WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND .NEAR.

(By

Imogen.))

• SOCIAL AND PERSONAL A meeting of tho Women Prisoners' Welfare Group was held yesterday mid reports were received of the arrangements which were being made in connection witli the dance which is to be held at the end of the month to raise funds for tho furtherance of the society’s work. Other matters were also discussed. A meeting of the Women’s National Reserve Residential Nursery was held on Thursday afternoon. Tho Hon. Dr. Collins presided. Tho question of the improvements was freely discussed, and various valuable suggestions made. It was decided that the work must bo proceeded with, the urgent needs of the nursery demanding enlargement of premises. Miss Cecil Hall (Auckland), who has been judging tho fancy dancing nt the competitions, left yesterday for Dunedin, where she is to act as a judge in the competitions to bo held there. Miss Sommervillo is staying with Mrs. John Deans, Christchurch. The District W.C.T.U. hold a special meeting to celebrate "Franchise Day," when Mrs. Wright presided. Dr. PlattsMills was tho speaker, and spoke of the way New Zealand women were criticised as having done nothing since gaining the privilege of voting, and then mentioned many humanitarian Acts which had found their way to the Statute Book, a large proportion of them being for the betterment of the conditions of life for women and children. The apathy of the great bulk of women was spoken of, and it was said until women were organised and made to realise the responsibility of power placed in their hands, public opinion educated, and more advanced legislation agitated for, it would be impossible to control the conditions under which we lived. The Dominion essay competition, based on the Special Education Report. No. 13, issued by the New Zealand Educational Department, .was explained, and all present endorsed the action of the executive in promising to raise A5O towards financing the enterprise. During the afternoon Mrs. Booth sang "My Ships,” which was much enjoyed. A large gathering of ladies interested in tho Anglican Boys' Home at tho Lower Hutt mot at the Diocesan Rooms, Mulgravo Street, on Friday afternoon to make arrangements for the street sale day on October 7. Tho meeting was presided over by Lady Luke, who is president of tho movement. Miss Clark was .appointed treasurer on the day, whilst Miss Griffiths was appointed assistant secretary. Tho Misses Clark, Bock, and Griffiths, also Mrs. Griffiths, will he in charge of the depot. The secretary (Mrs. C. B. Gaby) reported that there would be ten stalls, and stallholders would be glad of offers of flowers, etc., from tho country. The Khandallah ladies were giving the proceeds of an entertainment towards tho fund, and a fancy dress dance organised by some young folks at Kilbirnie had realised .£lB 14s. A jumble sale to bo held in St. Peters Schoolroom was to go towards Kelburn s efforts. The stalls wore allotted as follow:—St. -Paul's, Mrs. Larnach, in charge at Lindsay’s corner; St. Peter’s. Sister BirchaU, Boulcott Street; St. Mark’s, Mrs. Askew, Courtenay Place; St Thomas’s, Mrs. Preston, Wellington South; St. Michael’s, Mrs. Barber, Kelburn Avenue; lyadestown, Mrs. Jones, Quinton’s'corner ; St. Mary’s, Mrs. James Mackenzie, Mee’s Steps; Hutt Valley, Miss Humphries, Bank of New Zealand; Roseneath; Mrs. Street, General Post Office; All Saints’, Mrs. C. Gaby. Kirkcaldie’s. Harcourt and Co. have again kindly allowed ihe use of their rooms . as a receiving depot for goods and flowers prior to and on the day of sale. Lady Luke thanked all those present for their attendance. After the meeting closed, at tho invitation of Mrs. Sprott, many of those present gathered at Bishopscourt, where afternoon tea was served. A garden party is to be held in the grounds of Mr. Richard Keene at Island Bav, on Saturday’ next, in aid of the funds of the new Presbyterian Church at Island Buy. Attorney-General Armstrong, of the United States, has ruled that the police have no authority to send women prisoners against their consent to hospital clinics for examination. It has hitherto been a common practice of police captains to order women prisoners to be taken in charge of policewomen to the hospital clinics—where they were obliged to submit to compulsory examination for venereal disease. Mrs Downie Stewart is visiting Mrs. C. F. Vallance at Kahumingi, Masterton. The monthly meeting of the Wellington Central W.C.T.U. was held on Friday. Mrs. president, was in the chair. A committee was set up to make arrangements for the jumble sale to be held at the. Constable Street rooms in November. Final announcements regarding tho district convention, to be hold at the Town Hall on September 28 and 29, wore made. Most members approved of the efforts of ffie National Council of Women to get the age of consent raised from 16 to 18 years of age, and also of the efforts of the W.C.T.U. to get women appointed as Justices of the Peace, as jurors, and as policewomen. Petitions for these reforms were signed. Mrs. Wright, district president, gave a very interesting history of the Constable Street property. Kelburn Croquet Club. The annual meeting of the Kelburn Croquet Club (incorporated) was held in ths club pavilion yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Bruqe Christie presiding over a large attendance of members. Tho report and balance-sheet showed a very satisfactory record for the year, and was adopted, the meeting considering both highly satisfactory. During the season the olub held two benefit afternoons, which resulted in A 6 being donated to the Starving Children Fund, six guineas to Mrs. Boyes’s fund, and two guineas to the Y.M.C.A. The winter' afternoons which had been inaugurated last year wore continued during recess, and these have been very successful both as a means of keeping members together and also providing substantially towards tho furnishing fund for the promised new pavilion. The election of officer's resulted as follows: —President, Mys. R. W. M'Villv; vice-president, Mrs. 'MZDowell; hon. sec., Mrs. Rhodes Williams (re-elect-ed); hon. treasurer, Mrs. Banks; committee. Mesdames Bruce Christie and Henderson (re-elected), Gard’ne", Matkins, G. Ferguson, Ogilvie, Shannon, and Paterson; delegates to tho Wellington Croquet Association, Mesdames Jlhodcs Williams and M’Dowell; auditor, Mr. Edward Lambert. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers and committee for their services, also to the hostesses of the various Thursday afternoons and all those who had contributed to the prize fund. Tho rose bowl presented by Mr. Bruce Christie for the club championship, A section, was won by Mrs. Sholto Ferguson, and the silver vase presented by Messrs B. W. At ills and Co. for B section went to Mrs. Ogilvie. It was decided to the limit as to membership in view or the fact that the City Council has granted the club tho use of five lawns for the coming season. Forty now members were elected, including a number of men players, which now brings tho membership up to 91. It was decided to open the lawns on Tuesday, October 4.

