IN TOWN AND OUT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 28 November 1938, Page 2

IN TOWN AND OUT

OF INTEREST TO WOMEN Items of interest to women will be welcomed for this column. Where names are given every endeavour should be made to ensure that all are included. As a guarantee of good faith, items should be accompanied by the name and address of the sender. Forms for wedding reports may be obtained from the Lady Editor. ** * * Mr and Mrs L. H. Ramsdon (Sydney) are at (he Hotel Nelson, as are also Mrs A. W. Bissett (Pahiatua), and Mrs A. L. Hollings (Wellington).

WEDDING

COSTER—SHORL AND At the Church of St. James, Lower Riccarton, Christchurch, the marriage of Rtia Levesham Shorland, third daughter of Mr and Mrs Randall Shorland, of Christchurch, and Lewis Edward Herbert Coster, only son of Mrs Coster and the late Mr Lewis Coster, of Marlborough, was celebrated. The bride’s father was for some years manager of the Union Bank in Greymouth and the family have many friends in Nelson. Mr Lewis Coster is a grandson of Mrs E. Stafford Coster, of Nelson, and of the late Mr and Mrs Beauchamp, of Marlborough. The bride, who entered the church with her father, wore a simply cut white chiffon frock patterned in roses in two shades of pink. She wore a large white hat, and carried a beautiful bouquet of pink and cream roses. Her bridesmaid, Miss Dorothy Gracey, was gowned in a frock of pale yellow chiffon patterned in deeper yellow. She wore a large black hat, the crown of which was composed of tiny lavender and pink daisies. Her bouquet was of deep yellow roses. The little flower girl, Jill Buxton, a niece of the bride, wore a charming white organdie frock trimmed with tiny lace frills. She wore a wreath of lavender shasta daisies and pink rosebuds in her hair and carried a posy of pink rosebuds. Mr lan Bonifant, of Little River, attended the bridegroom as best man. St. James’s Church was decorated with large brass bowls of pink, blue and lavender lupins, and lavender and pink rhododendrons.

After the ceremony, Mr and Mrs Shorland entertained at their home in Stravern Terrace. The drawing room, where the wedding breakfast was served, was gay with masses of ; pink and cream roses, and bowls ol roses decorated the sun-room where the wedding presents were displayed. Shorland, mother of the bride, wore a crepe-de-chene frock with a full length navy hat with tiny red roses on the crown. Her bouquet was of red roses. Mrs Coster (Marlborough) the bridegroom’s mother, wore a plain black frock with a smart black and white striped coatee, a large black hat with a spray of lillies of the valley on the brim and she wore a shoulder spray of lillies of the valley. Mrs Richmond (Westport), sister of the bride, wore a smart deep beige frock, a halo hat of the same shade, and tan gloves and shoes. Mrs Buxton, sister of the bride, wore a navy and white crepe-de-chene frock and a navy coat and navy halo hat. Mrs R. S. Beauchamp (Marlborough), the bridegroom’s sister, was in a plainly cut navy frock and a large navy hat with long ribbons which tied under the chin. Miss Elizabeth Coster, sister of the bridegroom, wore a navy frock made with a coatee, and a large scarf, striped in yellow and red. She wore a small navy hat with a yellow and red striped band. Mrs Latter, the great-aunt of the bride, wore a black costume and smart black hat. Mrs Hazelwood (Marlborough), wore a navy and white spot ninon frock and a sealskin cape with shoulder spray of white roses, and a large navy hat. Others present included: Mr Shorland, Mr Buxton, Mrs Graham and Mr Jack Graham (Rangiora), Mrs Bonifant, Misses Molly and Nora Bonnifant, Mr lan Bonnifant, the Rev. Feron and Mrs Feron (Ashburten), Mr Granville Beauchamp, the Rev. Chambers and Mrs Chambers. Mr R. Beauchamp (Marlborough), Mr and Mrs and Miss Irving, Dr Reilly, Mrs Richmond, Miss Pike (Nelson), Mr Kestaven, Mr Richmond. Mr and Mrs Gracey, and many others. Later, when Mr and Mrs Lewis Coster left for a motor tour of the Southern Lakes, the bride was wearing a smart powder-blue tailored frock with a three-quarter length matching coat, and small felt hat. Their home will be at Anakiwa, Queen Charlotte Sound.

HE WANTS 8-HOUR DAY FOR WIVES

HOUSEWORK WORLD’S HARDEST JOB i WHAT IS BEING DONE IN GERMANY An eight-hour day for wives was urged in Britain recently. Advocate for happier housewives said women expend more energy in the home than their menfolk at the office, pleaded that they should have more recreation. An idealist? Not a bit of it. A German visitor to London revealed that housework over there is becoming a trade union career—with an eight-hour day. Special plan is in operation, aiming to make German women “models of housewifery.” Plea for British wives was made at a public health and hygiene congress in Edinburgh. Lord Provost Gumley told delegates: “I am informed that the frequency of rheumatoid arthritis among housewives might be mitigated if hus bends —who are generally firm believers in an eight-hour day—would endeavour to apply the same principle to their wives and to secure for them the same amount, if not the same kind, of recreation as they secure for themselves. “The suggestion of the experts is that our British housewives suffer from rheumatoid arthritis because housework

I | | is the most exacting and fatiguing work 1 | i:i the world. i “The man who labours all day in the I j factory or office has not expended a tenth of the physical and mental energy which his wife h:|; devoted to running his home.

