War On Flappers

NZ Truth, Issue 873, 19 August 1922, Page 1

War On Flappers

A new sibyl of Fashion has arisen |m London. He is a male sibyl, and his disastrous proposal has stampeded the world of flapper and those who hug it. His name is Macquisten. And this is h6w the cable announced him, and .what he announced m the cable: LONDON. Mr P. A. Macquisten, K.C., member of the House of Commons for the Springburn division of Glasgow, has given notice that x he " will move m committee a new clause to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, ' enacting thatj every female aged 18 years or under, shall wear her hair either loose or plaited, but hanging down her back,' and that offenders wearing their hair up shall be liable to the penalties stipulated m the Act; anyone convicted three times to be sent to a Borstal institution 1 until She reaches the age of 16. Hair is a peculiarly sensitive matter, .with women, and so is age, and who knows what the Delilahs might do when thoroughly aroused to .anger at modern Samsons displaying ' their giant -strength. The: assault on the rights •of the flapper is nothing, but whither will it lead? There's the ; rubWho can say what will be the next reform. Will Macquisten launch a motion m the House making, it .prohibitive for married women and widows, and those 20 or over, to wear the bob -crop? Worse still, from dyeing the hair, so as to make the appear- 1 anee of youth? Then there is the camouflage of face cream and powderpuff and lip -coloring, and eye- sparkle washes, and the short skirt, and all the other little tricks of v the make-up which help the restless gender, m her pursuit of the gander, to stal off the marks of Time, and cling to youth — youth m appearance. There's the clanger! There was a time when the girl put, up her hair when she was .21. It was then the custom to indicate that . she had reached her majority. The Cold Country may be an exception, but we have setii them m New Zealand with their maiden locks over the shoulders till they were well on to the thirties*. -And-thore are other flappers of .no 'more- than sweet 17, winsome IS, and bewitching' 19 who compromise their age with apparent youth by displaying the bobbed crop. A hateful man has. suggested that there is notoriety for some reformer m this country who agitates for* the clear line of demarcation m womev^ so that flapper will be known as flapper, and young girl as youngr- girl, -woman as woman and matron as matron: All the more reason why women should see to it that they preserve* their rights.