WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

War Service Badges for Women. Following the procedure of tho Board oi A'grlculturo in issuing badges to women employed on farm work and similar agricultural operations, tho Minister of Munitions now announces that ho is pi-Spared, to issue war service badges for women to firms engaged in munition work or other work for war purposes, upon certain conditions, states the "Queen" of June IG. Badges for women may be issued on application duly received from firms engaged in the manufacture of munitions of war or other urgent war work for distribution to (a) women employed on such work; (b) women canteen workers, etc., working whoio time in their establishments. Under present arrangements, applications will be considered only from firms which have already received badges for their male employees, whoro such are employed. It is further a condition that no badge may be allotetd to a woman until She has had at least two months' training. Such, badges must in every case be «;iven tip to tho employer by a woman w'no is definitely taken off war work, or, leaves the firm through which tho badge was issued to her. Penalties are provided for the unlawful procuring or possession of badges. Wages and Value of Women Farm Workers. Speaking at a. recent meeting of the Cambridgeshire War Agricultural Committee, both the Lord Lieutenant of tho county (Mr. C I?. W. Adeane) and Mr. Wilfred Buckley, of Mountsmere Manor Farm, mentioned that they'had been employing women on the land with most satisfactory results. Mr. Adeane urged farmers and others to put aside their old ideas of what was "woman's sphere," and to welcome any willing hand. Mr. Buckley mentioned—though without ascribing the result to the dairywomen— that the yield of milk during 'the six months when ho had employed women had been exceptionally large. He recommended tho payment of not less than id. an hour for a week of forty-two hours, and held the view that an eight hours' day. was long enough for a woman. Mr. Amos, of the Cambridge University Farm, had found in training women that there were few kinds of work which they could not do if tools and appliances suited to their more limited physical strength were provided. A short course of training made the workers moro nseful to their employer*. The Cambridgeshire' War Agricultural Committee owes much of its success in placing women on the land to the work of Mrs. Dimsdalo and Mrs. Rootharo. [Upon reading the above paragraph, the wages paid to the woman worker, on the land do not by any means apnear muniheent. Foarponce an hour, *aud working eight hours a day,- makes a daily wage of 2s. Bd., and a weekly wage of sixteen shillings. One certainly can. not imagine a New Zealand woman .rushing the work, and there is no reason why war time should be used for ex, ploiting their labour—even in England, so far as. onp enn see.] Patriotic Cake Room. The committee of the Patriotic Cake Room acknowledge with thanks gifts of home-made cakos, sweets, subscriptions, etc., from the following donors:—Mr. and Mrs. Firth, Mesdames Smitton, ,A. Vf. Blair, Askew, Holmes, Findlay, A. Myers, G. Didsbury, Palmer, Nation, Finch, Eovington, Jones, Von Dadelsr.en, W. Gavin, W. F. Ward, G. Eeid, Hamer, G. Fulton, A. Williams. Hurst, 11. Wilson, B. L. Taylor, .1. H. Williams, L. F. Watkins, llichardson, Misses Cameron, Chalmers, Rose, Didsbury, M'Clure, Wheeler (2), M'Kellar, Massey, J. Seed, Macintosh, Wright, Chapman. Drummond, M'Menamen, Gavin, Kirkcaldie, Eichardson, Sidey. The sincero thanks of the War Relief Association of Wellington havo been conveyed to the British Medical Association (Wellington Branch), who had intimated through Dr. Gibbs, secretary, that they had decided to attend all recommended cases of confinement of soldiers' wives free of charge. It was stated at an executive meeting of tho_Wellington War Belief Association yesterday that numerous letters had been received from applicants expressing their deep gratitude to the association, and also to Mrs. ,1. B. MacEwan, for her generous and indefatigable efforts on the association's behalf as lion, lady visitor. On Saturday evening the Wellington Girls' College is giving a concert in the Central Hall. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Eahinbai Mission, iii which the college girls have always taken a special interest. With the exception of dances by Miss Frances Muter and _Miss J. Cousins, who so delighted the spectators of "Sunset Land," all the items of the programme are to bo supplied by present pupils and ex-pupils of the college. Flowers aud sweets will bo sold before and after the . concert, and during the interval. 1 'Die sweets stall, with its goblins and black cats, promises to bo particularly attractive. Mrs. C. Bennett (Masterton) is visiting her sister, Mrs. Cato, in Hastings. Miss Eobieson has returned to Wellington from a visit to Masterton. Mrs. Waller Barnes and Miss Marjorio Jordan will bo in charge of the Y.M.C.A. Triangle Depot on Friday, and Miss Barnes on Saturday. Miss Chappie (Lower Hull) is leaving this weta for England. As a result of the gala day which was held in Wanganui on Saturday, organised .by the Swankers' Club, the sum of -£MS ITs. has so far been gathered in. and will be divided between the Red Cross and the nurses who aro away on active service. There are one or' hv> uorc returns yet to come in. Yesterday, at the Town Hall, a beau-tifully-worked supper-cloth, worked bv Mrs. Taylor, of Petone. was rallied, anil the fortunate winner proved to be air* Mac-Donald, of Petone, with Number 2:1. As a result of the raffle the sum of A'S Cs. was made, and will be a useful addition to the Countess of Liverpool Funds. From Mrs. John Martin, of Martinborough, the Mayoress (Mrs. J. p. Luke) I r.as received the sum of t £s, and from Annie Llan and Winnie Delaney the sum of .£1 -Is., the .result of an afternoon' sale. Both amounts have been handed over to the hon. secretary of tho Belgian Children's Fund. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. (By arrangement with Mrs. Eolleston, Hair Physician and Face Specialist, Qualified London aud Paris.) "T.G."—Virginian Scalp Food is a guaranteed cure for dandruff, and is easily applied; it also relieves any irritation. .Apply over night before washing the hair. Price 35., Cd. "A.8.C." (Dannevirke),—Face powder will adhere well if a little English Court Cream (non-greasy) is first applied to the ekin. The cream removes any roughness caused by cold winds oi- hard water. "Suburban."—l cannot recommend the depilatory you mention. Electrolysis is absolutely the only permanent euro. If you could have an hour's treatment weekly the hair could be entirely removed in a very short time. Further replies by letter, .Mrs. Rolleston, 2.ili Lambton Quay.—Advt. For (he Ladies, we have a deneudablo line of black Silk Jloso at lis. (id. Unequalled for value aud quality! Price's Store, Willis Street.-Advt. Wedding Announcement.—Beautiful roses and the choicest of flowers only are used when designing wedding bouquets, which. I make a speciality of. Packed and forwarded through the Dominion. Miss Murray, Vice-Regal Florist, 36 Willis Strcet.-A'cTvt.

