson street, Greymouth, and Russell Sydney Treweek, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Treweek, of N £ ls ° n ’ p formerly of Greymouih. The Ke\. Father Flaherty officiated. The bride, who was escorted by her father, wore a model gown of white georgette with a square neckline It had long puff sleeves and a bustle at the back which formed a lon°' train. The veil was of silk net and" fell from a halo edged with embroidered lace. The bride carried a sheaf of arum lilies. Miss Marie Auckran, of Auckland, was bridesmaid. She wore a blue floral organdie frock and carried a bouquet of sweet peas and anemones. The ‘flower girl, June Longley, sister of the bride, wore white floral georgette and carried a basket of

sweet peas. ‘ Mr. Noel Longley, brother of the bride, was best man. . During the signing of the register Miss Ella Cawley sang Ave _ Maria. Mrs. R. Buchanan was organist. The reception was held at Harkers, where the guests were received by Mrs. Longley, who wore a black pin stripe costume, accessories to match, and a shoulder spray of red cyclamen and anemones. She was assisted by the bridegroom’s mother, who was dressed in a black model frock and hat and short fur coat, with a spray of pink sweet peas. Mr. and Mrs. Treweek left by railcar, the bride wearing a grey tailored costume with accessories to tone. Their future home will be at New Plymouth.

Personal Notes Miss J. Hadden left this morning on her return to Wellington. Miss D. Congreve, who has resigned from the staff of the Bank of New Zealand, Greymouth, after over four years’ service, was met by members of the staff on Friday afternoon. On behalf of those present the accountant, Mr. R. W. Smith, handed Miss Congreve a gift, accompanied by best wishes for her approaching marriage. Death of Miss Valerie Corliss The death occurred in Wellington on Sunday, after a long period of illhealth, of Miss Valerie C. Corliss, one of the most distinguished musicians Wellington has produced. She organised the British Music Society throughout New Zealand, and summer schools for music teacherg at which she lectured.—(P.A.) Beauty Hints from PostWar France Helena Rubinstein, one of America’s foremost beauty experts, upon her recent return from Paris, advised women of the United States who sought to make themselves more slender, and more trim and youthful in appearance, to follow French methods. She told them: “You will have to eat less and walk more, but it will be worth it.”

Of the French, she said: “During the war, when there was very little tc eat, Frenchwomen learned to do without heavy foods. They had to walls to their daily marketing for what little food they could find, and this helped thin their figures to sylphlike proportions.” “Prettier Than Ever.” “To-day,” Miss Rubinstein declared, “the average Frenchwoman is prettier than she ever was, except in respect to her skin. That is not as transparent as it used to be, because of the lack of good soap and good creams during the war,” she said. “But generally, the Frenchwoman is getting her skin back to normal,” advised the beauty expert, adding that in France to-day there is a trend against using cosmetics for daytime wear, the woi men preferring, instead, a “pale look” obtained by the use of lighter powders. She said lip rouge in Paris is still dark but bright, and that exotic green and heliotrope powders are being used for evening wear. No longer is the heavy bronze tan which was so popular during wartime in vogue, she said, the cafe au lait tan of the skin having replaced it. Miss Rubinstein said that the pompadour was still being worn in France, but though the hair was very high in front, the back hair was now worn down. Hair was every colour of the rainbow now because of the cheap dyes still being used, she declared. The average French girl, however, is ahead of the American girl i n r . e “ spect to fashion, said Miss Rubinstein, adding that the poorest French shop or factory girl was far better dressed than the American business girl, be-

cause she called upon her own ingenuity to fashion costumes out of pieces of materials that might be discarded as rags in the United States. Self-Tailoring Common. A French girl could make her own shoes. She used wooden platforms and fabric tops and fancy buttons to snap them closed. She tailored her own clothes, and would rather not be seen than make an apuearance in something without fashion. Miss Rubinstein said that the French girl might have one dark skirt in her wardrobe, but she would have several expertly tailored jackets to wear with it. “This, too,” she said, “is where the American girl might take advice.” The beauty expert said she saw no excuse for American girls not being able to sew, if they could not afford to buy well-made clothing.