WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL A pleasant little gathering took place at the Karori School last week, when parents, teachers, and pupils assembled to bid farewell to Miss Pinder, who has been infant mistress there for some years. The headmaster, Mr. Burns, expressed regret at. losing so capable a teacher, and wished her every success in her new position at Worscr Bay. Mr. Lankehear, chairman of the School Committee, also spoke, eulogising her -work amongst the children. He presented her with a gold wristlet watch as a mark of their appreciation. Mr. Stainton briefly responded for Miss Pinder, nnd thanked all present for eo handsome a gift, which she would always value in remembrance of their friendship. She also wished to thank the parents and committee for the kindness and assistance always extended to her, which had made her stay in Knrori so pleasant.

In connection with the capping ball, which takes place in the Town Hall this evening, late trams have been arranged for, leaving for Karori and Lyall Bay at 2.30 a.m.

A farowell afternoon was held by the Bev. G. Y. AVoodward and Mrs. Woodward at the vicarage, Karori, yesterday, for Mrs. A. M'Lennan, who is leaving shortly with her husband and family for Australia. A large number of Mrs. M'Lennan’s friends were present, and a very pleasant afternoon spent.. After a competition, won by Miss Davies, songs were sung by Mrs. Ginn, which 'V® re very much appreciated by everyone. The Lev. Woodward, in presenting Mrs. M'Lennan with a silver cakestand, referred to her many good qualities as a parish worker, and the many friends which her genial nature had brought her On behalf of the gathering lie wished Mr. and Mrs. M'Lennan and their family happiness and prosperity in their new home. The rooms and tea table were very prettily decorated with autumn foliage and pinks.

Miss AVigney (Christchurch) is' visiting Wellington.

A NEW SUPERANNUATION SCHEME

MR. MITCHELL, M.P., SPEAKS

Yesterday evening Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P. gave au interesting talk explainill’ some of the principal provisions in 1-is Bill for National Compulsory superannuation, which he proposes to bring before Parliament the a ?‘ ter next, io the members of the L.O.W . circle of the Pioneer Club. Pr. Agnes Bennett (president) introduced the tpeaker to his audience. In discussing his subject in what wa» necessarily a mere outline of the Bill (still in a state of evolution), Mr. Mitchell said that provision for the sick, the aged; the widowed and the disabled was an altogether modern undertaking. In olden times they used to kill oh the aged and the unfit. The various mean, of superannuation now in existence—mi •ago pensions, the National Provident Bund, accident insurance societies, friendly societies, Government suporanliuatioii, etc., were enumerated, all, however, merely hovering on the outskirts <tf what was a great national problem. •Lanig them all into account they made provision for but a very small Percentage of our population. Mr. Alitehell stresso-i tho point that ho was not by anv manner of means opposed io old age pensions. They must lie gone on with until something better was evolved to take rlieir place, but the system was entirely wrong. The good deserving citizen was placed on an equality with the wsifiter, and all the way, thrift', was penalised, while the old age pension was awarded practically as a charity. Icwards file superannuation of Civil Servants the Government guaranteed so miikh from the public exchequer earn year, and Mr. Mitchell contended that so long as a man was a worker he was a servant of the State, and as such lie, too, was entitled to superannuation benefits. The only "ri'ope under the present system that he had, however, of receiving a sure income for his old age, if not a civil servant, was by remaining poor, when, other conditions being fulfilled, he would be given the old age pension. Yet lie was called upon to contribute bv taxation to the superannuation of Civil Sen-ants. On national grounds it was time »e realised that everyone was a servant of the Sfati, anil’should be provided for accordingly . Liffh continued. Mr. AlitcheU. could be divided into three periods: First. childhood 1 up to 16 years of age when we were a flliarge unon our parents: secondly the working period from 1G onward. when wc worked to provide for ourselves and our dependant--; then old age—the period when we could no longer provide for ourselves. I’hnt middle period bad to provide for the other two periods—for the children and for old age. which was equal to working to provide for tho whole life. it he did not make provision, n person was a charge upon those who did: D’.scussing facts and figures, relating to the cause of poverty, Mr. AUtehell gave th" average wage of a working man as £4 16s. "if he were married and had a family of eight children it would moan his income per week worked out at 9s. 7d. on which he had to live. JTow could provision be made to-day for sickness. old age, etc.? Air. Afitchell proposed. in his scheme, that everyone, man and woman, should be made to contribute to their superannuation. At the ago of 16 every hoy and girl should begin to nay in so much towards, this fund, and so become a charge upon themselves to nay at the rat? of 5 per cent, ot their income. This would he a minimum basis. Boys would start at 16 at one shilling a week and at 20 this would be increased to 4s. f>. week. U’E would pay half that amount. The woman would be relieved upon marriage of her payments, and a reduction of one quarter of the payment would be made for. the man on the birth of each child —instead of paying 4s. he would pay 35.. and at the birth <f the fourth child payments would cense altogether. Air. Mitchell said that he would have the a"e for superannuation reduced by oije year for each child over the number of four-if there were five children then the age for superannuation was reached one year earlier, and so on. Under his scheme the widow left with children or with a sick husband would fare much better than she does under present circumstances. /Vouching upon the question of (he wealthy man. Mr. Mitchell considered it would lie unjust to relieve the wealthy man of payments to the -nine amount as the poor man. He proposed he should be relieved of his onefourth contribution for each child living, up to an income of £590 a year. The. excess income of the rich would have to go to help pay for the increase of the poor man’s superannuation income, or the scheme could never be sotted. Various circumstances were dealt with, and Air. Alitehell also outlined what would be done with nil existin’ superannuation funds were his scheme brought into effect. Old ago pensions would become a charge upon the State Superannuation Fund, and the old peoph* would ho able to lilt their [ heads a little higher. Equally, all other siiperannir.itbiiis would benefit. lie yas convinced that if the scheme came into . effect a bailor home !i?e would be effect- , cd, and in many ways the burden of i existence would l.e lightened, while i people wo ' *•' nraetiee thrift. ;

