LONDON PERSONALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 4, 6 January 1936, Page 13

LONDON PERSONALS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, December 14.

For the programme of a special "novelty" night, inaugurated by J. B. Cramer and Company, Miss Eileen Driscoll (Wellington), who was specially engaged to sing, introduced a group of Maori songs sung in Maori. The audience was comprised largely of people well known in musical circles, among whom were Dr. Martin Shaw, the well-known composer and director, and Mr. T. Dunhill, Professor, Royal College of Music. Miss Driscoll was the only vocalist, and as her items were all new to the listeners they were immensely enjoyed. Dr. Martin Shaw asked many questions, and Mr. Dunhill reminded Miss Driscoll that he had been in New Zealand about 30 years ago as examiner for the Associated Boards. The programme included "Puhi Hiua" (words and music by Mari Hamaitan—Mrs. H. Trevelyan King, of Auckland). Wherever this has been sung by Miss Driscoll it has been much admired. The New Zealand soprano has broadcast, in Maori, from the Dublin station on several occasions, and as a result, she has had interesting letters, and letters of inquiry from unseen listeners in France and Belgium. Into the Maori songs, which suit her voice so well, Miss Driscoll is able to introduce the real atmosphere. She sang a number of these with excellent effect at a private reception at Hampstead last Sunday. Miss Joan Caughey (Auckland) ex-

pects to be in England indefinitely. She went over to Ireland -last week to see the New Zealand Test match and to see her brother. From Ireland she will go to Wales. In January she will leave for Switzerland for the winter sports with a party of friends. Mrs. Jones-Neilson, president of the British Immigrants' Club and Empire Setlement League, is expecting to leave for home at an early date. This week Mrs. Jones-Neilson was received at the Dominions Office by Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, Secretary of State for the Dominions, with whom she had a useful talk. He asked her to put before him details of the New Zealand project, which it would be useful for him to know. After leaving the Dominions Office she went to the House of Commons and saw Sir N. GrattanDoyle, M.P. On December 5 Mrs. Jones-Neilson spent some time with Sir H. Page Croft, chairman of the Empire Development and Research Committee, with whom she had a general discussion on the future plans that would be applicable to the Dominion. Since attending the conference on migration at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mrs. Jones-Neilson has been staying in Sussex, her native county. A petition prepared for presentation to the Speaker and members of the House of Commons runs: (1) That the old-age pensions should be paid by Great Britain to the British immigrant up to a ten years' residence in New Zealand; (2) that the widows' pension should be paid by Great Britain to the British immigrant the first five years' residence in New Zealand from British National insurance funds; (3) that the Dominion contributary pension scheme now in operation in Great Britain should be collected weekly in New Zealand, if necessary through friendly societies; (4) that the ex-Imperial soldier's wife and family should be repatriated when recommended by the British Medical Association, and New Zealand Government, and so avoid becoming voluntary patients in the mental asylums of New Zealand; (5) to obtain economic pension for wife and dependants from the New Zealand Government