WOMEN’S WAYS

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 15

WOMEN’S WAYS

At Home And Abroad A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION The new Bulgarian law provides for women the right to vote at municipal elections. Though this right is a restricted one, only women legally married and mothers of a family being able to exercise it, this reform may be greeted as the first step in the right direction. Quebec Women Cannot Vote Again the hopes of the group of valiant feminists who for so long have been working for the enfranchisement of women in the province of Quebec have been disappointed: an amendment to the Electoral Act of the province to grant women the provincial franchise was defeated by 49 votes to 21. And so Quebec maintains its doubtful distinction of being the only Canadian province where women may not vote. Coronation Tapestries When King George and Queen Mary were crowned, several nobles lent tapestries, carpets, etc, with which to adorn the interior of Westminister

Abbey, and it is anticipated that these will, for the most part, be again forthcoming (says an English writer). The Duke of Buccleuch and the Earl of Dalkeith, for instance, lent a valuable series of Flemish tapestries of the sixteenth century with which to cover the walls of the temporary annexe to the Abbey which is again to be constructed. At the last Coronation, too, the two Chairs of State that were placed upon the dias in the “theatre” of the Abbey were especially designed, and these have been carefully preserved so probably they will be used again. The altar cloth, a very handsome piece work presented by King George and Queen Mary, is also available, so that the cost of preparing the Abbey for the ceremonial in May will be very considerably reduced. Princess Elizabeth’s Birthday The Royal Family are busy buying birthday presents for Princess Elizabeth. She will be 11 on April 21. The Queen has already bought her gift. What it is is a close secret, but it is likely to be what “Lillibet” has often asked for—a modern camera, wrote a London correspondent on April 5. Princess Elizabeth has a keen eye and wants to begin a collection of photographs of faces and places. The King’s present is believed to be a small plain gold wrist watch. Queen Mary is planning a visit to her favourite Windsor shops this week to buy her present. The Royal chef is already devising the birthday cake. The Princesses last week spent a lot of time in the little garden patch ruled off for their use in the grounds of _ the Royal lodge at Windsor. The miniature cottage in the corner of the garden will be removed to Buckingham Palace when the family returns to London, and will be set in the centre of the children’s new garden, which was planted with spring flowers chosen by the two girls. Health Adviser A 22-year-old girl, slim and graceful, has been appointed an official adviser to the British Government under the newly-announced three-year “Fit-ter-Britain” scheme (writes the London correspondent of The Sydney Morning Herald). She is Miss Prunella Stack, head of the nation-wide Women’s League of Health and Beauty. In that capacity, she is to become a member of the National Advisory Council for England and Wales, which will assist the Government in organizing and running the plan. Physical training classes for men and women of all ages and playing fields for all are being provided for under the scheme.

Under Miss Stack, such classes for women are already in full swing in‘all the larger cities of Britain. Publications showing keep-fit exercises and rhythmic exercises are also issued by her league, and doctors and nurses have stated that the movement has filled a long-felt want in women’s lives.

Hie league, of which Miss Stack is now head, was established by her mother, Mrs Bagot-Stack. She devised the exercises for Prunella alone. Encouraged by their success —for Miss Stack has a marvellous physique—she taught the daughters of her friends. Gradually the league of today grew up, and on her death several years ago Mrs Stack bequeathed the leadership to her daughter, who was by then taking active command. At the moment, Miss Stack is abroad, and an official of the league told me that no plans for extension of their work had yet been decided upon.