The New Hostel for Soldiers. The doling .Men's Christian Association, always acute ;n its work ior soldiers, whether nt home or abroad, lias but itself yet another task m this city, and that in the providing; of a. kostel lor Soldiers who happen lo be spending a mglit or two 111 town when 0.11 leave irom the camps at Featheroton or Trentham, or wno may be passing through wlion on their way to southern ports lor their leave. As is well known, it has sometimes been ;i \ery difficult mutter lor the men to find accommodation in Hotels or boardiiighouses, and a bad in the open, especially 111 win tor tune, is not the most alluring ol pastimes, nor 111 railway carriages, where retuge lias on occasions been touim. With the acquisition of this hostel in Jioulcott Street, close to the comer of Willis Street, some solution of tno uilliculty will bo 110 doubt louiui. The hostel, which is to be opened some time <it the end of the weeu, will provide accommodation ior about sixty men, and at a pinch shakedowns could be provided for a lew more. Tho whole of the building, formerly belonging to Colonel Collins, (K.A.M.C.), line which has been used tor the past few years as a boardingjiouse, lias been painted and renovated, ami fitted up in various ways lor the comtort of thosu for whom' it has bean, provided. In all thero are about twenty bedrooms, somo of them able to accommodate two, three, lour, or five men as the ease may be, simply furnished, necessarily, but with all the essentials of comfort, convenience, and cleanliness, to say nothing of the "homey" touch that a capable woman can impart by iier good management. The social room, looking out upoit the' street—a lofly room divided irom tho dining-room by folding doors—has •been comfortably furnished, and is provided with a piano, which, no doubt will be ill great requisi- 1 tion, seeing how much musical talent tlie.ro appears to be among the men in camp. Tho dining-room, papered in a warm sliade of brown, and, like the adjoining room, with several gift pictures upon the wails, is furnished with numbers of small tables and the usual diningroom accessories. The kitchen adjoins it, and is fitted up with, gas stoves, cookcrs, heaters, etc. As the intention of the management is not to provide dinner, only food of the iightei kind, there was not the necessity for heavier equipment in the way uf ranges, etc. 'With, the apparatus provided, the soldier will at any time of tho day be able to get a hot bath, and upstairs showers nave been provided. There is quite an array of urns for tea, coffee, and cocoa, and more urn-like arrangements for the boiling of porridge. A coke furnace arrangement provides for hot baths. At the back of the house' are the rooms set aside for the matron and tho various officials of the hostel. When starting anything of such a nature it is difficult to tell where it may slop, and it is possible, should the need arise for such an extension, that even another hostel may be acquired. Tho needs of tho soldiers are, without question, paramount with tho 01.C.A. There was a fair attendance last evening at tho perloi'inaneo of tut cantata, "jjstlmr, the Beautiful Queen," at tho I J etone Jackson Street Methodist Church. The various soloists sustained their parts well, and tho production was highly appreciated. The proceeds of the evening are to be devoted to tho Choir Library Fund. Mr. Leggott (choirmaster) conducted. This evening Lady Stout's lecture upon. German questions in this country is to bo 'given in the Concert, Chamber of thi> Town Hall. Some interesting points will be touched upon by tho speaker. An enjoyable entertainment in aid of tho Wellington South Methodist Circuit Funds was given in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening'.' The programme was arranged by Mr. Musher, choirmaster of the Hataitai Methodist Church. The principal items were the part songs by the junior boys and girls; a, Shakesperean recital by Misses Doris and •Tosio Bailev; club swinging by Mis 6 D. Hereford; songs bv Misses Irene Fairclough and Ji. Phillips; "Cinderelle," by pupils coached by Miss Betty Purdom; and a fine demonstration given by Mr. Grant Sims and his pupils in muscle control and posing. Impromptu speeches was the subject nt the meeting of the Khandallah Debating Society held on Tuesday evening, when the following members took part: Messrs. G. Burt. .1. H. Meadowcroft, C. .Tones, S. V. Curtis, E. Jfees, 01. Bliuk-. burn, 1 ,!. H. Richardson, and E. Eobbs. Numerous subjects were discussed, with more or less ability 011 the part of the speakers. A Boston schoolmaster tells a story about a governess who tried to give her pupils .some idea of the relative size of distant countries by saying; "Cambodia is about as large as Siam." But when the pupils turned in their written exercise 011 the subject one had written: "She Mrs' Cambodia is about as large as she 15.'" :