Wedding in St John’s Church,

Tlxo marriage took place in fit, Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon of Miss Jean Edna Smith, youngast daughter of Airs. Smith, The Terraco, to Air. James Douglas Ritchie, son of Mx< and Mrs. J. D. Ritchie, also of Welling' ton The ceremony was performed by ths liev. Dr. Gibb, assisted by the Rev. James Paterson Xh° bride, wlho was given away by her- brother, Mr. Allan Smith, wore a very pretty frock of cream brocade draped over pale pink satin, and finished at the waist with a girdle of silver tissue roses. A court train of pink and white georgette fell from tho shoulders, nnd was added to by tho softly falling folds of her long tulle bridal veil, which was fastened to the head with a. coronet of orange blossome. She earned a bouquet of pink and white flowers. 'The bridesmaids were Miss Ritchie (sister of the bridegroom) and Miss Slarjorio Myers. The former wore a frock of eau de nil taffetas draped over silver lace, made with a panniered skirt and caught with silver tissue flowers, and the latter mauve taffetas, similarly macle. Both wore black panne hats finished with silver ribbon, and tliey carried bouquets to tone with their frocks. Air. Keith Coldwell (Cambridge) was best man, and Mr. Keith Glendining (Dunedin) groomsman. The bride’s mother wore a black silk jumper frock beaded with jet and. a hat of black panne. Airs. Ritchie, the bridegroom's mother, was in navy blue charmeusa with a pretty hat to match. Both carried bouquets to tone with, their frocks. After the ceremony a reception was held by Mrs. Smith at her home on the Terrace. Among the relatives who were present were Airs. Al'Killop (the bride’s sister), who was wearing a frock of black panne with touches of royal blue, and a black panne hat; Airs. Muir (also sister of the bride), a frock of biscuitcoloured taffetas made with tiny frilla and a henna hat trimmed with filet ribbon ; also Air. and Airs. Coldwell (Cambridge), Airs, and Aliss Douglas (Dunedin), Aliss Glendining. and the Misses Murdoch (also of Dunedin). The bride travelled in a navy blue gabardine coat frock embroidered cm the skirt with checks of pink and fawn wool, a chenille hat with touches of blue and mustard trimming, and a skunk stole. A SUCCESSFUL MATINEE IN AID OF THE RESIDENTIAL NURSERY. Yesterday afternoon a matinee in aid of the Residential Nursery (W.N.R.), organised by Airs. Spear, took place by kind permission of Messrs. B. and J. Fuller, in His Majesty’s Theatre. There was a large audience, and a really excellent programme was presented. Some of Air. Fuller’s best artists had given their services, and with songs, sketches, dances and recitations on the part of the other performers, a great deal of varie’ty was introduced. As is usual nowadays with regard to many local performances, there was much- children’s dancing, and, of course, all the mothers, the cousins, and the aunts were there to witness it. The programme opened with <l. chorus by a mimlxir of children in white sailor costumes. Little Betty Menard followed with one of Aire. Caudle’s curtain lectures, given with much spirit. A song, "Jammy Face,” was sung with, much coquetry by Ngaire Green, and another song, "Matilda at the Pieflo.” by Aliss D. Tossman. Alias Vera AValmcsley, an exponent of dancing,. from London, made her first public appearance in Wellington, and danced a pas seul that was graceful and picturesque and somewhat reminiscent of Maud Allen, her prettv fuschia-coloured