TEAS TOO ELABORATE.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 43, 3 April 1930, Page 2

TEAS TOO ELABORATE.

There -has recently been widespread interest in the discussion amongst many prominent Auckland women of the costly and elaborate social enter-: tainment of our day. Mrs St~ CHair Brown was the courageous woman who launched the suggestion that, contrary to the prevailing fashion, we return to* more simple fare at social gatherings, and it was on her behalf that Mrs W. H. Parkes spoke on this subject at a recent bridge afternoon held at Ellerslie in aid of Plu-nket funds..... Several ladies present initiated a list of hostesses who agreed to provide simpler afternoon teas, and to send 5/- a week instead to some central fund for needy cases. What an admirable suggestion for tine noble band of harrassed women canvassers w>ho are constantly met with the discouraging information that "There are so many calls on one now-a-days, aren 't there % " -

Many of us, in common with Mrs Parkes, can xecall the days when an afternoon tea consisted of tea with, bread and butter, scones and eake-^—and no unfortunate after results! Of late years there has been evolved a veritable feast-of "good things," and this cxtyctosive entertainment has become a serious matter for the hostess of moderate means, as it often means that she has to forego the pleasure of entertaining her friends, or else have the courage to provide a tea which is less elaborate than those to which they are accustomed.

"With so many appeals foT the deserving poor," said Mrs Parkes, "does it seem right to waste so much money ,on luxurious food which is quite unnecessary? Surely the amount of plea-, sure gained from a gathering of our friends does not depend on the largo vaidety and cost of the food supplied?" Mrs Parkes said that she felt sure that a large number of thoughtful people present at t-he gathering that afternoon worild be prepared to take action in the matter, and she hoped that many wouli join in adding their names to the list of those who had already undertaken to support the idea. .

This problem is, of course, a universal one, and it is to be hoped that -the action of these thoughtful and courageous women wili make wide-spTead appeal. ■ t ■ : ■ '■^!_ 1: