WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 265, 3 August 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR,

(By

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PRSONAL Misa Edwin 1b about to leave for n visit to San Francisco. Among New Zealand journalists and writers in London recently were the following (states a London correspondent):— Dr. Harold Williams, Mr. Reginald Berkeley, Mi-. F. AV. Doidge, Mr. H. T. B. Drew, Miss A. E. Evans, Miss Evelyn Isitt, Miss Crighton Imrie, Miss Mander, Mr. T. J. Pemberton, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Reeves, Mrs. Dora Hamelius Wileox, Mrs. Blance-White, Miss J. Weston (“C. de Thierry”), Air. J. P. Whitelay, and Miss A. D. Bright.

The death took place on Sunday et the residence of her brother in Christchurch of Miss Clara Frances Collins, late matron of “Holly Lea.” Miss Collins, who was born in Invercargill, was trained in the Christchurch Hospital, which she left in 1891 to open the Rangatira Nursing Home at Linwood. This she carried on for over 20 years, and after a year’s holiday was appointed matron of “Holly Lea" on its inception, which position she held up to the time of her death.

Miss Dorothy Clarke, M.Sc., Dunedin, has Ih’ou “coaching" in Leeds for the past year, states a London correspondent. Since leaving New Zealand she has been in Canada and the United States. After visiting the South of England, the Channel Islands, and Scotland, she proposes sailing for New Zealand by the Shropshire in September.

The engagement is announced of Miss Mary Hunter, of ,Cobden, eldest daughter of the late Mr.' and Mrs. Hunter, or Fern Flat. Nelson, to Mr. Louis Bradley, second son of the late R. O. Bradley, Charteris Bay, Lyttelton.

Miss M. Skerrett intends to remain with her sister. Mrs. >T. Cqnchie, in London. until the arrival of her brother, Mr. - C. P. Skerrett, when they will go to Aix les Bains (states an English correspondent, writing on June 16). later Mr. Skerrett will go to Castle Feddal, Perthshire, t > stay with his brother-in-law for the grouse shooting season.

Discussing the problems of peace, the Anglican Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Averill), in the course of a sermon in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Auckland, said that nations were devising schemes for their own security nnd self-interest by forming alliances, discussing armaments conferences, and adjusting the balance of power: but ignoriqjr to a large extent the promotion of the League of Nations —the God-inspired r<*medv for bringing the principles of the Prince of Peace to bear upon international relations i’» the interests of peace and justice. ’.Vae world was in danger of repenting the great fallacy of building its house upon the sand—attempting to erect a sunerstructura w’t'iont a safe foundation. More powerful nations were so much engrossed upon their own recovery that they had no time or inclination to think of the safety or welfare of less developed nat’pns, and international jealousies and fears were presenting the united action of the powerful nations in helping forward on national and racia. lines the many small nations,' which were such a storm-centre in the world.

Mrs. Mathew Holmes (Wellington) and her two little daughters expect to go to Edinburgh about the middle of July, and to spend August "Hh friends near Kelso (wrote a 7-or.don correspondent on June 16). Mrs. Holmes will probabin bo army from New Zealand for ’3 months „r two years. Her parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James Holmes, who also travelled by the Athenie. are now staying with relatives at Hampstead, but they have in confemnlation an early trip to Scotland. They will go back to New Zealand in October.

Aliss Eileen Clifford, of Upper Hutt, tho gifted amateur actress, went, south on Monday evening to join Aliss Kosemary Rees in her performance of "The Alolluso” in Christchurch. It is understood Afiss Clifford is to tour with this company.

