CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7978, 8 December 1911, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS

WOMEN IN SWEDEN. Women seem to have played a considerable part in the recent elections in Sweden. They have not got tho vote, of course, like tho women of Norway, hut they have bean carrying on an active campaign for tho suffrage for several years, and they seem at last to have made an impression on the governing powers, for tho Conservatives, against whom they threw all their energies, have boon beaten (says the “Westminster Gazette"),- To assist their allies, the Liberals and Social Democrats, the Suffragettes established a committee in every constituency, and held 217 meetings during tho election. One of their loaders made thirty-five speeches, but their campaign was not marked by any outbreaks of violence against then opponents or . the Government. Tho Swedish Suffragettes seem to have campaigned on'the lines of peaceful persuasion from tho first. And perhaps that is why tho mere man in Sweden seems to have listened to them. TECHNICAL SCHOOL WORK. Annually tho Wellington Technical School displays for public inspection the results of the pupils’ work. This interesting exhibition is now open, free of charge, and is thoroughly well worth attending. Ladies will be particularly well rewarded if they examine the splendid scries of original designs in tho art departmont. The main features are stencilling on fabrics, exquisite enamelling and beaten copper-work, fancy needlework and dressmaking. In the same part of tho building (over the Education Department’s office) is placed tho remainder of tho art exhibits, consisting ot numerous specimens of drawing from tho life, the adaptation of natural objects to conventional design, modelling in clay, and wood-carving. Across Me re or street in the workshops are to he found specimens of plumbing, machine construction and drawing, and practical carpentry. These exhibits show that the pupils are put through all phases of the work, and that they turn out useful products. All the carpentry exhibits consist of useful household articles, and tho machine-shop contains 'among other things a well designed four horse-power horizontal steam engine and a six horse-power motor.

‘'ROMANCE OP THE SOAP

INDUSTRY-

There is an interesting article on this subject in the November ‘'Chambers's Journal." When Henry Ward Beecher, then at the height of his popularity, was asked by the astute manager of an English soap firm v for a testimonial, that popular clergyman vepr quickly wrote out a recommendation, which speedily found its way as an advertisement to the newspapers, and 'greatly helped to capture the American market. This recommendation began by saying that if "cleanliness is next to godliness," soap must be considered as a means of grace, and a clergyman who recommends moral things should bo willing to recommend soap. Tew commodities of civilisedi life, the writer goes on to point out, have been so cleverly and widely .advertised. Sir John Millais was furious at first when he realised that his picture "Bubbles" had been sold to Messrs Pears for advertising purposes. But it began a revolution in favour of artistic advertisements, which must be familiar to all newspaper readers. Messrs Pears are credited with having spent .£128,000 in advertising in one year, and altogether over three millions in making the merits of their soap known. The average consumption of soap in England and the United States—called the bestwashed countries in the world—is about fourteen pounds per head per annum. DOMESTIC WORKERS. Domestic workers are to have their wages board (says a Sydney contemporary). By 31 votes to 20 the Legislative Assembly decided last night to place them on the schedule of the Industrial Arbitration Bill, and the tone of the discussion, which extended over, three hours, showed it was taken for granted that regulation of pay and working conditions would follow as a matter of course. On the Government side of the House the speakers pressed the view that domestic workers were just as much entitled to share in the benefits of industrial legislation as any other class of labour, that there was special need in their case for limitation of working hours, and for securing reasonably good sleeping accommodation, and that all the difficulties incidental to changed conditions would disappear with organisation under the domestic roof. Opposition members, on the other hand, deprecated interference with the routine of home life, as uncalled for, and likely to be mischievous. Mr David Pell, in particular, urged the House to remember that in going out of their way to promote

the personal comfort of the domestic help they ran the risk of adding to the already heavy trouble of overburdened mothers, charged with rearing of their families, and that this was likely to react upon the Stale. Others pointed out that with a demand for domestic help far in excess of tho supply domestics were able to pick and choose, and practically dictate the conditions of service. Tho fifty-one members who recorded their votes divided ou strictly party lines.