A SUFFRAGETTE REGIMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 4

A SUFFRAGETTE REGIMENT.

THE UNIVERSAL DESIRE TO HELP. A minor sensation was caused last week, by the news that a regiment of what were described as suffragists had crossed the Channel, and landed in Havre (writes a London correspondent under date March 2). The '' regiment'' is said to consist of 1000 women, who have gone to France to take up the duties of telephone operators, signallers, telegraphists, and chauffeurs. The French and Belgian soldiers in Havre are said to have given the visitors a great reception, as they marched through the town, in the belief that each woman would release a man, who could go to the firing line. Some mystery* attaches to the regiment of militants, as none of the recognised suffragists' societies acknowledge the movement, and it is curious that their departure from England did not arouse [ as much excitement as did their arrival in France. But whether the ''regiment" consists mainly of Mrs Harrises, or has a real existence, it certainly represents an ideal which is becoming an obsession with many English women. Scores of unmarried girls and unoccupied -women are desirous of doing something for the soldiers. Many who are not fitted for nursing are training themselves as cooks. Seldom have so many women been in search of careers. The hospitals are full of probationers. The cooking and domestic economy schools are refusing students. Queen Mary set the seal of her approval upon an ingenious movement when she visited the experimental flat organised by the London County Council a few days ago. The flat consists of three rooms —the parents', the childrens', and the common living-room. The whole has been decorated and furnished as an example of perfect economy, and is full of hints for a young couple desirous of setting up house upon a limited wage. The walls are whitewashed, a pretty shade of green being used for the lower half.

Stained blackwood, kept smooth with a touch of oil, gives character to the parents' room. The bed has a coverlet of Bolton sheeting, and above a quilt, presented by Queen Mary, consisting of newspapers stitched into a nice red covering, which is not only warmth-giving, but pretty to look upon. All the curtains are of Bolton sheeting, which is easily washed. Beds made of hopsacks and gas-piping, and a frame by which a bed can be converted into a table, are among the ingenious fittings

in the model flat. A gas-stove, racks for the household ware, and fitted cupboards, which serve as wardrobes, are other useful additions which inexpensive flats in ordinary life generally lack. The flat is run by the student housewives, who sit in council and discuss the best methods of cleaning, marketing, and storing, and, afterwards, make the necessary purchases, their allowance being the money likely to be earned by the owner of such a flat. The success of the Housewife's Conference at the model flat was sufficient to tempt Queen Mary to take tea with the students.