Mrs. James Wall, who died at Porirua on Sunday evening, was a very old and respected settler, and had lived all her life in the Wellington district. Her parents, the late Mr. nnd Airs. Thomas Floyd, arrived in Wellington on Anniversary Day, January 22, 1841, on The Slane’s. Castle, and later took up their residence at Porirua. Mrs. Wall was born on November 28. 1,848. She was married to Mr. James Wall, who arrived in New Zealand a few months after The Slane’s Castlo in the Lord William Bentick. Mr. ■Wall, who is a farmer at Porinii. Is still alive and hale and hearty, although in his 83rd year. Airs. Wall spent the whole of her married life at Porirua, rearing a large family, who now number three sons and one daughter. The eldest son is Air. James Wall, of Te Kuiti, chairman of the Waitomo ..County Council. Mrs. Wall came from a good old stock, both her i'athoi m.' l mother attaining the ripe age of 93 years.

The Hatnitai branch of the Women’s National Reserve held a successful “five hundred" evening on Saturday at the Hataitai School, to add to the funds of Violet Day. Prizes were won by Airs. Pliinor, Miss Arnit, Air. Cook, and Air. Gully. A guessing competition for a pair of knitted slippers was won by Airs. Weston, of Brooklyn. .The supper tables were prettily arranged with jonquils and birch. In charge of the arrangements were Mesdamcs Searle, Fortune, Barnett, Kitching, Plimmer, Halliday, and Al'Cann. Music fgr the dancing was played by Airs. Searle.

At the meeting of the Wellington branch of the Women's National Council a resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the late Airs. A. R. Atkinson was passed. For the week ended July 30, iho officer commanding and matron. Tre.ntham Hospital, acknowledge with tlngiks t.he following gifts, outings, etc., for patients:— Illustrated papers and magazines, from Sirs. Alan Strang; weekly issue of smokes, sweets, cakes, flowers, daily papers, from Red Cross Society; weekly issue of sweets, cake's, fruit, from Salvation Army; books and magazines and nightly picture show, Y.M.C.A.; flowers, from Master B. Pederson (Bunnj thorpe). For children’s wards: Picture show in ward by Y.M.C.A. Warm garments from Mr. Griffiths, per Lady Luqc: warm bed-jackets and dress-ing-gowns from Peace Time Red Cross, per Lady Luke. Mrs. Noel Bull, of Gisborne, is the guest of Mre. Johnston. Carterton. Miss Dulcie Mitchell has been singing at Bournemouth and Morecambe. states a London correspondent, «nnd the dav after the reception rlio was io leave for Glasgow to fulfil a concert engagement. Mr. and Airs. M. d’Oisly (the latter is liosina Buckman on the stage) are, says a London correspondent, looking forward »erv keenly to their New Zealand tour . next year. Their engagement-list is always a heavy one, and they returned from Italy just the night before they ap--1 poured at' tho Crystal Palace at the big : Handel Festival concert.

Children and Social Medicine, In the course of his lecture in the Red Cross ImlL in Dixon Street last night. Dr. Wylie said that one of the evidences of social medicine was to be seen in the work that was being done at Rotorua and Trentham for the crippled children of the Dominion. The problem of these handicapped little ones had not been appreciated here as it should lhav» been, due very largely to the fact that the children had been* scattered all over the country and, so did not come under the observation of people, or if they did it was only now .Mid again, in very limited numbers. There had been no adequate machinery for collecting them or for providing means for treating them if they were collected. Owing, however, to the war and the development of surgery, andi particularly those branches of surgery dealing with deformity, the problem of the crippled children assumed an importance it had not hitherto been invested with. Over a year ago the children were collected ami arrangements were made for their treatment, with the co-operation _of the authorities concerned, nt Trentham and Rotorua. To bo effective the treatment had to arrange not only for surgical treatment where necessary, but for the education of these children and for the provision of some form of vocational training while they were in hospital. Women's National Council.

