OFFICIAL LIFE IN EGYPT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4578, 22 June 1923, Page 4

OFFICIAL LIFE IN EGYPT.

A WOMANS VIEWS. “Life in Egypt is very fascinating," said Miss Maud Bodmin in the course of a talk with a “Dominion” representative at Wellington on Tuesday. It is a subject she should know something about, seeing that she has spent the last five years there. “Some people see nothing in it — nothing beyond said, desert, flies, and heat,” she continued, “It is all probably a matter of temperament. I found it a wonderful country with a tremendous 'puli’ over one.” When Miss Bodmin first went there five years ago she entered the Intelligence Department Section, Military Headquarters. This included in its scope of work the surveillance of all persons suspected of fomenting trouble, and she found it intensely interesting. Later she gave it up to accept a secretarial position with the Ministry of Finance.

“In New Zealand,” said Miss Bod; min, “although a woman may do what is purely secretarial work for a Minister she is considered and placed on the footing of a mere typiste. In Egypt that is not the case. If she is doing secretarial work she is given the status and payment, of a secretary, and also receives many privileges. Yet there is practically no difference m the work.” Most of the positions similar to Miss Bodmin’s were filled by Englishwomen,, who brought out with them all the modern Englishwomen’s belief in their rjght to hold the same positions as men, and to receive the same status for their work, With the grant of independence to Egypt changes were gradually being made in the official life of the country. Where it was believed that they were fitted for it Egyptians were being placed in various positions in the Government, though usually nowhere technical knowledge was required. “They can do the work up to a certain point,” said Miss Bodmin, “b it they quickly tire. After all, you cannot expect everything to be done in one generation, and that is how it is with the Egyptian effendi.” The British,' she found, were liked and respected by the people, but they believed in governing their own country themselves. So long as the former were discreet, and did .not make themselves too obvious in governmental affairs, they could accomplish a great deal, and continue to be popular, bht with no army and no navy Egypt would soon become the prey of some other nation if she were left to herself. Miss Bodmin considered it better to let Egyptian officials tackle the work and fail than not let them try at all. They were more likely to be satisfied, and if they failed they would realise that they were not yet ready for the work. Miss Bodmin had a staff of five Egyptiansjn her office, and she found them very tractable, very good tempered, and very anxious to please. Like children, however, they tired very quickly, and when confronted with (difficulties would come to her with drawn faces and tell her plaintively that they were “very tired,” They could only do about half the work of an Englishman. Office hours were confined to the morning only; no afternoon work was done at all, and that left plenty of time for social pleasures, of which there was no lack in Cairo.

One of the best-dressed women in Egypt was the Queen, wife of King Fouad. She was rather fair, and had a wonderful flair for saying the rjght thing to the right person at her receptions. These were very formal affairs, with the Queen sitting in state on her Royal chair.

Speaking of the Sudan, Miss Bodmin said that the Pearson Company /had a contract for building a huge dam at Makwar for irrigation purposes, in connection with cotton-grow-ing. As many as 500,000 men were employed upon its construction,” and the Egyptian people were very much disturbed, because they said that if they wished the British could cut. off their water supply. “They really covid,” said Miss Bodmin, "but of course they never would.”