Woman’s World

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 231, 30 September 1943, Page 2

Woman’s World

| SOCIAL AND PERSONAL , Mrs. W. A. Nicholson, Wellington, lis visiting her daughter, Mrs. R. V. Foster, Wicksteed Street. ' Mrs. E. P. Richardson, Ingestre i Street, has returned from a trip to Wellington. Included in the committee elected at the annual meeting of the Manawatu branch of Woodford House Old Girls' Association held recently, were Mrs. I. Johnston, of Kai Iwi, vice-president, Miss N. Russell, of Wanganui, Mrs. C. Fenwicke and Miss M. Beckett, of Marton. HITHER AND THITHER District Nursing League. The monthly meeting of the Wanganui District Nursing League was held in St. Paul’s Committee Room. Present were Mesdames Peck (chair), Roche, McDougal, Welch, Copeland, A. McNab, W. Curtis, and Miss Kennedy. Apologies were received from Miss Fraser, Mrs. McGregor and Mrs. Hanson. Sister Lee reported that 463 visits had been paid, 14 new cases, 11 discharged, and 3 sent to hospital. Visitors for the month are Mrs. Roche and Mrs. McDougal. The league gratefully acknowledge the sum of £l5 grant from the T. G. McCarthy Trust Funds. Westmere Branch, W.D.F.U. An enjoyable afternoon was spent by members of the Westmere branch of the W.D.F.U., when their monthly meeting was held at the residence of the president, Mrs. J. J. Taylor, on Tuesday last. After opening with the Creed and correspondence was dealt with, members discussed the appeal from the Patriotic Council, and once more decided to forward their usual quarterly quota of 16 parcels, several members donating liberally towards the cost. A letter of appreciation from Bmdr. Tom Cave for a parcel he had received from the branch was read by the president. During the afternoon the sum of £3 was donated by members to be forwarded to the secretary of the Leper Fund. For the remainder of the afternoon members were busy knitting, after which afternoon tea was served. WESTBOURNE W.I. FLOWER SHOW At the September meeting of the Westbourne Women's Institute, presided over by Mrs. F. H. Uttley, delegates appointed to the half-yearly Federation Council meeting were Mrs. H. Graham (recording), and Mrs. H. Owles (voting). Songs were sung by Mrs. Hodges, and elocutionary items given by Mrs. Pengelly. Mrs. Butler was accompanist. Mrs. Uttley gave a talk on “Earnest Prayer.” A flower show, organised by Mrs. E. Stewart as convener and Mrs. G. Bergen as secretary, was held. Mesdames Allan and Pettit were the stewards, and Mr. W. Reynolds judged the entries. Awards were: Best bloom. Mrs. Stephens 1, Mrs. Bergen 2; red bowl, Mrs. Stewart 1, Mrs. Woodley 2, Mrs. Jarmin 3; blue bowl. Mrs. Stewart. 1, Mrs. Woodley 2; white bowl, Mrs. Stewart 1, Mrs. Bergen 2; violets. Mrs. Bergen 1. Mrs. Pettit 2 and 3; I poppies, Mrs. Pettit 1, Mrs. Stewart 2: pansies, Mrs. Stewart 1,2. and 3; spring bulbs, Mrs. Bergen 1, Mrs. Pettit 2, Mrs. Stephens 3: freesias (mixed), Mrs. Bergen 1. Mrs. Owles 2. Mrs. Pettit 3; polyanthus, Mrs. Stewart 1. Mrs. Bergen 2, Mrs. Woodley 3; sprays (shoulder). Mrs. Woodlev 1 and 3, Mrs. Bergen 2. Points for best bloom, Mrs. E. Stewart 1. Mrs. Uttley 2. Mesdames Woodley. Jarmin and Baker (equal) 3. Results of other competitions were: Felt competition. Mrs. C. Simmons 1. Mrs. Pro use 2. Mrs. Jarmin 3 (judged by Mrs. Chanpel); bran biscuits, Mrs. Gaston 1, Mrs. McMillan 2, Mrs. Jarmin 3; soldier's parcel. Private H. U. Strang. WOMEN’S FUTURE THE DOMESTIC PROBLEM In an address to members of the r English-speaking Union, Wellington, 1 Mrs. Marshall Macdonald, of the Rc- ' habilitation Council, stated that, there ! was no need to plan separately for • women as the Rehabilitation Act was ■ so comprehensive, every provision being made equally for servicemen and - servicewomen. If housing was provided so that married women and those about to marry could be sure of living in . home's of which they could be proud rehabilitation for women would largeiy solve itself, she said. The reason , women went back to work after mar- ‘ riage was often because their house . was merely a room or inadequate I flat. She said that if the family al- . lowance was insufficient it should be . increased to make it possible for mothers to bring up their children without undue strain to themselves. In speaking on the question of domestic help Mrs. Macdonald said she 1 had discussed the domestic help question with Government officials and the ’ Rehabilitation Board and had asked I that hostels be provided for domestic workers and that work should be pro- ‘ vided on an hourly basis. Domestic workers should be able to live on the same basis as dental nurses of training college students bearding in hostels, and they should ha 'e the same privileges for cultural training as girls in other walks of life. Under these conditions, Mrs. Macdonald thought, there would be no difficulty in securing' domestic help. Girls of a superior type had been found in service in hotels and large boardinghouses because there they wer® sure of regular hours and the wages were right. Mrs. Macdonald said she hoped that after the war industrial nurses and welfare officers would be found in all factories and large business houses and that, compulsory legislation would make this a necessity. Mrs. Macdonald is the only woman on the Rehabilitation Council. OBITUARY MRS. F. A. SOMMERVILLE Many friends in New Zealand will regret to learn of the death in England on September 12 of Mrs. Rothes Sommerville, wife of Vice-Admiral F. A. Sommerville, D. 5.0., who was chief staff officer. New Zealand Division Navy Office. Wellington, from 1925 to 1927. In 1939 Vice-Admiral and Mrs Sommerville returned to New Zealand for a short visit. Whilst they were here their younger son, lan. arrived to join H.M.S. Achilles. Last year their son’s marriage to a New Zealander, Miss Barbara Thomas, of Auckland, took place shortly before his return io England. The elder son, Leslie, is also serving with the Royal Navy. Mrs. Sommervile was a daughter of the late Colonel J. A Barlow, of the Manchester Regiment.