How German mistresses and maids have got together to attack the domestic problem was told by a woman visitor from Germany who, strictly anonymous, addressed the annual meeting of the Women’s Gas Council at Londonderry House, London. The plan they have agreed to work upon is this: Girls and mistresses must undergo a six-week trial before the girl starts on a year’s apprenticeship. Then, aged 13 and fresh from studies at an elementary school, the girls embark on a career that brings with it trade union supervision. They must work no longer than eight hours a day: there must be an hour’s rest at noon; an afternoon off, a free evening so that they can attend domestic training classes, whole free Sundays alternate with free Sunday afternoons, and there must be a fortnight's annual holiday in a rural camp. The kitchen-maid, drudge and the maid-of-al 1-work are gone. School girls are not placed in families employing no other domestic servant, and supervisors visit them to see that there is no over-work. To-day 12,000 frauleins are working happily under this scheme. But women gathered at Londonderry House were told that while the German frau revelled in this organisation because she is used to being ordered about, English women would not like it. “You,” said the speaker, “will not be ordered about.” CLAIMS OF NEW ZEALAND WOMEN The same might well be said of New Zealand women. They, too, would resent being told what they were to do. although it is as important in this country as elsewhere that housewives should work no more than eight hours a day. This is a problem upon which our own Government could well spend much time and thought. A happy, healthy housewife is synonymous with a happy heme, and the importance of a happy home to the average working man cannot be over-emphasised. If he returns from work at night to a house where his wife is nervy and irritable with fatigue, where the children are cross and quarrelsome because Mother has no patience with them, he is going to feel that life holds a grudge against him. He will think “If I were earning more and so from that his mind will work in vexation to the point where he is convinced he is underpaid. From such insignificant beginnings do strikes and other industrial troubles often arise. Because a wife and mother has too much to do. So it really is the country’s responsibility to see that housewives work no more than a man’s eight hours a day. How is that to be accomplished? Domestic labour is scarce. Everyone knows that only too well. And wages are very high. I think perhaps one solution to the problem would be to have proper training centres for girls. Let domestic service be a career as much as office work and nursing and other professions. will gain dignity and attract the right type of girl, who when she is ready for a position, will be as efficient at her job as it is possible to be, and in this way, both time and money will be saved.

There are many smaii homes where help would be necessary for only a few hours each day. Here woulid be an excellent opportunity for the student in domestic work to gain experience along with her theory. The training centres could arrange timetables for their pupils with very little trouble. Most office juniors gain their early experience in this way. Why shouldn’t it work with domestic service too?

Something must be done to cut down the housewife’s abnormal working day. If the menfolk won’t be reasonable enough to see the urgent need for reform in this direction, then the women of the country must unite in an effort to so organise matters that they are freed from the drudgery of long hours occupied with the most heart-breaking job in the world —housework.

OBITUARY

MRS E. M. TUCKWELL I From Our Own Ccr^Hpondentl The late Mrs E. M. Tuckwell, who passed away in Melbourne, was the eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. S. Edelsten. Motueka. Deceased was born in Riwaka in 1862. and in 1883 she married, at Nelson, Mr George Saunders, civil engineer. Geelong, Victoria. For several years they resided in Nelson, and then the family went to Geelong. Mr and Mrs Saunders returned to New Zealand in 1902, and lived in Gisborne until 1915 when Mr Saunders died. Mrs Saunders went back to Australia. and resided at Melbourne, where she later married Mr H. Tuckwell. a retired schoolmaster. She is survived by her husband and family of six—four daughters and two sons. The late Mrs Tuckwell’s mother was. prior to her marriage Miss Mary Ann Askew, who came to Riwaka in 1843, and her father Mr J. S. Edeisten. who arrived in New Zealand in 1853. Mrs C. Flett. Nelson, is a sister of deceased. and Messrs F. Edelsten Motucka. and A. Edelsten. Gisborne, are brothers. A RECIPE FOR TO-DAY STEAMED CHOCOLATE PUDDING , Take 3oz stale sponge cake, loz cocoa,' loz butter, loz flour. 1 egg. l£oz sugar, 1 gill' milk, J teaspoonful baking, powder. Crumble the sponge cake and mix with the cocoa. Boil the milk and pour! over it. and leave to soak. Beat the* sugar and butter together to a cream. Add the egg; stir it in quickly and beat well for a few minutes. Mix the flour; and baking powder and stir in care-1 fully, add also the soaked sponge cane j and milk gradually. Mix all together I and flavour with vanilla. Put into a | well-greased basin, cover securely with a greased paper, and steam gently for' one hour and a half. Turn out care-J fully and serve with marshmallow j

LITTLE HINTS THAT HELP Often a woman has not the time to' pick up the threads of a ladder in her stocking when at home, for visitors are waiting in the drawing-room, the coffee 1 is not leady, or else she is in a hurry to go out. In such cases a drop of nail varnish carefully dabbed on the ladder 1

l is very handy, and stops the ladder t from running further. A repair job ] of this kind will last for several laun- \ | derings. f ** * # To keep a yolk of egg in good condi- , | tion, cover it with milk, so as not t< a let the air get at it. and your yolk o t i egg will not dry up. t i j Valuable lace can be made to loo! like new by rolling the piece of lac g I round a large bottle, after careful 1 t | flattening it out. ami then dipping t in and out of warm, soapy water. Ths 'washes without damaging the fabric. ** * * I The teapot will not drip if you rub i! | little oil or grease round the spou. i This can also be done with milk o I sauce bottles. * * * If a glass stopper sticks in the bottl. j twist a piece of string round the nec | of the bottle and rub it up and dowi 01 until the friction heats the glass, art ! C then the stopper can be removed quit I P easily. 16s