WOMEN IN SYDNEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 266, 8 November 1929, Page 12

WOMEN IN SYDNEY

THEIR PRIDE PINCHED B UBINESS ACTIVITIES SYDNEY, Oct. 18. Apropos of the Health Society’s crusad 0 in Sydney against feminine footwear, one is reminded, as a matter of peculiar interest to the womenfolk, of a sidelight on the big round of spring meetings at Randwick that assumed almost the proportions of fragi-comedy. Almost eonntles s women, observing slavishly the mandates of the Grand Mogidus of fashion, hobbled painfully about, there in the latest, stumpy-toed, stilt-heeled coloured shoes of all the rainbow’s colours. The new-fashioned shoes unquestionably looked smart, in tone with gorgeous frocks, and struck a gay note in the brilliant sartorial picture. The trouble appeared to be that most of the women had extremities. The fault appeared to be, not with the shoes, but with the wearers of them.

Th e move for the adoption of what is regarded as more sensible footwear among women reminds one of the endeavour of the Roman Catholic Church in Sydney to restrain the tendency towards extreme fashions, and to promote what might be termed a more modest outlook sartorially among the fair sex. In fact, what with saner shoes, longer skirts, and so on, there appear to be all the elements of a nice little war in Sydney, even if the Apostle long ago prescribed modest apparel. Other churches as well as the Catholic body, however, have pronounced their blessings upon the efforts of on e of the women’s organisations to promote what is regarded as a healthier public opinion in this matter of dress. A noticeable impression at big dances in Sydney is that of a growing tendency to wear longer skirts, possibly, however, because they look more graceful under such, conditions, rather than from any desire to support in a practical way Isaiah’s scathing denunciation of extreme or extravagant adornment. More and more Sydney’s women, in common with their sisters in New Zealand and other partg of the world, are invading domains of activity which were formerly regarded as the monopoly of men. At least one woman, for example, wields the hammer as an auctioneer in Sydney. Only recently two young women established themselves in a tennis and other sports depot in the city, while in at least one establishment it is possible to 101 l back and have your hair or whiskers trimmed or your face shaved by women barbers. An announcement a day or two ago, in an obscure and unimaginative property column of one of the newspapers, shows that women have invaded the real estate business, with itg ramifications of high and involved finance, in an even more aggressive form than they have established themselves in other activities hitherto regarded as the exclusive field of men. Of these women in real estate, one, a married woman, now th e head of her own firm, is a striking example. She is Mrs Rudder, principal of a leading suburban firm known as Mrs C. J. Rudder and Son. Left a widow with two small children, she drifted from a store into the businesg of selling and letting houses. Two years ago she went into real estate in earnest, and later took in her son as a partner. Mrs Rudder, a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute, says women like to do business with women, at least in real estate. Another woman in real estate in Sydney is a daughter of a former Sydney magistrate. Another woman founded a firm which now has a turnover exceeding a quarter of a million pounds a year. .