Women Sea-Cooks,

Levin Daily Chronicle, 15 November 1917, Page 4

Women Sea-Cooks,

ON SOME MOSQUITO BOATS. EXPEBIENCES OF ONE OF THEM. It is not known to all men that many of the little coasters plying on the New Zealand coast now carry cooks of the gentler sex. The rarity of the other kind, of cooks has led to this, and since stewardesses are carried, on more than one diminutive liner, there is perhaps nothing very novel in having a woman cook too. The novelty of the situation, in fact, is more likely to be felt by the women cooks.

This was the case of a well-known coaster which sailed on a round-coast trip some weeks ago. She took with her a woman cook, whose ■ references showed her to be a mistress of her art. This opinion was endorsed by the officers and crew after having "high tea" in the smooth waters of the harbour. The sea-pie, it is said, was a dream. Then the little ship pushed out into the open sea, and after one or two attempts to enjoy her new surroundings the new sea-cook retired to the ladies' cabin, which she shared with the stewardess.

When morning came, the seas and the ship were still holding argument, regarding the laws of gravitation. The cook attempted to rise and dress. But the walls of the cabin and the floor and ceiling becoming inextricably entangled she .returned to her bunk. Breakfast was a bleak mea-l, and dinner was of the quick-lunch variety. Bu; there was no ill-feeling. In fact, condoling messages, -urging the- amateur sea-farer not to worry until she had got her sea-legs, calmed her fears as to her ability to hold her berth —in the business sense. And towanis evening the little ship ran into smooth water, approaching a port. The cook arose and set to work in the galley. Soon wore wafted for'ard and aft culinary odours which made the mouths water. As the ship swung into her berth "dinner" was served—such a dinner! It is likely that it will be talked of on the coast for years to come. Any doubts as to the new cook s suitability were set at rest. '' A real wonder,'' she was pronounced. But in the dawning day, the ship put to sea again—and the new cook had not got her sea-legs yet, nor had she achieved them when the steamer reached Wellington again. i The captain was in a quandary. As a ' cook, the woman was more than satis- : factory; as a sailor, she was worse than i awful. And, presently, the ship's coin- ! pany learned that she -was to be paio ; off. . , j It cannot bo said that ships companies, as a rule, are unanimous to a man on any vital subject. But this ship's company speedily showed that they could be on occasion. All ratings mastered, aft and aslccd for an interview with the skipper. The burden of their . plaint was:— "Let us keep our new cook! The captain pointed out her shortcomings as a. sailor. The deputation emphasised her splendid cooking when the ship kept on the level; in this the captain agreed, with reminiscences of the repasts which had been prepared ■while the vessel was in port. These reminiscences began to weaken his de-

cision. "She will soon get her sea-legs, the company -argued. "And 'until she does, we will help her." The stewardess concurred in this idea, and in the end the captain agreed to give the lady-cook another trial. So the ship put to sea again; and it is iuluoured that on the first day out the stewardess and donkeyman prepared lunch, for which the engineer had peeled the potatoes, a fireman chopped the wood, and a seaman washed the cabbage. When the new cook gets her sea-legs and the swaying of the small liner disturbs her no more ,it is expected that that steamer will be manned by the happiest crew on this coast not to mention the* afterguard.