LAW UNNECESSARY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 941, 11 December 1933, Page 7

LAW UNNECESSARY.

Women Will Abandon Men’s Attire Without It. EFFECT OF RIDICULE. Women will abandon men’s attire without the spur of law or ridicule, according to views expressed this morning by a solicitor and a social worker. It was recalled that in the early days of this century women braved the criticism of outraged conservatism and wore cycling bloomers. As the wheel of fashion revolved, these peculiar garments vanished. So with the short-lived harem skirt. Women are prompted to wear men's clothing by the dictates of fashion, said the solicitor, but men who wear women's clothing usually do so for no good purpose, and the Police Offences Act imposes heavy penalties for such a masquerade. The passing of any law to parallel that relating to men masquerading as women was definitely scouted by the solicitor. “ Nobody would take it seriously and if we even considered any such measure New Zealand would be the laughing-stock of the world,” he said. The social -worker disapproved of the present practice of young girls, untastefully dressed in men's clothing, careering round the countryside perched precariously on the back of motorcycles, but she did not consider legislation necessary to curb these tendencies. “By the time such legislation became operative, the girls will have realised how ungainly they look—how much they sacrifice of their charm and grace by striving to be up with the fashion,” she said, “ and there will have been a welcome return to femininity.” There are other means to counter women's appropriation of male dress, and. according to a London paper, ridicule is now being tried out. The masculine attire worn by Miss Gloria Minoprio at the Westward Ho (Devon) links in October has inspired the former Cambridge triple-blue, Morrison, to make a stand on behalf of the males. He wore a waterproof skirt recently when playing against Cambridge on behalf of the Royal Worlington Golf Club. Miss Minoprio's garb comprised black pointed shoes and silk socks, peg-top trousers and a knitted jersey and red suede golf coat.