WOMEN IN GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 2

WOMEN IN GERMANY

THEIR LIVES CHANGED DRASTICALLY. Dr. Gerda Eichbaum, who arrived in New Zealand recently to take up scholastic duties at Woodford House School, Hawke’s Bay, is a graduate of Heidelberg, Oxford, and other European universities. Dr. Eichbaum has travelled widely in many countries, including France, Italy Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Beelgium and the Netherlands. As a student, teacher and writer, Dr. Eichbaum has gained a wide knowledge of European countries, but no country does she know and understand as well as she does her native Germany, and she has much of interest to relate of Germany under the new regime, says an exchange. As far as women were concerned the new order had changed their lives very drastically, said Dr. Eichbaum. They were governed by the new order known as the three “k’s,” representing in German, cooking, church and children. Any dictatorship was inevitably a male rule and in Germany every effort was being made to force women back into the home where, it was believed, they really belonged. While admitting that the true vocation of women was in matrimony and motherhood, Dr. Eichbaum considered that it was a pity to force women back to where they had been several years ago after such a long and hard struggle for freedom. There would always be in any nation a great number of women who did not marry. The only interest left to them lay in their choice ot and following of a career. She did not agree with the members of Hitler's party that a woman occupying a position or working for a living lost some of her essential womanliness.

One of the greatest and most praiseworthy features of the new regimcwas the extensive work being carried out in social welfare service, said Dr. Eichbaum. What was known as an after-work movement had been introduced recently to teach workers how to occupy their leisure most profitably and to give them opportunities for doing so. Theatres, classes of all descriptions, sports gatherings and excursions were all arranged for the workers at a very small charge. The Government had also taken over an island in the Baltic Sea as a holiday and health resort for workers and (heir families, where they could spend their holidays at a charge amounting to Is 6d or 2s each day for full boara and lodging. On one occasion a ship had been chartered and a party of workers sent on a trip abroad at a very small cost.

One of the most interesting movements was the appointment of factory matrons at all the large factories. These matrons supervised the leisure and working conditions of the employees, dispensed first-aid and saw that everything was maintained in a healthy and hygienic condition. Hitler’s love of music was well known in all Germany, said Dr. Eichbaum, and the German opera maintained its traditional high standard. Germany was very well equipped with first-class theatres, every town possessing at least one, where opera and drama were presented. Concerts were also of a very high standard. On the whole, said' Dr. Eichbaum, the German people, even of the middle and lower classes, possessed a high standard of education, a wide general knowledge and an appreciation of good music.

A doctor of philosophy, Dr. Eichbaum has specialised in languages, history and literature and said that she had recently become interested in economic questions. She considered that in Europe the day of the democratic government was over, with the exception of Britain, which was democratic by tradition and temperament. Germany had never had the opportunity of being democratic and was not accustomed to the ideas of democracy. ST. JAMES’ CLUB CROQUET OPENING An enjoyable afternoon was spent on Tuesday when the St. James’ Croquet Club, Wanganui East, opened for the season. The president of the club, Mrs. G. S. King, welcomed members, also the visitors front other clubs. The weather was too showery to permit of croquet competitions as had been arranged and the opening ceremony was held in the church hall, where various indoor competitions passed the time pleasantly. Mrs. A. Crawford, president of the Wanganui Croquet Association, who performed the opening ceremony, said she was sorry it could not be an outdoor function. St. James’ was the first ciuD to affiliate. It had gone ahead and the court had been improved. Mrs. Crawford said that there would be no tournaments this year except the Wanganui one in February, but the following year they hoped to have the Dominion tournament. Another small club had been added to the Wanganui Association—namely Aramoho. The formation of these clubs shows how popular the game of croquet is becoming. It was the most healthy and the mist economical game a woman can have, and all members look forward to the opening of the season. Mrs. Crawford wished the club a very happy season. She was the recipient of a bouquet, presented by Mrs. King. Competitions were won by Miss Hackett, Miss Bamber, Mrs. Trussell, and the winner of the Christmas cake competition was Mr. Dowsett. Miss B. King gave an elocutionary item. After a dainty tea had been dispensed by the tea committee, the sun shone out and members and visitors assembled on the lawn for a game. Among those present were:—Mesdames G. S. King, McDougal, Uttley, A. B. Currin. Langton, Snelling, Bamber, A. E. Carpenter, Taylor, Perry, Chapman, Dixon, Stowers, Bamford, Hawkins, Hicks, Downey, Burns, Cathro, Noble, Hill, Walker, Aitken, Trussell, Drummond, McCiymont, Remington, Ralph, Gilbertson, Munro, Hammond, Williamson, Bustard, Carter, J. Gray, Tonks, Bate, Rurnney, Misses McDougal (2), Aslin, Bridge, Langton, Hackett, Hiorns (2).