DR. STALEY AND THE FLAPPERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 438, 21 August 1928, Page 8

DR. STALEY AND THE FLAPPERS

ONE of the delegates to the Women’s Pan-Pacific Conference has created a minor sensation. Dr. Mildred Staley, of Auckland, makes her bow to the world as the author of a oneday thrill. She was reported from Honolulu to have compared the modern flapper to Messalina, or words to that effect, and to have added fuel to the fire by saying that far from being ashamed the flapper gloried in this status. Dr. Staley was also credited with expressing doubt about the moral character of the majority of girls in business houses. The startling message was sent to the Sydney “Sun” by its representative, Mrs. Robertson, a daughter of the well-known writer, A. G. Stephens. The round-table session at which Dr. Staley spoke was closed to the Press, but Mrs. Robertson was there in her capacity as an accredited delegate. Publication of the message aroused a storm of indignation in Australia, and Dr. Staley has hastened to deny uttering any such sentiments. One scarcely credits that a woman representing the Dominion, and herself possessing a sense of responsibility, would utter such a sweeping and preposterously-foolish generalisation. Independent correspondents, however, have said that something of the kind was mentioned, which goes to prove that conducting any portion of these sessions in camera is unwise. Had several reports been taken there would be no question of the accuracy, or otherwise, of the statements attributed to any delegate. Admittedly a sentence torn from its context for the purposes of a condensed cable message may cruelly misrepresent a speaker. It is, therefore, but fair to Dr. Staley to await her return to New Zealand and to hear her personal explanation before passing judgment on a regrettable incident.