Of Interest to Women

Southland Times, Issue 24575, 25 October 1941, Page 5

Of Interest to Women

Transport Group All over New Zealand on Thursday evening members of the transport group of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary sat a final examination on the subjects they had been studying for the past 17 weeks. In the opinion of the instructor of the city group, Invercargill will not be disgraced, for the 17 girls and young women in this section have shown great interest in the mechanics of motoring, and their enthusiasm has been equalled by their efficiency. The examination required a high standard for a pass, and although the paper was a stiff one it was not beyond the capabilities of the group. To augment the knowledge gained at the evening classes, and to add to their practical experience some of the members had visited the wrecking companies frequently and had helped to take cars to pieces and put them together again. Those who have taken the course are now capable of doing all the running repairs on motor vehicles, and the successful candidates will receive a certificate of proficiency from the Institute of Automobile Engineers, Australia (New Zealand Division). The syllabus for the course was sent from the institute through the W.W.S.A. headquarters, and the examination was set from this. All members of the transport group, were required to have their drivers’ licences before beginning the classes, and after the intensive training they have undergone they must feel that in a time of emergency they will be able to put into practice all they have learned and prove that the time and effort have not been wasted. At the conclusion of the course of lectures, Miss M. Stout, on behalf of the group made a presentation to the instructor, Mr H. H. Murphy, who said how pleased he was with the way his pupils had worked. Mrs C. G. Boyd made a presentation to Mrs Murphy. Mr R. U. Macaulay thanked the members of the group for their regular attendance at the classes. Creche For Children Parents 'with families have often deplored the lack of a suitable creche or nursery in Invercargill where small children could be left with safety during the shopping hours. In response to numerous requests such a place is being opened next week in Kelvin street, opposite H. and J. Smith’s. The establishment of the creche will enable mothers in the city who have engagements to fulfil to leave the children in safe hands during the day, while country mothers visiting town will be able to do their shopping with an easy mind. Women who go to business may also leave their children at the creche. Children up to the age of ten years will be accepted, and if necessary a light lunch will be provided. The decoration and appointments of the rooms have been designed to ensure the maximum comfort for the children. A moderate charge is being made for this service, and concessions will be made for weekly arrangements. The creche will be open daily, on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Girl Caddies

Golf clubs arc beginning to experience a rather acute shortage of caddies. Most of the “regulars” have been called up and only the veterans remain, In some instances the experiment of recruiting girl caddies has been tried. Even they are difficult to obtain, and the trial has been anything but a success. Girl caddies were often employed on Welsh seaside courses even before the war. They were much keener on the job than were the boys and, once prejudice against them disappeared, they were accorded lull marks. So they were at Lc Touquet, Biarritz and other French links. But English golfers have never taken kindly to them. They feel self-conscious at once if they go round the links followed by a little lassie burdened with a heavy bag. New 1V.W.5.4. Scheme Though no official announcement has yet been made, it is understood that a big scheme is being formulated for the extension of the activities of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, and that farm work will be an integral part of it. With an affiliated membership of 50,000 through its various suborganizations, the W.W.S.A. is fast becoming a factor of increasing importance in New Zealand’s war effort. There are now established 65 centres, with 120 sub-centres, including Great Barrier Island. Some 30,000 women are being put into uniform as the materials needed become available. There are about 100 trained owner-drivers for the transport section in Wellington, and the cycle corps attached to the communications group for message work numbers 40. Twenty-four members of the new nursing division are going through a course of obstetric training in maternity hospitals in the district. Girls are being trained for supplementary duties with the E.P.S. as clerical staff, for kitchen supply depots, rest centres, and as plunket aids.

HEALTH GUIDE TREATMENT OF BOILS (Prepared and issued by the Health Department) Away back in 1852 someone noticed that brewers did not get boils. Obviously there was some connection between beer and boils. There was. It was the yeast. And since this discovery yeast has always been regarded as a good antidote for those extremely painful and embarrassing skin eruptions. So there it is. And boils crop up at all times and in all places with the same frequency as of yore. Never open or squeeze a boil. Many people do, but it is wrong. A single boil should be strapped with elastic plaster. This splints the part and keeps it at rest. Cover with two or three layers of plaster. If it starts to discharge, recover with plaster pierced with a hole to allow the discharge to get away. Cover the plaster with sterile absorbent dressing. Always keep the area clean, and sterilize with methylated spirits, because the discharge is highly infectious. In the case of multiple boils, the sufferer should take to bed, rest being the best cure. The actual boil areas should be immobilized with elastic plaster dressings, and it is advisable to call a doctor, because multiple manifestation is usually an indication of serious constitutional debility. Boils arise because of a person’s inability to resist the germs, commonly called staphlococci, which are always present on the skin. In other words, that person is run down. Resistance is built up by a balanced diet—fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, particularly liver, and at least a pint of milk and some cheese daily, together with a dose of a recognized vitamin concentrate. Resistance is worn down by physical and mental strain, and by poisons circulating continuously round the body from septic foci—that is, bad teeth, sinuses, septic tonsils, appendix or kidney trouble. Your doctor will know what is to be done about that,