Women’s Ways

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 17

Women’s Ways

BARRIE AND PRINCESS MARGARET. When Sir James Barrie opened a bazaar recently on behalf of the band of his native town of Kirriemuir, Angus (states the Daily Mail), he said: "I shall tell you of a little compliment paid to me about a week ago by a person who I will describe as the most graciftis lady in the land.

“The occasion was her third birthday, not very far from here,, and she was sitting gazing with entranced delight at one of her birthday presents. It was a little toy table, with two painted flower pots on it, about the size of a thimble.

“I said to her: ‘ls that really yours?’ And she said at once: ‘lt is yours and mine.’

“I cannot pretend that I am able to have such a pretty thought as that. I think in the circumstances I may be allowed to borrow Princess Margaret’s phrase and say of Kirriemuir: If there is any grace in me that is worth sharing, it is all yours and mine—except, perhaps, my canary.” Sir James said of the canary, a present from Kirriemuir: “You should see him and me of an evening, when the rest of London is sunk in slumber, gossiping away together about you. “I can give you all the rest of me, but leave, oh leave me my Kirriemuir canary!” The King and Queen at Home. The King and Queen make it their rule to live extremely simply during their annual visit to Balmoral Castle, their Scottish estate, though traditional customs such as the presence of pipers in force each night after dinner, give a picturesque note to a routine in which Royal pomp is reduced to a minimum. Dinner at Balmoral is usually a short affair, beginning at 8.30 and scarcely lasting more than half an hour. Cold luncheons are a feature at the Castle, the King, whose tastes are simple, often preferring a cold dish in the middle of the day. Guests are invited to these luncheons, which are always informal. Good use is made of the game supplies in the planning of the Balmoral menus. Venison cooked with cream is a specialty, as are the famous Windsor pates—small mutton pies made with a biscuit-like crust. Instead of the display of tartan that was characteristic of Balmoral in Queen Victoria’s day. Queen Mary has introduced soft green silk draperies in the principal rooms as an appropriate background for the severely plain furniture. The large and pleasant library, also, is very different now from what it was in the days when King Edward scornfully referred to it as a “mausoleum of the great unread.” It is said that when this library was cleared of the greater part of its contents in King Edward’s time no fewer than 140 volumes of sermons were found. Now it contains a very varied selection of books and is a favourite haunt of King George. On rainy days, his Majesty spends a good deal of time reading. He has a weakness for detective ’stories in his moments of relaxation, but likes to know something of the plot before he starts ar book. The Queen is not fond of modern fiction and rarely reads a novel, but she is interested in biography and historical memoirs.

Women and Disarmament. In the autumn of 1931 people of New Zealand were signing a petition favouring the reduction and limitation of armaments by international agreement. This particular petition was sponsored by the women of the British Empire. In February, 1932, this monster petition of 8,000,000 signatures (since when the number has increased to 12,000,000) was presented to the Disarmament Conference at Geneva. On the occasion similar petitions were presented from many organizations of men and women in all countries of the world. Then followed the formation of the Permanent Committee of the Women’s International Organizations, under the presidency of Miss Mary Dingham, who is known to many in Dunedin, having visited this Y.M.C.A. and elsewhere in the Dominion. Permanent offices were then set up in Geneva by the women’s societies, which have proved a centre for meetings and information. Other international organizations having headquarters in Geneva co-operated wholeheartedly in focusing public opinion in their own country, as well as in Geneva itself, in support of the aims of the Disarmament Conference. This fellowship resulted in establishing an international consultative group comprising some ten or more well-known bodies, such as the conference of disabled and ex-sei*vice men.

Now in 1933 there is the fear that lack of funds may cause this important movement, the only co-operative one, for the expression of public opinion to close down. The rumour of such fate has instigated Mr Arthur Henderson, president of the conference, to send the following letter:— "I have just heard the rumour that the work of the Disarmament Committee of the Women’s International Organizations may be brought to an end. I am writing to tell you with what dismay I should regard the disbandment of your committee and the ending of its work, and to say how much I hope that such a tragedy may be averted. “I cannot find words enough to express my appreciation of what your committee has done during the last seventeen strenuous months since the Disarmament Conference began. Since your first magnificent demonstration on February 6, when you and others voiced to the conference the longing and aspirations of the peoples of the world, it has become increasingly clear that public opinion would play a great part in determining the outcome of our labours. It has become increasingly plain that in so difficult a matter Governments will not commit themselves

to the grave decisions that are required unless they ate certain that the opinion of their peoples is solidly behind them. “No higher praise could be given to you and your colleagues than to say that they have played a great part in securing a full understanding of the work of the conference and the. controversial matters with which it has been called upon to deal.. If, as I believe, we shall succeed in making a first Disarmament Convention, much credit will be due to you and the organizations whom you represent. “The faithful application and observance of the convention will require the unwearied vigilance of public opinion throughout the world. I hope that you and your friends, therefore, will recognize that there will still be needed for years to come work of the kind you have been engaged upon during the conference. The women of the world have never taken up a cause so pregnant with good or evil for future generations. I hope they will not abandon it before we have won the final victory which will establish enduring peace. With my greetings to your colleagues and to members of your constituent organizations, and with my earnest hope that arrangements may be made that will ensure the continuance of your work, believe me, yours sincerely, Arthur Henderson (president).”

Woman Aviator. As R.M.S. Otranto drew into port in Melbourne recently a slight figure was seen on deck, gazing somewhat wistfully at the sky. It was a perfect day, mild and cloudless, an ideal day for flying, and, realizing this, one came to the conclusion that none but a flyer could scan the skies with quite such an appreciative air. Conjectures were right, for it was Mrs Bonney, the noted Australian airwoman, standing at the rails, and she admitted when interviewed later that her thoughts as the ship drew up were of intense regret that her return to Australia had had to be by steamer and not by aeroplane. The reasons for this, she explained, were purely domestic. Her father’s health had been very indifferent, and it was felt he could not well stand the anxiety if she flew back. In speaking of her flight to England Mrs Bonney said her failure was due simply to b?.d luck. “My machine was perfect, my health excellent; it was just the elements that were against me.”

Discussing flying in general, Mrs Bonney said that in England and on the Continent flying was no longer considered an out of the way pastime. She was intensely glad that woman flyers were no longer greeted with exclamations: “You are wonderful—fancy a woman making a long-distance flight,” and so on. Flying was simply taken for granted. The aeroplane was a means of transport, the same as the motor car, and as such it was not deserving of any greater attention. Rhapsodizing over flying was definitely out-of-date. Many people in England to-day had their own aeroplanes, and used them instead of cars. The cost of a little “run-about” aeroplane was only about £2OO, and its upkeep would amount to little over £lOO a year. Questioned whether she intended to enter for the Centenary air race, Mrs Bonney said regretfully that she saw little prospect of that. She said she could not afford a machine sufficiently powerful—it would have to be a machine of great range and speed.