NOTES FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10293, 30 May 1919, Page 9

NOTES FOR WOMEN

WOMEN'S WAR WORK

CARING FOR WOUNDED

INTERESTING STORY BY DR ■v AGNES BENNETT.

Dr Agnes Bennett, who has just re- | burned from England, was, it will be remembered, earlier in the war a mem- j 'ber of one of tho Scottish Women's Hospitals in Serbia.. Although she has not been back there since her last holiday in New Zealand, she has kept up her interest in the work. When she left the hospital the 'headquarters were at Osirovo, but tho hospital had been split into several units-, and her particular one was at Dwbraveni. This unit, as soon as tho Army began to advance last year, followed close belaud,' and, leaving its heavy stutt, H went in motors and transport wagons close bemud the advancing army. Int. unit was the hrst to re-enter Serbia with the victorious armies, a tact ot which the women who staffed these uospitals have reason to be prou.twnen they arrived at v'ranya, about the middle of Serbia, north of- UsKub, they ioimd a great many wounded, who had been sent there witii hardly anyone to look alter taeni, and no supplies or bandages. It was lute the conditions prevailing at the time ot tho first liignt of ,the Serbs. Here the Scottish Women's Hospital unit established itself, securing a large barracks, and after getting things into, working order,'the whole hospital was moved up, aud the .wouuued wore nursed. This work is still going on there. Tho whole of tho transport of the hospital was managed without outside help, and in this connection New Zealand greatly assisted. ..It will bo remembered that ..tho ..Pioneer Club ot Wellington- collected money, at the request of Dr Bennett, for a motor ambulance." "When you sent us so much," said Dr Bennett, ''l was anxious to got a particular kind of iorry> the Selden, which was most useful on the Serbian roads." This lorry nad to be secured from America, so it was some months before it arrived, but it was in time to. help to movo the unit after the victorious Serbian army into their, own-country:...; Speaking ot its arrival, the superintendent said, in . a letter, to headquarters, in Jddinburgh: "I must tell you how absolutely overjoyed we were to find that our long-looked-for Selden lorry had arrived in Salonika in time to help us to bring our Sisters hero. Our old Selden and the G.M.O. lorry took all our stuff to the railway station, so that we did not need any outside Ijelp at all." lorry, will, be glad to know it fulfilled such a useful purpose. Of the conditions in. Serbia, Dr Bennett thinks they are still very bad, p.nd that help will bo needed from these hospital units and from' other sources for some time to come. Dr Bennett was stationed at the Glasgow Infirmary after her return to England. Here she worked through an influenza epidemic, when, she.'. wa_», .the. only qualified doctor left/ the others, having"succumbed, and all the work fell upon her and 6everal second and third-year medical students. She proposed taking a holiday to recover from this strenuous time,but, having offered her services to Netley Hospital, she received an urgent summons to come at once, bo she left,'after-only one'day's rest. HAIR-RAISING AIR, ''STUNTS," While travelling 'from"? Newcastle to London on this'occasion, Armistice Day was being celebrated, and as the train passed a big flying school the passengers had an excising display of air "stunts," the machines -all being out and the men flying low enough to speak to those in the train, then wheeling off and returning in tho . wildest swoops. Two men were killed that day just by their sheer, .excitement. . Later, Dr Bennett saw an exhibition of flying at Newcastle, when all. kinds of hair-rais-ing acta were performed and sham duels fought in the air. As the men had taken to painting their machines, the most vivid reds and greens in contrast to the dull grey and 'khaki of war-time, they looked sometimes like huge dragon flies in the air, tJONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

Speaking of conditions in England, Dr. Bennett said they had been very hard during the winter, and still wert>. Indeed, she thought it was no time toi poople to be going there. Every place was crowded, so much so that people were actually waiting to be married until they could get homes. The shortage of coal had made conditions very hard, so that the English home in not the well-lighted, weli-warmed place it used to be. iu pre-war days. The dearth of domestic help, of course, augments this, too, and in this respect. Dr. Bennett thought English people had considerably broadened; they were no longer horrified at letting their servant out every night. An v attempt was being made to have a system of orderly work for homes, the girls to live in hostels and go out to work. Doubtless, something of the sort must bo done, (or when the out-of-work allowances stop ex-munition workers will have to turn to ofclVJr .work. Demobilisation in. this and other forms of war work by