the hospitals of France THEIR GREAT NEED OP HELP. . tßy Imogen.]: ■ ' A little paper, the "Bulletin," which Is the ohicial organ of the Prench \\ ounded Emergency Pund, has icachcd this olhee from a doctor who hns seen something of tho .hospitals in France, is to bo found a most interesting of the splendid work done by this body of women j'or the Wounded in the i'l'euch hospitals. Witiiin the last few weeks something has beeu published in tho Dominion of tne straiteneod circumstances in which work is carried on. in these hospitals, *,w.nch in many cases have been utterly dependent, especially since the great Verdun fighting, upon the help, which comes ironi outside sources. Some cf the districts have beeu entirely denuded of old linen, and what that means anyone ivith the least understanding can surely form some idea. Wherever the German forces went they took everything they could lay their hands upon for their own nieii, and that is one reason why there is so great a shortage ; of hospital requirements. Another thing is that in suck a' gigantic struggle as that of Verdun, whicn lasted for three or four months, Prench casualties must have been veryvery heavjj, and most certainly not all upon iHe side of the Germans. For that reason the work done by this Wounded Emergenoy Eund must be simply invaluable, and of such help there cannot in the circumstances be too much, especially when it is remembered what a debt the civilised world to-day owes to Prance, which has from tho very beginning borne the brunt of the fighting. This Emergency Pund is one that is recognised by tho British Red Cross, and is approved by the Prench Ministry of War. , As a matter'of fact, it co-oper-ates with the Special War Committee of Ladies of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, with headquarters at 41 J<owiides Square, London, and-: with a depot in Paris at the Entrepot des Dons, Bastion, 55, Boulevard, Cannes. At the l'orte Dauphine entrance of the Bois de Boulogne tho Prench Government has built ten large warehouses, With offices, for the uso of snch war Telief societies as possess its official approval. One—or two, if needed—of these .warehouses has been placed at the disposal, of the P.W.E.P., with Prench. soldiers to help in the packing and Prench Boy Scouts for general aia, and the great object of this fund is to supply as many hospitals as possible with' hospital requirements. The collecting of bales, talcing them oif to tho hospitals, etc., is {lone by workers of tho society, the bales being- unloaded by orderlies and convalescent soldiers, and unpacked by the medecin-chef, soldiers,. gestionnaire, orderlies, and sisters, who all enter with great apirit into tho proceedings. An enormous number of hospititls have had'to be hastily improvised in:the North of Prance—in April there were something -like 4500, and -with the recent fighting there must be more. Naturally, all need supplies and tho Emergency Pund has: mucb- to do, and needs much backing. As, a matter of fact, American citizens have helped it most nobly. ■ ' . ' Madame Charcot Ilendry, the daughter of the celebrated' Dr. Charcot, and sister to Madamo Waldeck-Rousseau, who is one of tho official visitors to the hospitals of the P.W.E.P., describes what she saw in some of those she'visited. "There are," ■ slio writes, "five hospitals at , . Ambulances, as they are called in the war zone, but unfortunately for the patients, although now used as base hospitals, they are equipped only as field ambulances. . I Wish I could describe the needs adequately of these hospitals so-called, the devotion of the doctors and staff, who. though so handicapped, perform wonders, and the patients themselves. . In one' of tho

