WOMEN’S WORLD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 142, 17 May 1929, Page 11

WOMEN’S WORLD.

(By “GERMAINE.”)

Mr J. Taylor, late Locomotive inspector of railways for the South Island, accompanied by Mrs Taylor, who have been on a visit to Palmerston North, left for their home in Dunedin by yesterday's Wellington express.

The many friends of Mrs McArthur, the wife of Rev. J. D. McArthur, of the Cuba Street Methodist Church, will be pleased to learn that she is making progress toward recovery after her serious operation. The death has occurred at Wellington of a most interesting personality, Mrs Swanson, formerly Nurse Mary Lyons, one of the English girls who answered the call of Florence Nightingale, ‘The Lady of the Lamp," to learn .nursing properly, and was, therefore, one of the pioneers in this worldwide and splendid service. Nurse Lyons was trained at St. Thomas’s Hospital, London, and after working with Miss Nightingale for four years, was sent by her to Edinburgh Infirmary to institute there the newer ideas about nursing. She remained there for four years. Then in 1877 Nurse Lyons was chosen to come out to New Zealand as matron of the ship Carnatic, and received several letters from Miss Nightingale of farewell and good wishes. She remained in New Zealand, was well known to Dr. Kemp and others of the earlier doctors in Wellington, her character being of the highest and her qualities admirable, ltather late in life Nurse Lyons married Mr Swanson, of Wellington, who predeceased her by several years. Their residence was in Sydney Street, and they had many friends. For the last four years Mrs Swanson has been blind, and lived with Mrs Madeley, her ago at the time of her death being 88 years. She told a friend that her birthday fell on the day after Neiv Zealand was declared a British colony, and she had felt an interest in the faroff land from early days.

• PRIVATE DANCE. Mr and Mrs L. B. Wall, of Kairanga, gave a very enjoyable dance at their residence on Wednesday night.Mrs Wall wore pink crepe-de-chene and gold lace; Miss Wen, black geoigette; Miss Elaine Wall, pale pink crystal beaded georgette; Miss Olga Wail, lemon corded taffeta and satin; Mrs Warner Knight, crimson georgette; Miss Marea -Bailey (Feilding), blue satin and spotted tulle; Miss Margaret Bendall, black crystal beaded georgette; Miss Jean Harper (Feilding), yellow frilled georgette; Miss Phyllis Harper (Feilding), pink satin; Miss Eileen Trask, black sequined georgette; Miss Madeleine Cocnayne, pink and blue floral silk georgette; Miss Peggy Nathan, pale green and pink floral chiffon; Miss Enid Nathan, apricot frilled georgette; Miss Struau Macpherson, black and tangerine taffeta and black net; Miss Nell limes, blue georgette and silver lace; Miss Joan Barnett, sea green velvet; Miss Patricia Keeling, amber taffeta and gold lace; Miss Dorothy Rodgers, eau de nil silk lace.; Miss Mona Rodgers, pink crystal beaded georgette; Miss Ruby Gillies, blue taffeta; Miss Christine Carter, mimosa frilled georgette; Miss Patricia Harman, emerald green creps-de-cheno and maize coloured lace, Miss May Akers, shell pink spotted net; Miss Dorothy Mortlaud, peacock frilled georgette; Miss 1‘ io Mclnnes, pink chenille and tucked georgette. Also present were: Messrs L. B. Wall, Warner Knight, Don Ewing, Hardy Moore, Paul Rodgers Tom Spencer, Bobby Bosworth, Peter Barraud, Billy Fitzherbert, Brian Connel, Ever.ard Barber, Trevor Louisson, lan Louisson, Tup Keeling, Bill Boddy, Dudley Davis, Frank Bendall, Charlie Thompson, John Thompson, Dick Mildon, Barber, Austin Edwards, John Perry and Wiggins.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN. MORE REMITS DISCUSSED. Per Press Association. GISBORNE. May 16. At the conference of the National Council of Women the following remits wero dealt with : Auckland: “That the Government be asked to make representations to the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia urging it to complete the proposed agreement made between the respective Governments on June 14, 1913, providing for reciprocity in the matter of old age pensions.”—Carried. Christchurch: , “That the Government be asked to consider an adjustment of the residential clause of the Old Age Pensions Act and a lowering of the qualifying period from 25 to 2U years.” —Carried. Hamilton: “That when it is necessary for inquiries to be made of pensioners Government officers than policemen should be allotted tins duty.”—Carried. “That the National Council is of opinion that in all necessitous cases where a chronic invalid husband is dependent on liis wife a pension should be granted.”—Carried. . Dunedin: “That the provisions of the Pensions Act be extended to include all destitute persons incapable of earning their living and who are ineligible for the old age pension. Defeated. • Christchurch: “That provision be made whereby a deserted wife and mother may oil application receive a family allowance.” —Referred back to Christchurch for fuller discussion. Christchurch: “That in the event or both parents having died a pension be granted to the children’s approved guardians when necessary.”—Carried. DEMAND BY WOMEN.

EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK. GISBORNE, May 16.. “That the principle of equal pay for equal work for women in every department should he recognised by the Government.” This remit from the Gisborne branch of the National Council for Women was moved at the Dominion conference by Mrs H. J. Walker, who pointed, out that unequal remuneration was objected to as much by the men as by the women, since it imputed that the women were given many positions at a lower wage which otherwise would have gone to men. In seconding the motion, Miss Osborne (Gisborne) stated that the fault lay very often with the women, who were too apathetic to strive for their right. Miss A. Basten (Auckland) suggested that the remit be altered to the following:—“That the council urges that the principle of equal pay for equal wqrK for vvomen in every partnjent should be recognised by the Government.” . . Miss E. A. Chaplin (Christchurch) pointed out this had been a bone of contention in the teaching profession for many years. Once upon a time there w;as not “M. and F.” at the head of teachers’ pay sheets, but there was to-day. , , , , , Mrs E. J. Moore (Wellington) stated that efforts were being made to combine the men ‘ and the women m the Post and Telegraph Department to secure equal pay for both sexes, hut many of the women would not join the movement.

The remit was ithen carried. The Wellington delegate brought forward the following remit. —“That the

National Council of Women should approach the Minister of Education asking that marriage should not be a bar to the employment of women teachers.” The remit was moved by Mrs Henry Smith. Miss Osborne (Gisborne) inquired whether there were specific instances of employment being refused to married teachers.

Miss Whitelaw (Dunedin) stated that no married women teachers were employed in Otago unless their husbands were injured or otherwise incapacitated from earning. Miss Ferner (Auckland) advanced the view that, according to the law of the case, any position should go to the applicant with the highest grading whether man or woman. Should such an issue be taken to the Couits, she believed that it would be so decided.

Miss E. Melville (Auckland) pointed out that it cost the country a good deal to train each teacher, so why should rot the State get the benefit of that preparation. s Mrs J. Cook (Auckland) stated that the practice was occasionally abused. She knew personally of one case where the husband was very wealthy, yet his wife was employed as a teacher. The motion was carried.

LADIES’ GOLF. NELSON TOURNAMENT. NELSON, May 16. The ladies’ provincial golf tournament was concluded to-day in agreeable weather conditions. In the final of the championship Miss Acheson (holder) defeated Miss Harkness 10 up and 9. SWEDISH PRINCESS. ARRIVAL IN LONDON. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, May 16. The arrival in London of Princess Ingrid of Sweden has created something of a stir in social circles, and has again focused attention on Britain’s three unmarried Princes. Princess Ingrid is young and unusually attractive. She is just 19 years of age. Furthermore, she is one of the few eligible Protestant Princesses reiiiaining in Europe. Princess Ingrid will be the centre of many social functions. One of the functions will be at the Swedish Legation on June 14, at which it is anticipated the Prince of Wales will be a guest. Princess Ingrid is slim and fair and has blue eyes. She speaks perfect English.

Exquisite wedding veils of fine, handworked net lace are procurable at “Arts and Crafts” Showroom, Coleman Place (upstairs,- Lewis Studio entrance). Inspection invited. —Advt.