WOMEN’S PART AT THE SHOW

Southland Times, Issue 23692, 15 December 1938, Page 8

WOMEN’S PART AT THE SHOW

BUSY WORKERS FIND MUCH TO DO PLEASURE IN HAPPINESS OF CHILDREN Woman’s place may be in the home many, days of the year, but on show days, like yesterday, she dons clothes which will stand up to rain and much jostling among crowds, collects her family, free from school for the day, and hurries to join the throng of pleasure-seekers. She finds much of her own pleasure watching small faces glow with wonder and excitement, as the children absorb strange new sights and sourids.

Men may know much more about horses than their wives, but women can appreciate the grace and beauty of the thoroughbreds as they leap over the jumps and parade past the stand. This year there were more women riders than for the past few years, and feminine hearts wished for victories for those of their own sex. What is a woman’s work at the

show? A man, thinking of cattle, sheep, trade displays and sideshows, probably does not give it a thought, but there were women at the show yesterday who were every bit as busy as any man concerned with the welfare of his stock. Perhaps many men noticed for the first time, when forced to take shelter in the Drill Hall from a heavy shower, that the hall was a hive of activity. The merpbers of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union were doing splendid work in the rest room and tea room. Mothers with small children must indeed have been grateful for the services provided by this energetic body of women. In the rest room babies’ bottles were • being heated while mothers rested in comfortable chairs and willing helpers looked after the babies. One of the members was very proud of splendid twins which had been entrusted to her care. It was stated that a record number of mothers had taken advantage of the services given by the union, and more babies had been cared for in the past two days than in any other show season. Knowing that their babies were in safe hands, women visitors took the opportunity to appraise rival exhibits of cattle and sheep, and to do . some of their Christmas shopping at the sale of hand-made goods from the Auckland Institute for the Blind.