AN AMAZING WILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 11

AN AMAZING WILL.

THE PERFECT WOMAN. RICH GRAZIER'S IDEALS. PRIZES FOR MEN ALSO. [from our own correspondent. ] SYDNEY. Mar. 1. The ideal of the perfect woman held by the late Mr. Peter Mitchell, a wealthy grazier of New South Wales, who died last year, lives after him, for under his will he lias left a large part of his fortune of £178,000 to provide competitive prizes for the discovery and encouragement of his ideal. Also, the testator did not overlook the perfect young man and for his benefit, too, competitive prizes were provided for. The will has come before no less an authority than the High Court of Australia, in the form of a case stated for the opinion of the Full Bench as to whether the moneys to be set apart for the discovery and development of the grazier's ideal constituted charitable bequests within the meaning of the Wartime Profits Assessment Act. The deceased grazier left an annuity of £5000 a year to his widow. Nevertheless a considerable sum will be available for the pursuit of his fancy, and the question for the Court to consider was whether this bequest, to be known as the Peter Mitchell Trust, could be described as "charitable, religious, scientific or educational " all of which purposes are covered by the term " charitable " in the Assessment Act. The Commissioner of Taxation said that the bequests did not come within the section, and assessed the whole for the payment of duty. The trustees said that the bequests were for the purposes of " public education," and claimed exemption from duty. Hence the appeal to the High Court and the Full Bench's deliberation on the purpose and terms of the testator's bequests, which were set out in the will as follows :— Terms of the Will. Now I, Peter Stuckey Mitchell, consider that, though gifts for the benefit of the weak, failing and sick are highly praiseworthy, and to be commended, yet more lasting good is to be effected by providing means to encourage and help the capable, healthy and strong to develop and bring to fruition their natural advantages, and which will act as an incentive to all sane, normal and healthy persons of both sexes to improve as far as possible their natural mental, moral and physical conditions. It will enable the worthiest among them, by a process of selection and by competitions, whereby they shall gain the profits hereby intended, to still further better these conditions, develop themselves, broaden their outlook. as citizens of the Empire, and so provide a leaven of strong, well-balanced and self-reliant individualities who, mixing in daily intercourse with their fellows, wUI tend by their example and by the magnetism of their bright and healthful personalities to benefit and assist those with whom they may so daily mix. It will also, in the natural course of events, reprodftce in future generations those qualities which they themselves possess. Accordingly, I now direct that my estate shall be divided into equal parts, to provide prizes 'lor various competitions mentioned, in the schedules attached to this my will, includinnr, inter alia, prizes and bonaKss for 15 of the fittest unmarried females, not exceeding the age of 30 years, who shall be British subjects and oona-fide residents of the Commonwealth of Australia, of a white race arid not the off-spring of cousins. Necessary Qualifications. Qualifications of each competitor to be considered are: — 1. Her physical excellence and the good of her general health. 2. Her freedom from hereditary taint or disease, particularly of the intellect. 3. Her brightness "and cheerfulness of disposition, and the fact that she is a person who may be calculated generally to bear and rear healthy, normal children. 4. Her knowledge and understanding of the main elements of history of the British Empire, apart from mere memorising of dates and facts.

5. Her general knowledge of the climates and geography of the Common•wealth of Australia and of its main natural products. 6. Her knowledge and understanding of standard English literature. 7. A sound and appreciative knowledge of the Bible.

8. Her knowledge of elementary anatomy and physiology and the main functions of the human body, and her knowledge of first aid. 9. Her ability to ride on horseback and to swim. 10. The soundness of her knowledge of practical housekeeping and domestic economy, and of the necessity at all times for clean and sanitary surroundings and conditions, and the best practical means of attaining them under ordinary circumfctances in the Commonwealth. The Main Test.The last and main test is to be her practical and theoretic knowledge of nursing, in sickness and in health, handling, management, training, car© and rearing to perfect health and strength of babies and young children. Securing Tit Husbands. The testator has not overlooked the question of fit mates for model women, and his will also provides for competitive prizes for males, under 21 years of age, "who must have honourably fulfilled all military obligations imposed upon them by the Commonwealth; be able to swim, ride a horse, and shoot reasonably well with the rifle. Other qualifications to be considered are the excellence of physique, knowledge of the history of the British Empire, and the Australian geography, knowledge of elementary anatomy and physiology, and the main functions of the human body and first aid, a knowledge of standard English literature and the Protestant Bible as defined in the conditions relating to women."