BAGPIPE GIRLS

Radio Record, 27 May 1938, Page 20

BAGPIPE GIRLS

RUMOUR IN CHRISTCHURCH CITY \ RE women physically fitted to play the bagpipes, and, if sc, should they? All. Christchurch, at least the Scottish part of it, has been awaiting an answer to the first portion of this question for 2 long time. It was rumoured in the city on two or three occasions that some of the "bright young things" were seriously considering forming a pipe band, but that is as far as it ‘went. There -was another whisper abroad last week, and it came from: a- reliable source; but, try as I might, I was unable. to secure official confirmation that ‘tle city ‘streets would ever see the bonnie lassies skirling their way through long lanes of Highland admirers. However, stranger things have happened in New Zealand before to-day. This question of whether women, in general, are physically strong enough to blaw the pipes was keenly debated at the beginning of this year by ‘the Seottish Piping Society of London, which assisted in making arrangements for a national piping contest to be held. One of the Scottish officials.in ‘the piping world is reported to have remarked, trenchantly, "It’s no’ the thing for a wuman to blaw the pipes. and it’s unheerd of for her to belang to a society." Another, even less gallant, expressed the view that women were "making plenty of noise in the world to-day without taking up the pipes and squeezing a bag to supplement their luugpower." And this same Seot became a trifle grim when he remarked, in passing. that there was a time, following the 45 Rebellion, when the playing of the pipes by women was made punishable by death, even in Scotland.