The Charming and Unaffected Wife of New Zealand’s Prime Minister

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 17, 2 November 1934, Page 66

The Charming and Unaffected Wife of New Zealand’s Prime Minister

__ This is the first of a series of articles entitled "Women at Home," written specially for the "Radio Record’ To-day’s article deals with Mrs. G. W. Forbes, and it will be followed by brief pen pictures of other well-known New Zealand women.

HERE is a big gabled house not far from the | '» Parliament: Buildings in Wellington, sandwiched between the:shops in Molesworth Street and hidden behind a huge corrugated-iron fence. To the passers by. it would probably seem quite a simple matter. to open one of the gates, stroll up the gravel path past the neat. lawns and borders of flowers, ring the front door bell and ask to see the Prime Minister’s wife. But it is not quite as simple as that. .There is more in it.than.meets the eye, for before a meeting with Mrs, Forbes can be arranged the telephone buzzes with formalities with the Prime Minister’s secretary at Parliament House. ~The appointment made for me to see Mrs. Forbes was at 5.30 on a recent afternoon, but the moment that the Prime Minister’s wife opened the front door and invited me inside all formality was dropped. . ‘Through a soft-carpented hall, hung with mirrors, Mrs. Forbes led the way into a large sitting-room with, furnishings of deep’ reds and blues. -"T.have just come in from an ‘afternoon’," said Mrs. Forbes, as she sat down, "and I’ve been very, busy all day. As you can guess I do not have a great deal of spare time. I am leaving Wellington again to-morrow. I was down at Cheviot last week-end, and it was lovely meeting many of my old friends at the races. ‘ No, I don’t get tired of this busy life. I enjoy everything that comes along." _ Mrs. Forbes is a keen photographer. On her recent trip overseas, her husband: bought her a camera, as he thought that she would find it a very interesting way of keeping a record of the trip. "Buckingham Palace.is a wonderful place," said Mrs. Forbes. "During one*visit to the Queen she,showed me her famous dolls’ house.’ At dinner one night I sat next to the Prince of Wales, who is very jolly and entertaining. I wish I had my book of photos. to:show you, but it is not here. After the fire which destroyed our Cheviot home about a year ago, I decided that in future the ‘safest. place for my treasures would be in. the strongroom over at the Patliament Buildings, so that is where my precious book of photos.. is at present. pte , soy.

"What is our new home like down south? It is very modern and compact, which saves a great deal of unnecessary work. Bertha, my elder daughter, and I designed it. We made three plans before we settled things just.as we wanted them. I always.en joy" lookin: over people’s new houses, and a8 many of’ my fr iends and acquaintances have shown me over their honies you can guess that I have collected a number of ideas about modern: designs, and our new kitchen lias walls and doors of hammered glass which is ‘very. hygienic and labour-saving. At present my two daughters are down there. Robert, my son, manages the farm. The girls_ have a girl friend from Wellington staying with them at present. They have their own horses and their little car, and go for picnics, to tennis, bathing and golf." Mrs. showed me two picturés painted by her daughter, Bertha, one of them being a Sydney scene. It is surprising to learn. that Miss Forbes has received no instruction in art becatise in her work she shows a fine feeling for colour and’ unusual composition. Presently New Zealand’s Prime Minister passed by the window. "Here is George, home for dinner," said Mis. Forbes. "It is often very late when he comes in. The other night he brought in a friend at half-past seven, and they both poked: their heads round the door wondering whether they would get anything." "What a pity Minhinnick had not been behind the door at that moment to. ‘pot’ Geor ge, his favourite model," I thought. "T asked Dad to tr y and come in early for dinner to-night,'as our maid has a sick sister in hospital. and she wants to go and see her," said Mrs. Forbes, who was, I had quite decided, a very. charming and motherly person, whose heart, is with kindness.