frock adding to the effect. Ngiri Pliipson. garbed as a gorgeous butterfly, represented "Summer” in her dance; little Billie Afurphy, a tiny sprite, captivated the audience by her quaintly measured performance; Fay Smythe danced a tambourine dance, and Alartha Alyers a scarf dance. A song, "To Be a Flower,” was sung by Aliss Hilda Chudley, and Messrs. Fullers’ specialty artists, Keeley and Aldous, gave a highly popular "turn” of songs, patter and dances. Pupils of Aliss Dorothy Saunders—Misses Leo Greening, Ella Liardet, Sinclair Breen, and Thelma M'Kenzie—all gave dances, that of Aliss Sinclair Breen, a "Spider Dance,” being remarkably good, though grotesque. There appeared to be no posture that she could not. take, and her sense of rhythm wn« marked. The “Destiny Waltz” (dearly beloved by all dancers) and the contortions of a spider appeared a startling combination, but there was more in common between them than might have been imagined at first. Hurd, tho juggler, did most wonderful things with the greatest apparent ease, and his feats of balancing were remarkably good. Contributing to the second part of the programme were Aladaiue Ahildare Hewitt, who sang delightfully "When You Come Home”; Alaster L. Searle gave a clever character sketch. "'The Porter”; and some of Aliss Beere’s pupils—Aliss Dorothy Buck, Grace Ward, Phyllis Olliver, Joan Beere, Florence Heyworth, and Hazel Alidlanc—gave some pretty fancy dances. Airs. Jamieson sang "Cashmere," and Fredos, the aerobatic violinist, and Eddy Martyn, a. dancing specialist (two of Messrs. Fullers’ artists), gave items that met with much appreciation. Other performances that were nvuch applauded were pretty dances given by pupils of Aliss Carwell Cooke—Alissas Joyce Whitehead, Aloira Clouston, Dudleigh Carstens, Joan Palethorpe, and Estelle Johns —and Christine Brown giving a skipping ballet, with Shoila Kissel as soloist. Molly Cook, a “Spring Dance," and an Indian ballet by Mavis Chamberlain, Atora Nisbitt, Ngaire Boyes, Edna Boyes, Eileen Clapham, and Ainie Clapham. Miss Carwell-Cooke herself gave a graceful solo dance, "False Joyeuse,” and Miss Low concluded the programme with a song. Altogether the entertainment was highly successful, and Airs. Spear, the organiser, and the Residential Nursery Committee are very grateful to Afessre. Fuller and their artists for their great assistance and courtesy, and to all who helped with tho programme. During the interval and both before and after the performance members of the Nursery Committee sold flowers e.nd cakes and also acted as ushers. Although tiho full figures were not arrived at yesterday afternoon, a little over A‘loo was taken.

At last night’s address upon National Compulsory Superannuation, given at the Pioneer Chib, Mr. G. Mitchell, ALP., touched upon a specially interesting point in connection with a man who transgressed against the law. Put into prison, his wife nnd children had to face the world in difficult circumstances. The man was well fed, well looked after, and was away from public opinion for tho time at least. The wife had to keep the children, face a censorious world, work or go to the Charitable Aid Boaix!. AVho, asked Mr. Mitchell, bore the heavier punishment. He hoped that, did his Bill come into effect, the wife would become a charge on superannuation just as if her husband were dead, aud ho put to remunerative work, recouping the State funds to the extent of the amount paid to his wile and childien