A meeting of the Wellington branch of the Women’s National Council was held last night. Miss N. E. Coad, M.A., presided. Arrangements were made for a deputation to wait upon the School ‘Committees’ Association with regard to the establishment of children’s playgrounds. Tffo members of the deputation will toe Mre.iGlover (Salvation Army), Mrs. Gill and Mrs. J. C. Anderson (Kindergarten Association), and Miss Coad (Women’s National Council). A communication was received from Auckland with regard to the duties of health patrols, and tho raising of the age of consent to 18 years. It was decided to 00-operate with the Auckland branch of the W.N.C. in gaining signatures to the petition on the matter. Resolutions from the Kindergarten Association with regard to picture shows were received, and will be brought as remits before the conference of the New Zealand Women’s National Council, which is to be held in Wellington next month. One of the resolutions proposed that children under 14 years of age should not be admitted to picture theatres unless .the programmes were specially censored. Another resolution which was brought forward, was to tho effect that municipal authorities be asked tp set aside land for playgrounds in suitable places within the city area for the use of children, and that trained supSbvisors be appointed to take charge. A letter was received from the Hon. C. J. Parr in answer to a request from the council that a special picture theatre be set aside for children in all the cities and towns on Saturday afternoons, and that they be allowed in no other. The Minister stated that tho matter was receiving his consideration. SOCIAL~MEDICINE LECTURE BY DR. WYLIE. In connection with the peace time work of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John, a lecture was given last evening in the Red Cross Hall by Dr. Wylie, C.M.G., C.8.E., upon "Social Medicine.” Mr. J. P. Firth presided, and a few introductory remarks were made by the Hon. Dr. Collins. Dr. Wylie stated that the term “social medicine” was more frequently used by, our American cousins than by the British, and it was very closely allied to ite follow-subject, preventive medicine. One aspect only of social medicine would be discussed that evening, and that was the power and. influence which public opinion could exert in its development. Social medicine was the more modern interpretation of social data, and was determined by many factors of life to-day-housing, low wages, large families, sanitation, water supply, etc The gradual development of the aims of medicine from the individualism of preventive lines to file more or less communal ideas of today (for it aimed at preserving the health of the community), were touched on by the speaker, the many aspects of the modern Department of Public Health being included in his brief survey. Social medicine aimed at the conservation of the resources for dealing with public health; at bringing about a higher standard of the citizens’ health; at developing more positive methods of creating health; at promoting useful longevity;, and at securing personal and communal health along moral and social lines. It aimed to function through the social group, to give equal opportunity to the community to realise and acquire health. In short, it was the democratising of medicine.

For the development of social medicine many kinds of institutions and of machinery were and would be needed, both now and in the future.. As well as a greater co-ordination of organisations to raise the standard of living, if a thoroughly healthy life for tho community were to be attained.

Dr. Wylie spoke of the importance of the .work done by the Public Health Department, particular!}- with regard to the schools. Phases of the work of social medicine were the activities of the Plunket Society and kindred organisations. In •conclusion, Dr. Wylie stated that no advance in social medicine would bo made.unless a sound and enlightened public opinion were created. People did not live a healthy life today, because they kicked knowledge, and they would not attain higher standard of health unless they gained tho necessary knowledge. Dr. WyJio enumerated ways in which the State could assist in the attainment of health for the community, but the people themselves must co-operate in carrying out reforms. A well-informed public opinion could be obtained by such nicans as the Red Cross were to-dny utilising, by means of the schools (by giving the children experience of tho practice of hygiene, and inculcating habits of healthy living); by wider methods of propaganda, i.e., lectures, the Press, etc. Lastly, the Government should bear its share of responsibility in helping to procure a sound healthy public opinion.

There seems to bo a craze nowadays among well-to-do women to play for tho films, says the “Alanchester Guardian.” It pleases their vanity to tell tneir friends that they are film actresses and te see themselves parading on the screen. “Wo can’t compete with tlhem," said an actress bitterly. "The professional who wants an engagement has to dress well. Lots of the girls you see wearing pretty frocks and smart hats and shoes are almost starving themselves because they can't afford both clothes and food, and no one knows about their food economies. But they cannot compete with the wealtihy woman who dresses beautifully, who perhaps drives down to the studio in her own motor-car, and who sometimes even pays for the privilege of playing a part.”