WOMEN TOO OLD AT 35

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22826, 10 March 1936, Page 15

WOMEN TOO OLD AT 35

ADVANCING YEARS A “FRIGHTENING THING” Women who are “ too old at 30 ”■— and, indeed, at 25—and are finding themselves ousted from the trades and professions by their younger sisters, were discussed last month at a conference organised by the Oyer Thirty Association and the London Council for Voluntary Occupation during Unemployment. Dr J. J. Mallon, the Warden of Toynbee Hall, presiding, described the problem of the middle-aged and discarded woman as “ urgent and dire.” Yet, he said, most people hardly realised that it existed. , , , “ Growing old for the majority of women earning their living is a frightening thing,” Miss G. A. Rees, manager of the Great Marlborough Street (W.) Employment Exchange, said. “ With few exceptions they are exceedingly brave. Most of the unemployment insurance benefit goes in rent, and there is a very small margin left for food and such necessities as heat and light, there is the nursery governess, the elderly teacher whose savings have been absorbed in supporting others, the companion, and the elderly domestic—the world appears to hate them all. I have watched too often the smart woman go gradually downhill, physically and mentally. She becomes too thin, her shoulders stoop, and the signs of prolonged under-nourishment are nnmistakable. Worry and anxiety alter her facial expression, ;ind her chances of competing with younger women, in spite of her better qualifications and her longer and wider experience, are rendered more difficult.” . .Miss Rees said that in the West End of London there existed an unsatisfied demand for young women workers in a variety of occupations, and a surplus or women of 40 years of age and ovei. Occupations for which the majority or vacancies stipulated “under 25 included: Saleswomen in fashion wear, and practically all departments of the stores, waitresses, counter bands, soda bar dispensers, shorthand typists, clerks, Int attendants', kitchen workers, chorus gins, dressmakers, packers, , hairdressers and

beauty culture workers. “For those, Miss Rees added, “ who are interviewing. registering and trying to place these women who are over 30 and 40, the matter is a truly poignaiit one.” Miss Margaret Bondfield, who was Minister of Labour in the second Labour Government in Great Britain, said that in addition to the tragic cry too old at 35. these women had to face a desperate loneliness, which must be met with some form of fellowship. They must, therefore. have an extension of club life, which would not be institutional. She read a letter from a woman whose husband, a musician, had been thrown out of woik through the introduction in theatres and kinemas of “ tinned ” music. She had answered an advertisement as a gown maker at a salary of £4 a week. l°r this she had to make 40 gowms a week. This meant that she would get 2s tor a gown, which would be sold for anything from 15 to £lO. , „ An appeal to managers to include older women among their saleswomen wag made by Miss Cscile Matheson, of the International Council .of Women, who said; I have white hair and I am outsize, ftno I object to being served by a sylph barely out of her teens.” In America, said Miss Matheson, there were saleswomen of every age and figure, so that one could be sure of being served by someone with a worse figure than her own. “We women do not w r ish to buy our clothes from young women who do not understand our piob lems.” —(Laughter. 1 Miss Lilian Barker, assistant commissioner" of prisons, said that she was positive that domestic service could prove a solution of the problem of the over 35 woman. Ninety per cent, of her exBorstal girls asked to go into domestic service. “ I always say to the girl, Very well, I will get the mistress to come and look at you, but you take a look at tier, too, and take a good look at her mouth. If it is smiling take the job. If it is dropping, turn it down.’ —-{Laughter.) Miss M. Bondfield stated that ncarl.v 250,000 men and women had been placed in domestic employment in each of tne last three years through the employment exchanges. ~ , , , ~ Miss Cicely Hamilton protested that, too often, women were chosen by their employers for their looks. When a girl is young she gets a job sometimes because of 'the colour of her hair and sometimes ho.iise of tlis shape of her nose. She koped that the association would stand up against this sort of thing.

WOMEN’S DIVISION N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION

depart* ot meetings or oruucues uro requested, but Ibey should be turnlEbßd promptly, for the publication oi £*• ports mat are not supplied vclCtiifc * wattle troiu the dale of the meenne cannot be assured The Taieri Mouth branch met on Wednesday. Mrs Sinclair presided, ihe roll call was “A cure for colds. Ihe competition, “Thrift article,” was won by Miss D. Marshalls, with a hooked rug, Miss Lavesty’e resoled stockings winning second place. Hostesses were Mesdames Hall and Barber and Miss Menelhes. # * » The meeting of the Kakahu branch tv as presided over by Miss Maxwell. Members paid a tribute to the late Kins by standing in silence. At the close of business, tlie young people took charge of the meeting, providing an excellent programme and acting as hostesses. Competitions resulted:—Smocking, Mrs A. Maxwell 1, Mrs Taylor 2, Miss N. Maxwell 3; soap —Mrs Taylor 1, Miss J. Chapman 2. Mrs Ford 3; premier bloom —Miss 1 itt 1 and 3, Miss N. Maxwell 2. A competition arranged by Miss E. Ford was won by Mrs Coles, Mrs Taylor, Miss Locke, and Miss Dean. A dance followed in the school to music provided by Mr Meredith, with Mr J. Tindall acting as master of ceremonies. * * *

The March meeting of the .Milton branch was held at the council chambers. Mrs Finch was in the chair. An appeal from the Y.W.C.A. was considered and a donation forwarded. The roll call was “ Suggestions for next meeting. A talk by members on “Abyssinia, Its People and Their Country," was given. At the close of the meeting the men’s division was entertained at supper. The hostesses were Miss N. Sheat and Miss H. Stewart. A vote of thanks was accorded the ladies bv Mr Russel. * * 5?

