PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 19

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Most women who are interested in their homes will be interested to hear of a series o 1 lectures being conducted by the Young Women’s Christian Association. The series will deal with practical interior decoration, and will include lectures on suitability of fabrics for different purposes, the making of chair covers, the arrangement of flowers, paints and furniture painting, floor stains and varnishes, etc. Two leading Dunedin firms have promised to provide lectures, and others are being asked to give their help. The lectures will be held at the Young Women’s Christian Association weekly, in the afternoon, and those who desire to attend are asked to ring the secretary. Other classes being formed are dressmaking, beginning next Monday, drama, musical appreciation, and discussions on world affairs.

There was a large attendance on Monday evening of the Dunedin Business and Professional Women's Club, when Crs H. L. Gibson, D. C. Cameron, and M. C. Henderson addressed members on the subject of civic administration. After Mr Gibson had introduced the speakers Mr Cameron gave a comprehensive outline of the various activities of the City Corporation, the trading departments of which Dunedin has in the past had reason to be proud. The Electrical Power Department, being one of the most important, was the subject of the main address, which was given by Mr M. C. Henderson (late city engineer), and proved to be one of the most interesting and informative addresses the club has been favoured with. Mr Henderson sketched the history of the Waipori scheme from its inception 40 years ago, when a private company of Dunedin men inaugurated the scheme for mining and dredging purposes. The speaker gave an interesting account of the early gold mining and dredging days at Waipori, and traced the development of the electrical power scheme. from its small beginning to its present-day dimensions, with power sufficient to supply the city and suburbs. At the conclusion of the address Miss Paterson expressed the club’s thanks.

The Otago branch of the Home Economics Association held its monthly central meeting on Tuesday last, when Dr Gregory gave a lecture on “ Diets for Children of Different Ageg.’ A special study of this matter had been taken up by the League of Nations, she said, after investigations in Great Britain had shown that only half the population was adequately fed. Experts in health, agriculture, and economics were consulted, and nutrition experts were appointed in all countries to define the nutritional needs of human beings, from conception to full growth. Thus there was international agreement as regards the food necessary for optimum nutrition. The diets of children of from one to 14 years of age and of pregnant and nursing mothers had been worked out, and the amounts of foods necessary for eacn day for optimum nutrition had been set down in detail. Dr Gregory said she had made out trays of foods for these different ages, and when these were compared with a sample tray of a New Zealander’s typical diet, it was obvious that we err in excess of meat, butter, and bread, with a corresponding deficiency in milk, raw fruits, and vegetables. The League of Nations optimum diet demanded the consumption of at least pints of milk, and in New Zealand the average was only % of a pint. The cost of the ideal diet was not within the reach of all. but a knowledge of the need for improved nutrition must bear fruit. Leaders of the Health Campaign in England contended that the proper feeding of one generation of children would bring about a 50 per cent, reduction in the hospital expenses of the next generation, with attendant benefits in health and in the finances of the country. Mrs Glue moved a hearty vote of thanks to Dr Gregory for her stimulating address.