■ ■ t ~ * women is being carried out slowly to prevent distress, but there is no. doubt much unemployment exists. Dr iicu. nott thought the cessation, of war worfc was going to be much te t by the V.A.D.'s, so many of whom had found the love of work durin S tho war and would feel the need ot it.. In their case, too, something was being done to enable them to take up work, and a system of scholarships was being inaugurated.' Some would have tho chance of training in hospitals, also in other work. One girl who had entered the laboratory of a hospital tor war time and had done very well, was going into training. A proiessior. open to some of the V.A.D.'s was that of hospital almoner. This work consisted of looking after the out-patients who are ordered treatment, seeing that they can get'it, aud, if not making arrangements for them, also acting between patients and benevolent societies. The training is very still and has to be paid for by oneself, but tile position is a well-paid one and, the work interesting. Dr. Bounott intends taking a rest before starting work again. At Netley tho work, was largely in tents, and during the cold weather she contracted a bad bronchial cold. She is looking forward to some bright New Zealand Bunshine, and, altogether, finds New Zealand a good place to be an at the present time, with plenty of New Zealan dbutter and other good tilings to be had. SOCIAL~AND PERSONAL. Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral and Countess of Liverpool ati tended the performance of "The Throe ' Doors" at the. Opera House last night. They were accompanied by the Misses j Bell and Miss M.-Adams.. _.'". " j Miss Ethel Ledger, of Nelson, was I married recently to ;Mr Leggett, of j the Pacific Cable service, at Penang. Their future homo will be at St. James, in French Cochin China, where Mr Leggitt' has been transferred. Miss N. -A. Elder, of this city, is visiting Christchurch. • . Mdlle. Antonia-Dolores-was the guest of the Society at afternoon tea during'her. stay in "that town. To-day she will be the guest of the Canterbury Women's Club. . Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs Herbert are at present visiting Nelson. Mrs T. Borthwick, of Christchurch, leaves shortly for England..

".General Ricliardson visited the Red Cross Montecello Home in Dunedin recently, and expressed gratification at the work done- therov-'C ■-. .'..;.;- '-'/>

Sister F. Abbott/"who"returned to New Zealand by the steamer Paparoa, was one of the first nurses to go on active service, having left New Zealand by the Maheno in 1915. She was one of the survivors of the ill-fated Marquette, and has since served in several, hospitals in England.

Mr E. Warburton, of Alexandra street, Palmerston North, has received cable advice- tliat^his-'sOiVJ'Lieutenant E. D. Warburton, R.A,F., sailed frbm England on the Prinzessen about the 16th of this month. Miss' Estelle Beere has gone to Nelson, where she will direct, the dancing at a large bazaar for the National Reserve Band. Miss Beere is accompanied by her mother and her little niece (Miss Joan Beere). A wedding of"interest."t©: ; ft- -wide . circle, took''pl£tQo'-. J Church,Ohristchurch, "on.''Tuesday,''' when'.Mr" J. W. Woodhouse, Metbven, was married to Miss Gladys Knight, daughter of Mir H. A. Knight, Racecourse Hill. Tho Rev. \W Hughe* was the officiating clergyman. The bride was married in a navy blue coat and skirt, blue georgette blouse with • gold and bead trimming,. and small saxe blue hat with bright wing. There were no bridesmaids. After the., service the guests returned to 'R-aceoourtfe'-Hill"for tea, which was" : served m- : the dining room, the tables being , decorated wuh pink and mauvo. Tho brido and bridegroom subsequently loft on their .honeymoon trip, the-former's going-away frock, being a bottle-green gaberdine coat and skirt, blue velour hat, and cream net blouse.

At Knox Church, Maßterton, on Wednesday, JVliss Winnie ' Truscott, daughter of Mr and- Mrs E. W. Truscott, of Cornwall street,-was married to Mr E. ■ Rout, a returned soldier. The bride was given away by her father, and was attended by two bridesmaids, Misses 1«\ Payne and M. Truscott,- cousin and niece irespocfcirel? of the bride. Mr Alex. Devonport (also a returned soldier)' and Mr A. E. Payne" acted in the capacity of best man and groomsman respectively. A reception was held in the Exchange Hall, after which the happy couple left for the south.

The Auckland Navy League are giving an "at-home" on Saturday evening in commemoration of the Battle of Jutland.

At a meeting of the Auckland branch I of. the National Council of Women, a remit was brought forward that in view of the obanged raanaKenieWt qi the railway, the time was opportune to represent to the Government the crying need for improvement in tie sanitary conveniences on the trains, especially the long-distance, trains, which were not.only exceedingly objectionable, but I a source of danger, and an offence to all i*nse or ideas of decency, in that thej were used by both sexos. THE HAIB. It is every woman's ambition to be 'possessed of a head of lovely hair—soft, lust trous, wavy, and free_from dandruff. } To assist ladies to attain that ideal, Mrs Rolleston has devised, a course of treatment that is remarkably effective. Fivo separate treatments are given, and the head is put in a thoroughly healthy condition, for a fee of one.guinea. The methods that are employed cleanse and massage the scalp, revive the hair roots and thus the growth is stimulated in a most effective manno'r. The result brings out all the real life and lustre, the natural waves and colour, and makes the hair soft, fresh and luxuriant. You are invited to call. MRS. EOLLESTON, (Qualified London, Pariß and America) 266, Lambton quay, Wellington.—Advt, LADLES' HAIR DRESSING. The most approved methods of dressing the hair are carried out under ideal conditions in Mrs Cameron's "Boudoir Camille," Cooper's Buildings, Willis st;eet. The latest creations and novelise for the hair always on hand. Have vou seen the latest Pin and Cluster Curls? Telephone 4535.