WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3017, 2 March 1917, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

(Bγ Imogen.)

News from Egypt, "Writing last December from the P. and 0. boat on which sho wae nearing Marseilles, Miss Rout, who has done such splendid work for our soldiers in Egypt, and who has in consequence been paying the inevitable ponalty for her labours in such a climate, aays: "Wo have a grand lot of men in Egypt now, and personally I think we womoi\ aro very lucky in being ablo to help thorn. Aβ soon as I get back I hope to go through to El Arish on canteen work. There are no Now Zealand cantoens for the N.Z.M.R. now— they iise tho A.I.F. canteens. That doesn't matter so much in one- way, as tlie Atizacs are together in Egypt (Australians and New Zealanders), but of course any profits go to help Australian funds, and in any case- wo ought to do our share of tho work. The same applies to tho comforts. The Christmae girts for the N.Z.M.R. men this year came from the Australian Comforts Store, except those provided by Lieut.-Colonol Samuel for tho men at Moascar from canteen profits he still held. When one romembors tho abundance of New Zealand and the generosity of her people, this seems a most extraordinary state of affairs. Why should our gift store bo empty at Christmas and tho Australian Comforts Storo be full to overflowing It says much for the good souse and feeling of the Australian Assistant-Com-missioner of tho Comforts Fund (Mr. Coward) end our own Commanjl-mt (Colonel Chaytor) that they could meet together and overcome tho difficulty so readily. But. let all Now Zealanders work to return tho hospitality of tho Australians as soon as possible. I told you once before of "the sergeant" (Mr. Louis Holdcn), who used to help us so grandly with the postal work at Ezkebiah Gardens. I got a most cheery letter from him just before having Egypt, lie has signed on for the duration of tho wjr at tho Woolwich Arsenal, and works over 80 hours a week. "I could,not do that tor a private firm," he writes. "It must be tho object in view that keeps one up." Ho is now aoting as inspector for thirteen outside factories, and ono of them employs over 4000 girls. "For tho last three months I have been my own master," ho adds proudly, "and not one of my reports have beon doubted." "Tho sergeant" is ono 'or tho over-age military rejects serving nis country, in just as real a way as if'he were in the Tiring line shou'lderiug tho rifle."

The Search for Typists. j Tho supply of typists is now becoKing a more urgent question, not Mγ tor Government work but, in ordinary business, states a writer in tho "Manchester Guardian." The head of a business college tells me that Tecsntly several city women typists had "ihoir salaries raised to £160. Ono Government Dopartmont applied a few days ago to a society for 200 girl typist 3, mfc only five names wore- left on the books, and two of thoso had just loft a business college. Mr. Neville- Ohamuorlain and tho now Air Board will now bo recruiting for typists, and with every building commandeered thoro will bo a new call for theso indispensable*.

'.Clip Association of Women Clerks nnd Secretaries dissents very strongly from the Treasury viow that the averaw woman typist in a tiovenimciit office should bo content with a wage of from 2os. to 80s., whnn the quito small private business offers her £2. It suggests that, in fixing tfiat rato, tho Treasury had in mind the very largo number of girls living at homo, who could afford to bo patriotically content with a wage on which the selfsunporting girl can hardly live, and it has been surprising to find how many' women, oven women of nitivcrsity training, haro not recognised that in iwcopting such ii wage t.hoy injure the class of typists generally. It is very doubtful if tlin Treaaury will raise its wage, but quite certain that if it does not the jvrmy of competent girls i-c----quired will not bo forthcoming. Equality of the Sexes. ', A l ' Press Association message from Rome states that Signor Sacchi, Minister for Justice, lias' introduced a Bill giving absolute legal equality of the sexes.

Air. and Mrs. Speedy and Miss Speedy (Dannevirke) aro visiting Christchurcli.

As a result of the. garden fete which was organised by the • Scatoun Sowing Guild, and opened by Mrs. ]t. k. Wright last Saturday in Jfrs. Paul's grounds at Karaka Bay, tho .subi of £27 ]4s, was realised, and will he donated to Red Grose funds.

Owing to so many of their employees having gone to tlie war. the Weliijigton Gas Company has for some time past been employing women in avenues of work hitherto untouched by thorn. Onn of -those branches of work is tliat of refitting gae mantles, cleaning burners, and renewing the globesrwhercver needed. Many firms and private people have an arrangeniont with tho company by moans of which they pay so much a month anrt tlieir lighfang equipment is kept in good repair, and of coursn these are somo of tlio places that benefit by these women 3 labours. Apparently they are very successful, and once, ao-ain women's adaptability for work, onco rcrarded as boing 'Vu'to ont of Imr sphere, is again justified ami proved '

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

Prize Bag Day. For the past two or three days Mrs. Gibbons and Mrs. Leicester, with their helpers, have beeu very busily at work in Air. Harcourt's Buildings filling and getting ready the prize bags which are to be sold in the streets to-day- for the sum of one shilling. There are about 15,000 of theao irags which are all filled with a prize of varying value, and not one without something, if it is only sixpence. As a matter of fact, these hags in a great number of cases contain wonderful value in return for tho shilling that purchases them. Jewellery, pound and ton-shilling notes, orders for suits, and dress lengths, cameras, groceries, and- all manner of things aro included amongst these prizes, and quito apart from tho element, of chanco which is one of tho attractions of life apparently, the purchaser will be helping to provide comforts for sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals at Homo. This number, alas, is likely to be sadly increased as the days go by, and it is the least we in New Zealand can do when wo try to add a little comfort and a little variety to their weary days in hospital. Women's Latest War Work. The lady editor of the Woodvillo "Examinor" writes: There are'those who sr.y that Now Zealand women are not doing all they might in thes,o times. They may be good at' knitting socks, and making puddings and such like; but when it comes to "buckling to" and tackling men's work, so that the men may iight, or tackling more work of any sort than they have previously been used to, they do not make a good showing. Bo that as it may, and we really think that is the case in many instances, it is extremely hoartening to hear of the very latest achievement onthe part of womenfolk in our own district. At this present moment, while we write, Mr. Chaytor's threshing plant is puffing merrily in a field of Mr. Beattie's, somo three miles out of town. On Wednesday last, Mrs. Chaytor drove that traction engine all the "way from Bollance—and whichever way you come out of Ballaneo you gct"devil's elbows" in the road—to-day she is running the engine for her husband, and three young women are helping on the stack and in the field.

