SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 8 October 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Returned Soldiers' Ball. llio arrangements in eomicction with the relumed soldiers' ball on Friday are proceeding very satisfactorily, and ills anticipated that many people will attend. Among those who hero announced their intention of being present are the Minister for Defenco (tho Hon. Sir James -Allen) and his daughter. Mvs. Monteomv > Henderson, t.he Hon. 11 ' „ r!,s l er ' an d Miss Frascr, officers O'i the Headquarters Staff, and n largo -hunfber of from the camps." It fs not o£ten that tho returned soldiers come MfOfe the public, mid this is one of the f'iiV opportunities which have offered for Intercourse with those, who have played their part at Gallipoli in Fi-ance and elsewhere.

Lecture at Wellington Girls' College, In connection with the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy League, a lecture wns given on Saturday evening at tho Wellington Girls' College by Mr. R. Darrocii, who took for his subject the "British Nary," with about one hundred illustrations. The wonderful work which has been done in tho course of this war by tho Navy and its aircraft was outlined, and was listened to with the ffreatesl interest. In commencing his address Mr. DSrroch explained tho aims and objects t)f the Navy League, which first came into existence about twenty-tiro year.? ago. A brief musical programme was given, the College Wee Club contributing items, also Miss Doris Pall and Miss Hazel Jeffrey recilcd. The prizes given by Mrs. jr. Gore for the best town garden were awarded to the winners by Mrs. Hall-Thompson. A vole of thanks to the lecturer and the pei-forni6rs was proposed by Mr. Hercus. and carricd. Before the evening was brought to a conclusion a branch of tlie league wns formed, a number of girls joining. Miss M'Lean (principal of tho college), members of (he staff, and merthers of the Navy League were among those who were present.

The Wellington Girls' High School and Miss Baber's Fitzherbert Tcrrace School contributed very materially to the success of Thorndou Day. The former sent a cheque for .610, which, added to tho ■WO raised by Mrs. Urquhart and the boarders at a garden party held recently, made a total of <£50. Tho girls of Filzherbert Terrace School sent a large donation of sweets and? produce, which met with a. ready sale and realised a handsome sum.

The engagement is announced of Lieutenant Errol Meredith Mackersey, now serving in Prance, son of the lato Mr. .T. J. Mackersey, of Hawke's Bay, and of Mrs. Mackersey, late of Masterton, to Miss Isidore Gumming, only daughter of Mr. and Mre. IV. A. Gumming, of "Wilella," Itemuera, Auckland.

Tho St.' John Ambulance Association is about to hold the annual first aid class, conducted by Dr. Lino, at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay. The lectures are usually attended also by outsido girls in tho district. This year abput ten of tho Sisters expect to obtain the modal, lion. Tho class starts on Thursday, October 11.

At the Anzac Club 011 Friday night (reports our Featherston correspondent) tho weekly dance for soldiers vas held, Mesdames Q. Donald, A. Clark, and A. C. Pearcc, with Miss Card, being tho hostesses. Tho music was provided bv the Military Band, and extras by several other musicians. There was a largo attendance.

Pvegret will be experienced by numerous friends in the Aslihurst and Palmerston districts at tho death of Mrs. J. A. Fraser, which occurred in Palmerston on Friday, The deceased lady ivus tho daughter of the lato Mr. and Mrs. William Cameron, of Riverton, where the family settled after Mr. Cameron's retirement from the lighthouse service, many yeare of which were spent at Centre Island, in Foveaux Strait, where tho Cameron family established a reputation for their hospitality to callers at tho island. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Irrnser resided in the Ashhnrft district for some years, whero Mr. Fraser carried on farming operations on a largo scale, and a few years ago the family removed to Palmerston. The late Mrs. Fraser's kindly disposition gained her numerous friends, who -will extend sincere* sympathy to the husband and family in their loss.

Mis': Norah Dempsey lias returned to Trentham from a visit to New Plymouth. Mrs. Omlliani lias returned to Potherston from a brief visit to her mother, Mrs. W. Bewlcy, New Plymouth.

Mrs. .Tohn Duncan (Marlborough) owl Miss Eila Uutherford have been spending some time in Wellington, and are staying at the Royal Oak Hotel.

The marriage toot place last week in tlio Tfcefton Roman Catholic Church of Dr. W. A. Conlan and Dnisy Emery, late of the Ueefton Hospital staff. The Rev. leather Eecleton officiated. Miss (YBrinn, nf Greymouth, was 'bridesmaid, and Mr. T. Phillips the best man.