largest" of tho hospitals, full of very severe cases, I only heard one man complain.

"At one of these places I found that most of tho bedsteads wcro constructed of pieces of wood, put roughly together, on which to lay the mattresses; pillows are unknown; bed-tables fow and tar between.; back-rests do not exist; a hot water-bottle is a luxury, and invalid chairs a dream. Tho patients aro each supplied with a tin mug, which they use for all their drinks, whether coft'ee, medicine, water, wine, or broth. The water iu the operating theatre at tins hospital is contained iu a petrol tin, and tho dressings are sterilised in biscuitboxes; biscuit-boxes are used for cooking utensils., and the lids with holes iu them for potnto-nwshers. "At another hospital ! found that old rags had been stitched together to make mats, and here tho medecin-chef was the recipient of a large supply of women's petticoats, by some strange mistake; as clothing is scarce, tho convalescents wear them, somehow or other, and strangely comical do the poor poilus look. This hospital has 800 beds, and during tho last eight months 21,971 patients have been treated. "You;can imagine that where necessities are so scarce luxuries are unheard of, and chocolate, books, games, comforts are perhaps dreamed, but not always seen. Another writer says that the great want in the hospitals is trained nurses. Tho nuns do much, but they are very poor. Anotner writer to the "Bulletin" (the F.W.B.T. journal), half-sister to the late Lord Kitchener, says after she had visited some of these hospitals: "It has been very difficult to meet the sudden demand from this dreadful Verdun fighting, especially as the weather has been Arctic. You ask mo the needs of the hospitals under my care, and the number of beds. There are oleven hospitals. The beds number, roughly, 1200 in all the hospitals together. As you know there is practically no local help, so we are very grateful to the societies for the help they send. AVhat wo need most at the present time are shirts, towels (strong, as they get very hard wear), above all, new boots. They aro greatly needed for the wounded', who arrive on stretchers without any and for those who have been wounded iu the feet. The boots supplied l>y the Service do Santo are j very hard, menued" roughly, and are unsuitable for men "just beginning to get about on their feet. All the hospitals ask for th'om most urgently." from tho foregoing may be gathered tl|e great need of our most splendid Ally, Prance. Is it not possible for ns in New Zealand to divert some of our liospital supplies to a country that so greatly neeileil them, to a nation who stands pre-eminent among all others for the heroism, the .self-sacrifice, and the endurance of- her people? New Zealand, inst as mucn as any other part of the Empire, owes her debt to the brave bonus of Trance, and yet there is hardly a simile thing that our wounded in the hospitals at Homo are not supplied with.

How few women Know of tho marked change that has taken place in hnirworlt.The old, so apparently artificial, has given place to the new, which is scientific, hygionic, and ligbt as air. Miss Milsom's experience lias taught her the true handling of hair, and therefore only the best quality is used. Skilled work ensures the "finest weaving, consequently no heavy unhealthy pads, and a perfect match guaranteed. Consult without fee or write re plaits, switches, toupees, transformations, wigs,_ natural hair pads and curls. So'highly efficient ia this department that the hairwork made is most lifelike, and cannot be detected when worn. Write for prices and enclose pattern of hair. All face and skin preparations. Miss Milsom. Barnett's Buildings, 94 Willis Street. Telephone BH.-Advt.

"What delicious tea this is!" That's what your guests will exclaim if you eorvo Desert Gold, the Queen of Teas. Fresh and full-flavoured, delicious and economical. Test it to-day. Family Blend, Is. 9d. Special grades, Is. lOd. «nd 2s.—Advt.