Banishing Slums.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1931, Page 18 (Supplement)

Banishing Slums.

The London County Council proposes to build over 28,000 new houses in the next five years, ahd, more important, still, it hopes to demolish about 109 acres <jf slums in which 30,000 pqfliqns now dwell. It will be to build over 6000 houses and for these slUm-dwe-liers and othqrs affected by clearance schemes. These schemes will cost'a sum .of over £21,900,000, but every pound will be well worth the spending.

„ in , Riding Aftrid?. A coilple' of seqson? ago dark blue ! and “dusted blu?” rid|ng habits were the fashion in LeicestetslHre and Xw shire, which >yas, led! by the xjon. Airs. Freddie Cripps, "whites an English correspondent. Now there is a reversion to the classic black habit jvith a white or canary yellow waistyoat, and Princess Mary's sister-in-Jaiy, Mri). Edward Lascelles, has had ■ two black habits made for her to wear hunting with thy Braniham Moor. These have the single button in front, vyhich allows the waistcoat to be seen, two slits at the back of the coat and a short skirt to show a neat bfcclc boot.' The longer skirt fashion has not ppnetr^U d tQ t^ e hurit ' i ing world, where habit skirts have been short since the end of the war. , Lady Victor Warrender is one of the few women who still ride astride-

The Personal Toucfi. Christmas cards, in England last year became very personal. $0 many people chose to imitate Queen Mary, and have bits of their garden painted for their particular friends (writes an English,woman). Lady Dance sent out an engraving of her picturesque house, The H-olma; Mrs. Henrietta Leslie had a pencil sketch of her drawing-room with th> fig tree climbing through its roof; several people chose caricatures of themselves; Mrs. McCorquodale sent out a portrait of the family, including the degb, and Mrs. Beatrice Harrison of herself ahd the ’cello in the garden. The old toast to “absent friends”, was responded to in a remarkable fashion by the friends themselves in hundreds of homes during the feW days before Christmas. Recording studios, up to a late hour on Christmas Eve, were busy making records of personal messages which ‘people with relatives far away desired to send them. It is now the pretty custom, after the usual toasts have been drunk, to put these records oii the gramophone ahd listen to the voice of some far-distant friend. Records of their children’s vojees were epni in large numbers, to officers and their wives in India, ..and many old people living in the English countryside were surprised and comforted by the gift of a record of the voice of a e on or daughter in London. New Career for Woman.

The healing ppvier of books i? the latest weapon in the hands of physiin Eqrope, who, ,* n their fight against the suffering and anxiety of the gick, have gone so far hs to establish hospital libraries (writes a correspondent). One of the first steps taken by the experts on curative reading was to banish the haphazard methods of the past, when unsuitable books generally eentirnental novels, were handed to patients without discrimination. Now i skilled librarian, generally a woman who is chosen for her poise, culture, arid social instincts, visits the hospital wards and becomes friendly with tpe patients. Her literary knowledge and the time fit her disposal are supposed to enable her to gauge the patients’ requirement? better than the nqrse or the doctor. Fiction is naturally tjie most popular form of reading matter, and “open air” stories with a healthy appeal have been found most suitable. War bo'pkp have been found to be too stimulating, and sex novels not helpful. Physicians consider that the suffering of 95 per cent, of patients can be alleviated by scientific book selection. The success of.the treatment depends entirely on the ability and peisonallty of the hospital librarian. It U a new work, and Will provide many educated Wppmri with a pleiißnt career a more hospitals tqke up the scheme.

World’s Luckiest Cat. Mitzi, an Ig-year-okl cat, benefits by a legacy of £3OOO and a palatial home at Shn Gqbriel for the rest of hpr nine lives, under the will of a w0 "l?’ 1 d ° ct £ r ’ Matlde F. Cain, who left £lOO,OOO. Dr. Cain directed that her home ?ho.uld he kept intact US. a refuge for Muzi. Hei housekeeper, Mm. Pauline Goetz, received a legacy of £3OOO, provided she remained in the hoqsp as the cat? companfbli; i?ays the British United Pies.

Nationality of parried Women. tn a letter to the prime Minister (tsays a writer in ’W ), the Australian federation of Women Voters has invited Mr. Scullin to make soine pronouncement on the decision of the Imperial Conference iri regard to the question of,the nationalityof married women. This ik important tor the reason that there appears to be a certain reluctance on the part of the Home Office to di>eu any question of nationality with the -Dominions until various outstanding points, in connection with aspects ' of nationality (wholly unconnected with married women) are settled. ’ Whqt is finally settled in this connection on the relative merits of British and Dominion citizenship has notfi'in<r whatever to do with married imw.Tin' nationality.