FOR WOMEN LIFE IN INDIA TODAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 August 1949, Page 8

FOR WOMEN LIFE IN INDIA TODAY

One can still live ‘‘like a lord in India if one is willing to pay for it afid if ° ne oes rupees • slipping through ones fingers, as if they were pennies. Buf to most Europeans there a rupee still means Is Gd or 2s (Australian), and being conscious of this only makes matters worse in a land of continually rising prices, says Olive Mays, an Auckland School-teacher who has been travelling;.the wW since 1946. we young couple living at a popularbeach hotel a few miles from paid board at a rate 01 luuu rupees ’a month,’ plus the equivalent of £5O (Australian) for such luxuries as liquor and tobacco. This is a shocking waste of money for any but a millionaire, but there are hundreds living up to these false standards simply because they lived well a few years ago at only a third of the cost, and have been unable to adjust themselves to the new order of things. Colossal Prices For Food ' . Compared with New Zealand prices the. cost of foodstuffs in India is colossal. TWo pounds, of flour costs 3s 6d; butter imported from Australia is 6s per lb and the local product is 5s 4d per lb. Ham is l-0s 6d per lb, bacon and English sausages 6s 6d and 5s 6d per lb respectively, and coarse and very discoloured .sugar Is 6d per lb. Small tins of fruit cost 6s each and bread, which.is on a hopelessly inadequate ration, is 4d for a lb loaf. Tea is 5s 6d per lb. Locally-produced fruit was disappointing both as to price and quality. Wretched little bananas were more than Id each and green tasteless oranges never seemed to fall below 3d each. Milk was a problem. It was just as cheap to buy New Zealand or Australian tinned powdered milk, and it was certainly safer and more hygienic. For 1| pints of fresh milk we had to pay 2s 6d. Materials, shoes and jewellery were less outrageous in price. Some of the

loveliest saris were rather extortionate, but they were hand-made and worked with real silver and gold thread. A glorious selection of Swiss lacey materials and organdies was moderate enough, and locally-made brass and silver ware was very reasonable. Naturally, the usual sales and luxury taxes bumped up the prices. Homes Crowded With Servants European households in India seemed to me to be overburdened with servants. A married couple with one 12-year-old daughter had eight servants, some of them parttime. There was an ayah for the daughter, a bearer, a cook and a hamal for the dirty work, all of whom lived on the premises and had to be supplied with uniforms two or three

times a > year. A gardener, a. laundryman and a;sweeper Were shared with another household, While the driver did a full-time job, but found his own accommodation. From J saw of European life in Bombay, it would take a good deal of luck and good management to' balance the household budget. The difference between supplies of food 1 and clothing and between restrictions in the various provinces was most noticeable. Europeans in Delhi and 'Agra were not rationed in any commodity but petrol, and -none of them ever seemed to complain of; a shortage in. that while we were there. Liquor was in unlimited supply and no “dry” days were imposed. Life was, therefore, much more pleasant in these, parts, provided one could forget the exorbitant prices. Women’s Institutes Ksint3 W• la The August meeting of the kaiata Women’s ■ Institute was held in the schoolroom recently. Mrs Milne presided over a fair attendance and one new member was welcomed. The president extended a welcome ■to Mrs Barker, also to two members of the Dunollie Institute. Mrs Barker read the motto for . the month, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, and all is well.” Miss Iris Barker demonstrated the making of rope sandals for beach wear. Mrs D. Steel was the winner of the mystery parcel. A presentation was made to Mrs Nicholson in appreciation of her services to the institute and birthday greetings were extended to Mrs Coom. Competition winners were: Cup and saucer: Mrs Faulkner 1, Miss D. Cox 2 Mrs Becker and Mrs Cron 3 equal; cushion cover, Mrs Faulkner 1, Mrs Dowling 2, Mrs Cron 3; cheese scones, Mrs O. Cameron 1, Mrs Faulkner 2, Mrs Milne 3. The social half hour was sing, say or threepence pay. Hostesses for the evening were Mesdames Nicholsen, Butler and Miss N. Nichdlsen. Karoro W.l.