Entertaining Soldiers, The Wesley Schoolroom in Taranaki Street was the scenn of a merry gathering.on Saturday evening, when the members of tho Methodist Young Women's Bible Classes gave another of their monthly soldiers' socials. A. large number of officers and men attended, and joined in llio numerous games with evident enjoyment. Privato Chisholm, tho winner of tho "musical arms" competition, was presented with a, large decorated -cake. The vocal and cluciilinnarv items were much appreciated. Corporal Orchard gave a tine rendering of "Admiral Tom," and sang as encore "Tho Sunshine of Your Smile." Miss Scott's recitation, "Spotty," was c.tcolbnt, and 6he responded to Iho hearty applause by reciting "Tho Kiss on tho Stairs." Later on in the evoning Miss Scott sa.ng "Mother Machree" and "Tennessee." Mrs. Dawson sang "The Watchman," and o« being encored gave "Homeland," a patriotic song which appealed to its hearers. A humorous sketch entitled "Cupid in the Kitchen" was contributed by Miss Hodgson, Miss RiU Wharton, aiid Mr. Daniels. Supper, dispensed on this occasion by tho Taranaki Street Class, was a distinctly popular feature of the evening's onte-rtainment. That the social succeeded in its main object was plain to all. in that tho guests shotted a marked disinclination to leave, and it Was at a. later hour than usual when Ills proceedings closed with tho singing i f Lang Syne." "God Have tho King," and "Praisn Cod from Whom all Blessings Flow."

Masterton Work tor Serbians. In addition to the XIOOO voted by the Patriotic Society to Serbian relief another .EGO has been cabled through the Scottish Women's Association in Edinburgh lo Dr. Agnes Bennett and the institution she is in charge of. _ Certainly tho Masterton people are friends to a. good cause.

In the course of a letter from /Franco a New Zealand eoldier says:—"l am thankful that I have chosen the lifo on the land, as it will come easy to me to return and put to practical use the valuable lessons in agriculture which I have learned out here. This is a wonderful country, and offers a permanent lesson in intense cultivation. I am ccrlain now tlmt wo ;n New Zealand nover really understood what intense cultivation meant. I marvel at the work tlie women of France are doing towards maintaining their reputation and towards winning tho war. The manhood of France is lighting to the last possible Tecruit, and only the women and old men are left to carry on. Yet in spite of this every acre of land is producing as much as it ever produced, with only -women wording in the fields everywhere, doing men's work and doing it well without a grumble. Their's is a great and glorious part, and their burden of sorrow is second only to that of sacrifice."

Mrs. Hall-Thompson, president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of tho Wavy League, expresses thanks to the following for assistance given in connection with the fish stall at "Paddy's Market"•.—Messrs. G. Winder, H. Gibbons and Co., Marble Bar, Willis Street, Gordon and Gotcli, Blundell Bros., Municipal Fish Market, Miss Murray, ".Z. Express Co., Hanna and Kins, Auckland 'Municipal Fish Market, Townsend and Paul. N.Z. Trawling Co., Hawke's Bay Fishing Co., Zohrab and Co., Hurcombe and Co., ami N. Fernandos.

Defects of the Social Hygiene Bill. ! In the course of her speech at the 1 meeting of women held in the " Hall 011 Saturday afternoon, Lady btou,, » enumerated the following objections; to the Social Hygiene Bill brouglit dovm last week before Parliament:- 1) the Bill gave an opening to a secret chamber 1111 ouisition on the virtue of any woman 1 who may bo reported upon by any policeman or man. It was of no use saying ' that there would be women patrols. Under the conditions of tho appoiutnient they might not bo incorruptible. (J) There was 110 guavnutee tliftt &ny niap. would be subjected to tho Bill's provisions. (3) It left loopholes, even wideopen doors, for tho fashionable prostitute and her protectors to escape. (4) It penalised the most helpless class of the community, while leaving their associates and customers free. It was no safeguard against disease. (5) It gave unlimited power to a Magistrate to increase tho terms of imprisonment of alleged prostitutes. (G) It took away the only possible means of livelihood of certain women without making any provision for their keep. (7) It endangered the employer of female labour by enacting a penalty if he lias anyono in his employ suftering from disease. Ho would have to insist upon medical examination of every man or woman lie engaged. (8) It protects anyone who makes false charges against the character of a woman by accepting the plea that the action was taken in good faith. (9) It made no provision for the maintenance of woriien who have been in prison hospitals and are a danger to the State. Lady iStout considered that the prevalance of these diseases had been greatly exaggerated, in order to create a scare and get the Bill through. She also asked why could not the example of General O'Rvan (U.S.A.) bo followed. He posted guards over every saloon and disreputable house to prevent his men from entering, with the result that tho establishments were closed, and there were only 20 cases of disease in five months in his unit. It was asked in the U.S. Senate if it were not possible for every commanding officer to follow MajorGeneral O'Ryan's examnle, and thus stump out the disease. Why not here in New Zealand also? Another thing that Lady Stout wanted to know was why had not our Government profited by thij experience of the promoters M voluntary clinics in other countries? The International Medical Congress, and the British Pnyal Commission unanimously condemned every form of compulsion, declaring that such measures had the tendency to drive the. disease underground, and were a danf»r to the innocent and unprotected. Ladv 1 Stout hoped that such 11 protest would be made that no Government would ever a-eain bvincr forward such reactionary and immoral proposals.