OF FEMININE INTEREST

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 13, 7 October 1932, Unnumbered Page

OF FEMININE INTEREST

By

Patricia

"THE relay by 2YA from the Dominion Day celebrations by the Early Settlers’ Association would recall to many the hardships of pioneering days before the advent of bitumen streets, moving pictures, and wireless. Although the greatest audience was outside the hall, and many could not eall themselves old settlers, stories told by their parents and grandparents must have been vividly remembered. IS ‘Excellency . the GovernorGeneral, as is invariably the ‘rule, spoke feelingly and courageously, and assured the gathering that they had no greater admirer of the old pioseers-whose outstanding qualifications&had enabled them.to build this eountry-than himself. In remembering that the day was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the constitution of New Zealand as a Dominion, it was fitting also to remember that the new status invelved new responsibilities which should impress on all the need for integrity, courage, and resourcefulness. ° om * % {rz is possible that the Women’s Social Progress Movement had a larger audience than ever before when the athering last Wednesday had its pro‘eedings broadcast by 2YA. At’ this meeting Canon Percival James made some very pointed remarks anent the beastliness of picture posters that ad- yertise film features, and the abuse of alcohol at dances. He said that he: was told frequently that quite young men often drank too much themselves, but "what was worse, they prevailed upon young girls to.drink, too.- He had not personal testimony of this, and had tried not to believe it, but it was nevertheless difficult to disregard the statements of-many of his informants: The assertion is freely circulated that drink is taken to excess at many of the dances, and if it is untrue, it should be forthwith denied. If there is any truth whatever in these rumours, here is something that cries to heaven for a remedy. A generation ago chivalry in young men demanded that they protect the honour and good name of their sisters, and with this new freedom of companionship between the sexes, protect‘tion is more than ever needed, as is also a highystandard of modesty among ‘-Young women. The members of the movement were importuned to discover these things for themselves and to ostracise guilty ones from decent society. ° * * 2 AY ITH regard to picture posters, : Canon James made a yery trenchant criticism of some displayed on the hoardings in our public streets. "Parents," said he, "can protect their children from pernicious literature and noving pictures, but it is impossible to guard the child from the flaring posters that insinuate loathsome sex suggestion." Compulsory education necessitates most children frequenting the streets and passing these posters. Many parents must have felt inclined to .. tear. these placards down, but ‘that

would be an infringement of the law. Upon a hoarding in his own parish was at the moment an outrageously indecent poster which the Canon had _ photographed, and he thought it was only necessary to draw the attention of the authorities ‘to this particular one for them to take action. = * * F the Women’s Social Progress Movement do nothing more than to have abolished these disgustingly offensive advertisements,:: which are a blot on decency, their meeting in Wellington will not have been in vain. ‘ Normal people seldom see these pictures in detail, as disgust allows only’ a fleeting glance, but one cannot help thinking of the harm they are doing to the children whose inquiring minds compel them to observe everything closely.

NEW feature at the educational session (2YA) was the gardening talk to those children who are enthusiastic home gardeners. There are many others too who would appreciate the advice given on the sowing and planting of vegetables and flowers. Personally, I think gardening one of the finest hobbies a2 man, woman or child can take up, both for pleasure and health, and although in Wellington, where there is so much wind to contend with, it is often disheartening, still, quite good results can be obtained from one’s labouts in. this direction. ‘If you want a good showy bor der, plant phiox drummondi fairly close together and run a piece of twelve-inch wire netting on each side of the border, fixing it with wooden stakes at each end. This will prevent the flowers growing along the ground, and will make a good show as they come up through the wire.

N almost every garden there is a bed of mint, and this can be used to make a cheap and simple exterminator for aphis. Fill a kerosene tin with the mint, cover with cold water and boil.’ When cold spray it on roses or any plant affected with the blight, and they will soon become clean and grow much better. * & * I FEEL sure that the hundreds of women who listened to the "Fabrics and Fashions" talk from 2YA on ‘Tuesday enjoyed hearing Mrs. T. W. Lewis’s interesting description of the different sets of art jewellery that are so popular at the moment. Most of us love to deck ourselves with beads or jewellery of some kind, a liking which must surely be a heritage from our barbarian ancestors. To be really smart this season one must consider a set of this art jewellery as part of one’s. outfit, but only with smart afternoon or evening dress is this permissible, tailored suits and sports clothes being worn without a suspicion of ornamentation, in this line. Some of the necklaces, bracelets and .earrings of wrought metal inset with different coloured stones are marvellous works of art, and are so beautiful they can hardly be detected from the real thing. Many bracelets are worn, and this fashion has come into use, no doubt, through the sleeveless or semi-sleeveless frocks, thus taking off.some- of the bareness of the arms. Those who cannot afford to have a set of jewellery to match each dressy frock should select the necklace, earrings, ete, and then choose the cole our scheme of their frocks so that their one set of jewellery will add to the beauty of each. Crystals are usually.a safe choice, and pearls, whether real or synthetic, will always be worn. The newest are tinted-pink or beige. e « 2 { ADAME MARION GILBERT 1s a Frenchwoman writer who ‘has translated the works of many English authors into her-native tongue, and has also written a number of original works of great importance, for which she received the Northcliffe Prize for Literature in 1925. At present she is in Lon(lon making a study of the lives Eng: lishwomen lead-particularly in reta. tion to their domestic arrangements, their clubs and pastimes-and when she returns to France she will incorporate her observations in a-new book, Mme. Gilbert has the highest admiration for the way in which the Mnglishwoman has succeeded in subordinating her household career to the claims of her interests in a wider sphere. Without sacrificing the ideal of a lovely home, she has succeeded in providing herself with an environment which runs smoothly without claiming her constant attention and energy, to the exclusion of all else, ~