Plain, Poster, and Fancy Dress Ball. The annual plain, fancy, and poster ball of the Evans Bay Wacht and Motor Boat Club, held in the Town Hall lost evening, was one of the prettiest and gayest of sights, and was very largely attended by dancers in both plain and fancy dress, though more largely by the latter. The vivid colouring of the costumes, in which the brightest of colours predominated, harmonised well with the decorations of the hall, which were particularly effective and were carried out principally in crimson. Crimson funnelshaped shades over the electroliers bordered with fringe gave a wars'! glow to the big chamber, and crimson formed a light, loose canopy overhead. Both tho stage and the outside of the gallery were also festooned with crimson drapery touched with yellow, the predominating colour giving a very cheerful, glowing effect, admirable as a background for such a scene. The poster dresses, of which there was a considerable number, were very effective and ingenious, much more so than the fancy dresses, and much thought must have gone to their creation. Among the fancy dresses was on excellent representation of Robinson Crusoe, his man Friday, and the dog, a pair of excellent golliwogs, an Indian and his squaw. Old Man Jazz, many Eastern ladies, a Highlander and his lassie, courtiers, Pierrots and Pieretfes, a rose garden, peasants of many countries, a South Sea Islander, and a great many other representations. Prizes were awarded for the best poster dress for lady and gentleman, and for the best-carried-out fancy dresses, lady and gentleman, two special prizes also being awarded. The judging was done during the grand march, for which the Pipe Band provided the music,the Judges being Mr. A. A. George (patron of the club), Mrs. George, and Miss Smith. The presentation ceremony fas carried out by the Mayor, Mr. R. A. AVright, M.P., tho winners being as follow: —Ladies' poster, "British Films,” Miss Maisie Crossley; For tho fr'Antlemen, "Shell Motor Oil,” Air. Snow; for the best fancy dress (ladies), Mrs. N. Kelly, "An Eastern Lady"; for the gentlemen, "Robinson Crusoe,” Air. A. Jenson. A special prize, given by Mr. A. A. George, was awarded jo Airs. Patterson,whose excellently carried out dress represented the "Challenge Heater.” Another special prize given by Afiss Smith, went to little AHss Louie Hannah, who represented an "Indian Maid," also very well carried out. The masters of ceremony for the evening, whoso duties wefe assuredly no sinecure, were Alcssrs. Wilson, Harper, Hannah, and M/Ilvrido. Mr. M Ilvrido was practically the organiser, and was very largely responsible for the admirably carried out arrangements of the evening Of great assistance to him, was Mr. H. S. Hannah, the club sroreThe Afayoress, Airs. R. A. Wright, accompanied the Mayor, and wore a frock of emerald green charmeuse, with headed embroideries. The chaperons for the evening were Mrs. A. A. George, Mrs A. J Ibbetson, Mrs. J. C. Burbery, All's. J. Patterson, Mrs. H. S. Hannah. The committee comprised Airs. Hannah, Airs, Jennens, Miss L. Wagstaff (social secretary), Miss A. Wagstaff. Mies laker, Messrs. M'llvrido, R. Wilson, C. Harper, F. Hadfield, jiijn., Powell, end H. Hannah. An innovation of the evening was the "Continental supper," which was set at the further end of the ’ball, under tho gallery, and for which the ladies were responsible. Spring flowers decorated the tables, and the walls at the back were draped with flags Not only was tho dance largely attended, but there was also a large gathering of onlookers in the gallery, who '.ere greatly interested in the scene below. As masks were worn until after the grand march, there was much speculation among them as to who was who until their removal. Making Good.

Twenty-two women’s societies were represented at the conference on the position of women police, held on July 15 at the Caxton Hall, Westminster. Lord Astor said that during the war the country experimented with women police, and found they were a real economy in the welfare and happiness of human life. The movement was no longer an experiment, but a proved success. Resolutions were passed urging the Home Secretary and the Secretary for Scotland to uso their influence with police authorities in this matter, expressing the opinion that policewomen were needed in all matters connected with women and children, and urging that they should be vested with the legal powers and status of a constable. Commandant Allen, of the AVomens Auxiliary Service, in her speech recalled that she was the first uniformed policewoman in Ehgland in 1914, when Miss Darner Dawson founded the AV omen Police Service. Up to the present time the sendee had trained sopio 1000 women, and had collected for the various branches of the work close on J*4O,(XK).