The monthly meeting of the Karoro Women’s Institute was held in the Baptist Sunday School, Mrs Batty presiding over a good attendance. A large number of packets of shreejdo were donated for dispatch to the institute link in England. Mrs Batty and Mrs D Dunwoodie were elected sick visitors for the month. Mrs Clements, a visitor, gave an interesting demonstration on the making of a head scarf. The roll call, a limerick about a member, caused much amusement, and a debate, long v short hair was very interesting. Competition winners were: Bloom, Mrs Trowbridge 1, Mrs Watson 2, Mrs Shepherd 3; yeast buns, Mrs Murray 1, Mrs R. Dunwoodie 2; article from one yard of print, Mrs Shepherd 1, Mrs Reynolds 2, Mrs Trowbridge 3. Because of the limited space in the Sunday School it was decided to hold future meetings in the United Pavilion. Stillwater W.l. At the August meeting of the Stillwater Women’s Institute Mrs Banks presided over a good attendance, one new member was welcomed. The motto was “Face powder can catch a man. but it takes .baking powder to keep him.” Articles and money were handed in, as donations to the Leper Fund Members discussed remits to be forwarded to the council meeting. Invitations were received from the Reefton and Grevmouth Institutes to attend their birthday parties. The -rollcall “My wedding day, and photo.” was well responded to. The social half-hour competition conducted by Mrs Galligan was won by Mrs L. Peters and Miss F. Buckley. Competition results were:—Three plain scones, Mrs F. Adams 1, Miss F. Buckley 2; spring flower, Mrs L. Peters 1, Mrs Wilson 2. Miss F. Buckley won the “Wandering 25.” Hostesses were Mesdames L. Peters, H. Peters. Blaketown W.l. Mrs Innis presided over a good attendance at the monthly meeting oi the Blaketown Women’s Institute held recpnily. The meeting opened with the institute song and the aspirations were read bv Mrs West. The roll call “A country I would like to visit” was well responded to. Nominations and remits were submitted for the half-yearly federation meeting. Competition winners were: Leeks, Mrs Richardson 1, Mrs Muschamp 2, Mrs Todd 3; tomato sauce, Mrs Manson 1, Mrs Oakley 2, Mrs Fitzpatrick 3; crocheted table centre, Mrs Bowkett 1, Mrs Dixon and Mrs Marley equal 2, Miss Webster 3. A box of chocolates donated by Mrs Stewart of Christchurch was won by Mrs McEnaney. The meeting concluded with supper and a social half hour. Townswomen’s Guild There was an attendance of over 65 at the August meeting of the Townswomen’s Guild held recently. Three new members were welcomed by the president, Mrs M. J. Fogarty. In making an appeal to assist the Red Cross street appeal, Mrs Fogarty stressed the need for members to realise their civic duties. Winners of the Garden Circle competition were: Mrs McKay 1, Mrs Bohmann 2; best bloom, Mrs S. Hendry 1. The Home Craft Circle provided the entertainment, the high light being the spring model millinery display. Four demonstrations by members of woollen mops, rug making, macrame covered sherry set and novelty paper flowers were much appreciated. Dobson W.l. ■ The monthly meeting of the Dobson W.l. was held in the Dobson Hall recently, Mrs Mellet presiding. Mrs Thomson read the aspirations. The motto for the month was “A merry heart goes all the way, a sad one but

a mile.” Mrs Geo. Smith demonstrated making medallions with a daisy wheel. The silver vase presented to the Dobson choir for gaining second place in the choral festival was on show. Mrs Batey read a letter from our overseas link. Competition results were: Vase of weeds, Mrs Finch; handkerchief, Mrs Carson 1, Mesdames G. Roberts and Mellet equal 2. The social half hour competitions were won by Miss N. Fitzpatrick *and Mrs Beirne. Hostesses were Mesdames Thomson, Uren, Dobbin and Jacobs. Moana W.l.

At the August meeting Mrs White presided over a good attendance, the meeting opened with the singing of the Institute song. Invitations were received from the Greymouth and Reefton Institutes to be present at their birthday parties. The motto “Great is truth —It shall prevail” and the roll call “A beauty tip” were well responded to. Parcels of warm ’ clothing, food and soap were received for CORSO. Competition results were:—Supper savoury, Mesdames R. Dense and D. Price equal 1, Mesdames Mumford and Malcolm equal 2, Mrs Feary 3; best bloom, Mrs Mumford. Mrs Malcolm gave a demonstration on daisy wheel work which was much apreciated. The social half hour game was won by Mrs J. White. The “wandering shilling" was won bv Mrs Price.