The Berwick branch met on Thursday. A demonstration on the icing and decorating of a cake was given by Mrs M'Kay. A display of fancy work was also on view. Flower competitions resulted ns follows: —Decorated bowl, Mrs J. Miller; floating bowl. Miss E. Carruthers; gladioli. Mrs Marshall: best bloom, Mrs Marshall and Mrs J. Miller equal.

THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Reports of meetings of branches are requested, but they should be furnished promptly, for the publication of reports that arc not supplied within a week from the date of the meeting cannot be assured. The Arowhmuia Institute met in the Maori Hall, Mrs J. O’Connor (vice-presi-dent) presiding. As a token of respect to the late King all members stood in silence for a brief space. After a communication had been read from the Dominion Federation of Women’s Institutes respecting the object of raising funds to send a representative from New Zealand 1.0 the World Conference at Washington, it was agreed to support the appeal. A competition, for the bout article made from two handkerchiefs, was won by Mis I). Waters. The hostesses were the Misses F. Paipeta, E. Greaves, and A. Hopkinson. sj: * The annual meeting of the Kaka Point Institute was held oii Wednesday evening, Mrs Rein presiding. The motto was “All that oilier folks can do, why, with patience, couldn’t you?” and the roll call “ Sing, say, or penny pay.” A competition, “Telegram using words ‘Womens Institute.’ ” was won by Mrs Bates, with Miss Rein second and Mrs Rein third.

The committal for the coming year is as follows:—Mrs Rein (president), Miss Bates and Miss Mosley (vice-presidents), Mrs Murray (secretary), Mrs Thurlow (treasurer). Miss Rein, Mrs M'Kcchnie, Mrs Sharpe, and Mrs Sargeant (press correspondent). Mrs Sutherland was elected Home and Country secretary. Votes of thanks were given to Mrs Rein, Mrs Murray, and Mrs Aitkenhead for their reports. Hostesses were Mrs Aitkenhead, Miss Mosley, and Mrs Sargeant.

* .-jc The fifth annual meeting of the Pleasant Point Institute was held in the Town Hall, Mrs Taylor in the chair. A comprehensive report on the year's activities was read, and the financial statement revealed a satisfactory credit balance. During the afternoon Mrs Cliff contributed vocal solos. Officers for the year were elected as follows:—President, Mrs Cliff; vice-presidents, Mesdanies Cunningham and Andrews; secretaries, Misses J. Halstead and I. M'Pherson; treasurer, Mrs Easterhrbok; committee —Mesdames Tozer, Murphy, Guiney.' Herbert, Hawke, Borrcll, M'Pherson, M'Donald, Liston, Drake, Poppelwell, Brien, and Miss Miller. The competitions resulted: Banner design, Mrs Taylor; fruit (class A), Mrs Taylor 1; (class B), Mrs Wooffindin 1, Mrs P. Roberts 2, Mrs Listone 3: flowers (class B) —Mrs Borrell 1, Mrs Kcrslake 2, Mrs Sherrie 3. The hostesses were Mesdames Oldham, Lyon, Simmons. Liston, Friel. Smith, and Sherres, and Misses Lyon and Price.

The Naseby Women’s Institute held its annual meeting in the Masonic Hall on Tuesday last. Three minutes’ silence, with all members standing, was observed as a token of respect to the Royal Family. In the election of officers for the coming year Mrs A. E. Brown was re-elected president, with Mesdames M. Hore and A. Jacob vice-presidents, and Mies Davis was re-elected secretary and treasurer.

The annual meeting of the Sutton Institute was held on Saturday, the president (Mrs Kinsman) presiding. The motto was, “Practice what you know,” and the roll call, “ Suggestions for the new year’s programmes.” The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President. Mrs Kinsman; vice-president. Miss Terry; secretary, Mrs Kidd; treasurer, Miss Terry (all reelected) ; press correspondent, Miss D. Kinsman; link secretary. Miss J. M'Hardy. Other members of committee — Mrs Boyles, Misses Bel). Cockerell and Kidd. Mrs Bell and Mrs F. Pedofsky acted as tellers for the ballot. Prizes for most points in competitions for the year were presented as follows:—Senior: Miss Terry 1, Mrs J. H. Jones 2. Mrs Kidd 3. Junior: Miss E. Watson 1. Miss I. Kidd 2, Miss D. Kinsman 3. The competition for the day was a “banner design” (emblem chosen, a Scotch thistle), this being won by Mrs Kinsman. Members of the retiring committee acted as hostesses.