New Departures From Old Customs

It is said that one of the greatest barriers between free social tings of European and Indian is the tendency towards segregation womenfolk by the Indian. In Suva, more cosmopolitan than the th and West districts, this has not been so marked, but it still exists j large degree.

In the West there is a slow drift towards European dresses, particu t where there are girls working in stores. And the number of these ' is rapidly increasing as parents overcome their antipathy.

A strong impetus towards slackening of racial customs was recently n in Nadi under the leadership of Mrs. Doris Prasad, wife of a rmacist, who was educated in New Zealand and there graduated MA.

Mrs. Prasad is president of the Nadi Women’s Cultural and Sports b and in August started her members on a programme of basketball, lis, hockey and badminton, together with home pursuits such as ing, cooking and child welfare.

About 500 people attended the opening of the basketball season, five women’s teams played in the tournament. This was a real arture from established customs for a predominantly Indian town i as Nadi. Reaction from other Indian women was altogether good, amongst the crowd it was noticed that there were many teenagers ring standard pattern European dresses—another ne\y departure.

A prominent Indian pointed out the part that women in India were ’ playing and gave his opinion that Fiji Indian women should follow

r example.

AJCF, Nadi.