WOMEN AND WAR WORK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 24, 23 October 1918, Page 2

WOMEN AND WAR WORK

SIR JOSEPH- WARD'S TRIBUTE TO ENGLISH WOMEN. In proposing at last evening's meeting of the-Society for the Protection of Women and Children, that Lady Stout be re-elected president. Sir Joseph AVard congratulated the society upon the success that had attended its philanthropic work, and.said that while they had not obtained all the reforms they had wonted fur, some might, yet be achieved in tne not very distant future., During his two recent visits to England he had been struck with the wonderful efforts made by- the women of England for the uplift of humanity. He had seen something of the police work of women, ami he liad thought it very effective. He hoped that the Minister of Justice would soften his heart and appoint some policewomen in this country. They could perform very valuable work that men.could not do. ( Turning to tho war work of the women at Home, tho Minister said that the war could not have been carried on by Great Britain but for the work of the women. That fact was absolutely indisputable. They had taken the places of over three millions' of men who. had gone to the war, and if those men had not been freed by the women it would have been a greatly weakened force that would have represented Britain in the titanic struggle that was taking place across the Channel. Women were to be found doing all kinds of work, even to shovelling coal for the engines in the railway yards, working in shipyards, doing riveting, tarring, in fact every imaginable kind of work that was previously done by men, and the women were doing it cheerfully, too, carrying on until America ,was ' ready, to send her overflowing numbers across the Atlantic. Their courage, too, was magnificent, nnd the speaker gave as an instance of it the eagerness with which they waited to, go back to work in a munitions factory where one of the greatest explosions that had ever occurred in connection with munitions had put an end to their operations for the time being. In. Prance women were working everywhere, not only driving motor lorries with supplies for the soldiers, but actually digging trenches against the possible invasion of the Germans at the time of their great drive.

Referring to woman suffrage, the .speaker said that it had always had his support. lie objected to the fact that there should be such a restriction for women at Home as tho limiting of the vote to women of thirty or over. They were as fit to vote as tho man of twentyone, and ho hoped 1 to see I hat limitation soon removed. Speaking of the loss of, manhood caused by the war, he considered it was tho duty of the Now Zealand Parliament tm take a great deal more care of the preservation of infant life and of those who are responsible for. bringing that life into the world. ]Ie honed that New Zealand would not be behind in helping to bring about; happier circumstances for mothers, and children alike.

"D'Mahanah of the Golden Valley." Everything is in ■li'iidinei.s for tho opening performance to-niglit at the Grand Opera House of Miss Giadys Campbell's production, ".D'Alitliaiiah'' of the (Jhklcn Valley." There ;.re two .scenes in the second act, "The Dragon's Ravine" and "The Itlue Valley," .md-the featuring chorus is •'Mortals; Mortals, Have a Care." Miss Francis Muter opens the' dancing in this aci, with a solo, "The Wind at Dawn," and among tiie spectacular items will be a solo by Hazel Hardwicke, "The Bird of Paradise," with a Flying Ballet of Humming Birds, a solo by Joyce Julian, and tho ballet, "Before tiie Dragon's Cave," with a solo by Ngaire Flripsoii. Nancy Cook-is the soloist in "The Elves'" ballet. The third act opens to a beautiful Eastern Court in Golden Valley, and the'vocal'feature will be the solo'"Light My Light." to be sung by Miss Hazel Fuller. The "Jewel" ballet, with Ngaire Phipson, Flo Smyth, a.nd Joyce Coiizens ua tho solo dancers, will, it is stated, be very,.brilliant, the dressing being of a most gorgeous character, l'lis Excellency the Governor-Gen-, cral the Countess of Liverpool, and suite, and' Sir Joseph and Lady Ward will be present. '• •