News has reached Melbourne that Lieutenant Harold Frithiof (Fritz) Asohe, A.1.F., was killed in action in Prance on February 9, at the age of 37 years (states an Australian paper). This gallant soldior was the brothor of Oscar Asohe, th,e famous Australian octor-manager, and was most probably horn in Sydney.- On Sunday laet Gunilda Asche, tho eldest daughter of the la to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Asche, passed away at Lewisham Hospital. This lady was known to many peoplo here, as she (and her sistor, now in England) assisted her parents in tho management of the Imperial Hotel, Wynyard Square. , • Staff Nurses I. L. Bennett, and K. A. Woodward, and R. Brayshaw, of the N'.Z.A.N.S., have now loft the New Zealand Nurses' Convalescent Home., Sandwich, and are staying at the Nurses' Hostel in Bedford' Place. Sister 6. Motherell and Staff Nurse d'Emden, N.Z.A.N.S.; who have been working at .tho Second'' New Zealand GoneraT Hospital, Walton, are having a rest at the New Zealand Nurses' Convalescent Home, Sandwich. Mr. and Mrs. Joske, of Suva-, are at present visiting Auckland. Miss F,vo Balfour, the- young New Zealand' actresa, has returned to town from a successful tour with ' 'The Spring Song" company, during which sho played at Brighton and received a great reception from New Zealand soldiers in tho audience, states a Loiidon correspondent. She aleo visited them at the N,cw Zealand convalescent hospital. C'apt. Basil Hood, author of "Young England," has recently comploted several plays which he' has written specially for Mias Bnlfour. S!ir his also dono some .important film work, and has a retainer from one of tho l-iw companies. Her latest work is the completion of a largo and important problem film; which sho has written herself, and hopes to produce later. She has had a bis offer to tour in America, hut was unable' to accept at tho moment.

Tho soldiers' dances in Mastorton, which were so popular last year, aro to bo resumed ion Wednesday evening next.

Tho takings at tho Masterton Horticultural Show on Wednesday totalled £'16. Tho decorated table class was won by Mrs. R. 0. Smith, with Mrs.J. Allan second. ' Tho public vote was in favour of Mrs. Allan. In the class for glass vases only, Mrs. W. Stidolph was first.

On Wcdnosday afternoon, in tho Gas Company's Rooms in Courtonay Place, quite a. large audience gathered to hear Miss Una Carter's locture on gas cookory. Fruit preserving -was demonstrated, particularly raspberries, blackberries, apples and pears. Other subjects dealt with were scones, short pastry, cheese tart, stuffed tomatoes, and fried fish. These demonstrated lectures aro hold every Wednesday afternoon at throe o'clock, and are proving increasingly popular. • '<

Methodist Women's Conference. The Methodist Women's Missionary Union Conference was continued yesterday morning and afternoon. Mrs. Ueorge Bowron, president of the Canterbury Auxiliary, conducted the prayer and Bible-reading in the morning, and general business and .ihe election of executive followed. In the afternoon Mrs. Knowles Smith read Miss Griffen's paper upon mission work in Fiji. One of the points stressed by Miss Griffon •was the great need for the education, of the Kjiau girls. The moral • stand-' Rrd' was not particularly good among the natives, and especially among theIndian coolies who work in the plantations, and unless tho girls were taught and given some higher ideals much of the missionaries' work was wasted.More schools and more workers were sadly needed, and as showing the possibilities of the natives for educative work, Miss Griff en mentioned the case of a native girl who had been taught Jn one of the mission schools, and had later gone across to Sydney to further her education,- after ; which she had gone.back to the.lslands,"-and had entered one of the schools as a teacher With Miss Graham,, of-Canterbury, Miss Crriften had made .a.;, very, interesting . r ,'P into,.the interior--"of one -of the islands, and while the missionaries with whom they travelled talked to - the coolies on the'- different' plantations she

and her friend talked to the women, and were more deeply impressed than ever with the clamant need for more teachers ana more missionaries. •It was resolved that tho nex executive have its headquarters in Duncdin. Mrs. E. Roseneare was elected president and Mrs. West secretary. Miss Edith Williams^-president of the (i.F.S. (Napier), who left for India some time ago, has arrived at her destination, and is finding it exceedingly cold after Napier's temperate winter. ■ Mrs. Wolfe, of Kelburn, and Miss Wolfe, .are now staying at Mrs. Peter's, on the Terrace. Mrs. Wolfe is recovering from her recent illness.

Owing to the absence of the Mayoress (Mrs. Luke) in the south, she was unuble to be present at the gathering of the "Soldier and Sailor Mothers of Empire." Tho Mayor Tegretted very much that at the last moment he was called away on urgent business, and also could not be present.