AT. NO. 10 DOWNING STREET.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1932, Page 15 (Supplement)

AT. NO. 10 DOWNING STREET.

THE HOUSEKEEPER’S TA SK.

(By

C.R.J.)

Housekeeping at No. 10 Downing St. is certainly no sinecure, when, you consider the constant stream of visitors, to say nothing of various unexpected guests who arrive periodically. The whole of Downing Street' was built by-Sir George Downing, who was in the same office as Samuel Pepys diary fame. If you walk along the street you will agree that No. 10 looks as dull and gloomy as a London house can look. Inside, however, it is not so gloomy, for it has long been “modernised” from time’ to time and made as work-saving as possible. Downstairs, of course, are the council rooms, dining room, offices, and so on, the walls of state rooms decorated with a wonderful collection of historical pictures. Upstairs are the private rooms of the Prime Minister and his family, and these are furnished simply and with good’ taste. . The kitchen-is, perhaps, the most important place, historically, in the house, for most of it dates from the days when folk were entertained to barons of beef, boars’ heads, and haunches of venison, and the fireplace would still, if necessary, be capable of cooking such fare. Historical dinners and 'breakfasts, including Mr. Gladstone’s famous literary breakfasts, have been prepared and cooked here. Miss Isabel MacDonald is not the only unmarried hostess who has presided at No. 10 Downing Street. Among others was the famous Lady Hester Stanhope, who acted as hostess for her uncle, William Pitt, in I'Bo4. A most eccentric woman, Lady Hester, After tasting the cares of housekeeping and arranging the Treasury banquets for two years, she left London and went to live at Mount Lebanon, where she mixed with the natives, and adopted their dress, manners I and customs. LEAGUE OF MOTHERS. DOMINION EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand League of Mothers, which took place in Auckland recently, was one of considerable interest, as ’ there are 73 branches in the country, with a total membership of 4379 mothers. . . In the annual report it is stated that new members who joined last year num-

ber 64'6, and the number whose membership has lapsed for a number of good reasons is under 300. The new branches include Howick, 'Sandringham, Tokanui (Auckland district), Newtown, Carterton, Khandallah (Wellington), and a “league within institute,” which is at 'Stokes Valley. This is the first branch within the institute under jurisdiction of the Dominion Council. It meets once a quarter on a separate day from the institute meeting. . A few branches,mainly those formed at Public Works camps, have ceased to function, and efforts are being made to get the members joined to other branches. The nine lighthouse members are in' charge of Miss Richmond, who corresponds regularly with them, and they receive league and other magazines. They are also asked to the branch meetings and entertainments when they visit places where branches are established. The practical work done on a large scale by the League of Mothers at the time of the Hawke's Bay earthquake is also commented upon favourably.

The league magazine, edited by Miss Richmond and Mrs. Talbot, is a muchappreciated and enjoyed one, the subscribers numbering 2216. The editors, the hon. secretary (Mrs. Fleming), and the packers (Mesdames Traill and Turner), were all thanked for their excellent work, and special appreciation was expressed for the work of Mr. Grigsby, for valuable professional assistance. There has been a steady demand for league literature of all kinds, and congratulations are given to the branches for the excellence of their reports.

The great kindness of Their Exccl- * lencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe is mentioned gratefully. They have assisted the league by their presence on a number of and shown a vital and kindly interest, and His Excellency is thanked for the copies of his speech, delivered at a mass meeting of league members at the Town Hall, Wellington. It is noted with pleasure that the league is affiliated with the Mothers’ Union and the National Council of Women. It is felt that in this changing time much is to be gained by h interchange of ideas in world movements. The Dominion funds of the league are stated to be on a sound basis, and the Dominion and provincial auditors are specially thanked for their work. The provincial reports show good progress and encouraging success, and mention is made of the “scattered. branches,” whi represent an important work among women ■who are a good deal isolated.