WELLINGTON WOMENFOLK

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2142, 27 December 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON WOMENFOLK

CHRISTMAS WEEK. GENERAL INFLUX OF VISITORS. From Our Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, December 24. „ Although almost everyone has packed their bags and departed for fresh fields and change of air, Wellington is not missing them in the least little bit, for visitors from everywhere are pouring into city, and the streets are crowded. Ideal weather has prevailed, and that, more than anything, has helped to rouse us all to the expectant sort of feeling that Christmas is supposed to bring, and has therefore encouraged the i buying of gifts. Wellington' has har'boured unknowingly a real Father Christmas, for a well-known business man—with generous impulse —let it be known that if anyone sent him the address of any really destitute child he would see that a gift was sent. No fewer than 370 such children were reported, and this most generous citizen —with a few subscribers who wished to join him—is acting Father Christmas to each one. It is by the thought and giving of such pleasures the real spirit of Christmas is kept alive. A Great Nation. A New Zealand woman who spent some considerable time in America has returned with a strong admiration for Americans. "They are so broadminded, so alert, 39 unshaekled by custom and tradition," she told me in the course of conversation. "It is by its schools, their equipment and facilities for education and by their libraries and what the people read that one judges of the mentality of a people, and the Americans are seeing to it that they have the best that can be got. As far as I could see, no expense is spared where education is concerned. Even the big stores in the cities, as Wannamaker's, in New York, for instance, arrange for continuation classes for tljeir employees, and if any of them show special aptitude for things other than the ordinary curriculum, as singing, playing, acting in any of its forms, science, etc., special facilities are given those employees to make the best of those aptitudes." A nation that spares nothing to make its people fit and sound physically and mentally is going to hold a foremost place among all others, unless they do likewise. With England (and she was there for some time) she was frankly disappointed. The people seemed to be falling back into the old conservatism that was so greas a characteristic of them before the War. There was so much of the attitude, "We have done this for years, and what was good for us then is good for us now"; also the old class distinctions were as evident as ever. Great poverty was still to be seen, with resultant enfeebled physique and increased mortality. England, to hold her present proud position as the greatest nation in the world, must not allow the conditions existing to be tolerated. The Scarf Jumper.

Has it ever, occurred to any of you that quite fascinating jumpers ean be made from or otfeerwise. If fringed, of course that is finish enough, but many and varied are the borders that can be worked out. The latest of all is made of raffia, and the jumper I have in my mind was of biscuit stockinette, with' a deep and very effective border of raffia work —a diamond-shaped pattern in rich colours. The sleeves and neck were simply buttonholed with intermingled raffia in the same shades, as the border design would have been rather heavy.

More Undesirables. A New Zealand lady who returned to .this country from England a few days ■ago expressed herself strongly as to the lack of judgment which is being exercised at Home in the selection of immigrants for this country. A considerable number travelled on the same steamer that she came out by and she was by no means impressed by their fitness for life in New Zealand, nor were they in some cases desirable acquisitions to our- population. One man looked but little short of being mentally unfit,. another could Jiardly walk, his feet were so inturned, and amongst some others that came under her notice were failings that 'would not make them particularly useful members of the community of this country. One man, an assisted immigrant frankly declared that he intended to return to England in about six months' time and had only come out to see what it was like. He considered another man who had paid his fare and intended to start working straight away an extremely foolish per-

son for not having planned likewise. And that is how some of the country's money goes. -Christmas Cheer for Prisoners. On Friday afternoon members of the Women Prisoners' Welfare Group (Women's National Council) journeyed by motor to the Point Halswell Reformatory to take some Christmas cheer to the inmates. Mrs Henderson (the president) was the busy organiser of the party and an exceedingly pleasant time was provided the women who are inmates of the building. The visitors were impressed with all that was done by the Controller-General of Prisons and the various staffs to ensure the return to good citizenship of those women who have been unfortunate enough to come into collision with the law. That this work should be taken up and continued by those who are in a position to help ( the women and girls when they leave the reformatory is the earnest hope of all who are interested in th'eir welfare. It is in this direction that much of the work of the Women Prisoners' Welfare Group lies and also in urging that farm colonies (self-supporting) should be started in this country for delinquent women. Welsh Songsters Entertained. On Thursday evening Miss Amy Evans (Mrs Eraser Gange) and Mr Fraser Gange were the guests of the Welsh Society of Wellington at a reception held in Dunstan's, Ltd. There was a large gathering of members and the guests of the occasion were greeted with a very old Welsh song of welcome, sung with great spirit and enthusiasm. An interesting feature of the programme that had been arranged was the singing of several old Welsh airs, practically folk songs, and that they made their appeal to the Welsh singer was very evident. A welcome in Welsh was spoken by Mr Tricker, and Miss Evans replied in the same language, thanking the society for their kindly greetings and saying that she and her husband .hoped to return in 1922. Social Gossip.

Among those who are leaving Wellington within the next few days to witness the play for the Davis Cup in Auckland are Mr H. M. Gore and Miss Valmai Gore, Mrs J. Marchbanks, Mr and Mrs W. F. Ward and Miss Ward, Mr and Mrs Mantell and family. Mr and Mrs G. Pearce and Miss Helen Pearce have returned to Wellington from a visit to England. Captain Bird, of the Indian Army, who is on furlough, and Mrs Bird, are spending the Christmas-time in Nelson.

Miss N. Drumraond arrives from Christchureh towards the end of the week, to spend ths Christmas holidays with relatives in Wellington. Miss Chambers (Haveloek North) is visiting her sister, Mrs Lionel Nelson, at Karori. Mrs Beere and Miss Estelle Beere are leaving shortly for a holiday visit to Sydney. Mrs Pulton and Miss Monica Fulton intend leaving for England, via Panama, early next year, and expect to be away from New Zealand ior quite a long time. •

Major and Mrs Sleeman are spending the holidays in the South Island. Dr Valentine has purchased a house at Seatoun —a most popular suburb—and intends to reside there. Auckland is the Mecca of all Americans just now, and, as so many of their i countrymen and women have come across, great plans for happy reunions I of old and long-parted friends have been planned. Miss Muriel Wylie, who is studying at the Dunedin University, came up this week, and, with her parents, is spending Christmas at Heretaunga. I Sir John and Lady Findlay, Mrs B. W. Kane and Miss Amy Kane, and Miss Esmie Ward were among the passengers who left by the Eemuera for London on Tuesday.

The Hon. W. G. Bagnall (Minister of Finance and Treasurer to the Tongan Government), accompanied by Mrs Bagnail, are visiting New Zealand, and at present are in Auckland. They will spend four or five months in- this country.

Mr and Mrs C. R. Chapman, of Duncdin, are visiting Wellington. Mr and Mrs A. W. Mouatt have gone to Auckland for the Christmas holidays.