The Auckland Herald says the proceedings in the Magistrate's Court almost every Friday seem to prove that something is sadly lacking in the education of many modern girls - that something more is required in the way of teaching them what will be required of them when they become mistresses of homes. Last week there were several stories of domestic unhappiness told in court. It is true that drink had something to do with every case, but the women, according to Mr Kettle, S.M., are not altogether blameless. One husband, a defendant in the usual type of maintenance case, said that he had once tried the experiment of giving his wife the money to run the home with, but she had got into such a muddle over it that he dared not try it again.
What seems to be urgently required is that if a girl is to marry at a fairly early age, she must have a good insight into the most economical way of carrying on a home, and must be trained to look after a baby, cook, and see to the routine work of the home, all at the same time.
The fault that the magistrate most often finds with married couples is that the husband and wife have no system of managing a home on a certain sum per week.
• The seventh annual meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Mutual Money Club (Ltd.) was held at Messrs Hugh Mitchell and Co.'s office. The report and balance sheet submitted showed that the year's work had been very successful, enabling a 7 per cent dividend to be declared, in addition to a large increase in the reserve account. Mr Farrant, who presided, stated that it gave him great pleasure to be able to meet members with as satisfactory a position of affairs. All were aware that the club was established for the purpose of enabling those desiring to do so to invest savings, and, in addition, to secure loans at reasonable rates of interest, which have been a long-felt want in Dunedin. The club's work only needed to be known to recommend it to both investors and borrowers. As proving that its usefulness was being realised he stated that 34,336 had been lent in sums ranging from 5 up to 500.
• A remarkable scene was witnessed at the exhibition of the Alexandra Electric Pictures in the Town Hall at Cheviot on Saturday night. The engine used for driving the electric dynamo was placed in the supper room adjoining the main hall, and the fumes from the petrol gradually permeated the whole building. All went well until after the interval, and the first indication of anything being amiss was at the close of the "Uncle Tom's Cabin" series of pictures. Then a lady fainted, and was carried out.
Thinking the pathetic scene had been too much for her nerves little notice was taken of the incident.
Presently, however, she was followed by another, and another, until the carrying-out business developed into a regular procession. Some recovered on reaching the fresh air, while others collapsed and were taken into adjoining houses, where restoratives were used to bring them round. Children were affected differently. Overpowered by the noxious gas, they fell asleep and curled upon the floor. Strange to say, only one side of the hall was affected. Altogether, fully 20 persons either fainted or were taken out of the building in a state of collapse. In future the engine will be placed outside the building.
- ODT, 25.7.1912.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
The Auckland Herald says the proceedings in the Magistrate's Court almost every Friday seem to prove that something is sadly lacking in the education of many modern girls - that something more is required in the way of teaching them what will be required of them when they become mistresses of homes. Last week there were several stories of domestic unhappiness told in court. It is true that drink had something to do with every case, but the women, according to Mr Kettle, S.M., are not altogether blameless. One husband, a defendant in the usual type of maintenance case, said that he had once tried the experiment of giving his wife the money to run the home with, but she had got into such a muddle over it that he dared not try it again. What seems to be urgently required is that if a girl is to marry at a fairly early age, she must have a good insight into the most economical way of carrying on a home, and must be trained to look after a baby, cook, and see to the routine work of the home, all at the same time.
The fault that the magistrate most often finds with married couples is that the husband and wife have no system of managing a home on a certain sum per week.
The seventh annual meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Mutual Money Club (Ltd.) was held at Messrs Hugh Mitchell and Co.'s office. The report and balance sheet submitted showed that the year's work had been very successful, enabling a 7 per cent dividend to be declared, in addition to a large increase in the reserve account. Mr Farrant, who presided, stated that it gave him great pleasure to be able to meet members with as satisfactory a position of affairs. All were aware that the club was established for the purpose of enabling those desiring to do so to invest savings, and, in addition, to secure loans at reasonable rates of interest, which have been a long-felt want in Dunedin. The club's work only needed to be known to recommend it to both investors and borrowers. As proving that its usefulness was being realised he stated that 34,336 had been lent in sums ranging from 5 up to 500.
A remarkable scene was witnessed at the exhibition of the Alexandra Electric Pictures in the Town Hall at Cheviot on Saturday night. The engine used for driving the electric dynamo was placed in the supper room adjoining the main hall, and the fumes from the petrol gradually permeated the whole building. All went well until after the interval, and the first indication of anything being amiss was at the close of the "Uncle Tom's Cabin" series of pictures. Then a lady fainted, and was carried out.
Thinking the pathetic scene had been too much for her nerves little notice was taken of the incident.
Presently, however, she was followed by another, and another, until the carrying-out business developed into a regular procession. Some recovered on reaching the fresh air, while others collapsed and were taken into adjoining houses, where restoratives were used to bring them round. Children were affected differently. Overpowered by the noxious gas, they fell asleep and curled upon the floor. Strange to say, only one side of the hall was affected. Altogether, fully 20 persons either fainted or were taken out of the building in a state of collapse. In future the engine will be placed outside the building.
- ODT, 25.7.1912.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
