MISS MAUDE ROYDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 10

MISS MAUDE ROYDEN.

FAREWELL RECEPTION.

After a successful tour of New Zealand, Miss Maude Royden, the world-, famous feminist and preacher, was the guest of. honour at a reception held by the members of the welcome committee in the lounge of the Lyceum Club last evening. The rooms were beautifully decorated with large bowls of autumn foliage and pot plants. On arrival, Miss Royden, accompanied by Miss Collisson, was received by the Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, who, in a brief Bpeech, assured her of the sincere good wishes of everyone for her safe return to those to were near and dear to her. Mrs. Campbell said that Miss Royden's visit had more than come up to the expectations of all those who had so long looked forward to it, and asked her to accept a gold basket of violets as a token of appreciation. Mrs. W. H. Parkes welcomed Miss Royden on behalf of the Lyceum Club and the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society, of which she is president. The visit of Miss Royden, she said, had been helpful in every way to those who were working for social betterment. Her wonderful enthusiasm had been an inspiration to everyone, and Miss Royden could ifat assured that, her keen interest in New Zealanders and in all the new movements taking place in the Dominion were sincerely appreciated. New Zealand women were proUd to think that they have won commendation of such a world-famed little woman, and were more than grateful for her sympathetic interest. In wishing Miss Royden bon voyage, Mrs. Parkes presented her with a bouquet of pale pink carnations and .violets.

In reply, Miss Hoyden - thanked everyone for their kind hospitality. As one who had done a great deal of organising, she realised the enormous amount of work that went to arrange meetings, and those who had done so much, had her sincere appreciation. "It is quite true," said Miss Hoyden, "that we have literally been watching all that has been done in this little country, for despite its youth, New Zealand has done much of which to be proud." In more ways than one, NewZealand had led the way, she said, and she personally was very grateful to us for t the law which had simplified the adoption of her own little girl, Helen, who reached the age of 10 yesterday. When the women received the vote in .England, they docided to attempt to introduce the law of adoption, and Miss Royden herself

wrote to the New

Zealand authorities for a copy of their Act, together with suggestions, and information as to how it was working. It was on this Act that the bill was modelled.

This had been a wonderful thing, Miss Royden said, for hitherto parents had permitted adoption, and when the child became the apple of the new parents' eye, they stepped in and took their child back. Also, people were inclined to treat a child as a "cat or a canary," take it from a home and make a pet of it for a short while, and on wearing of the responsibility, send it back again. "I «m not 'talking through my hat,' as they say in the Old Country," said Miss Royden, "when I say that we have often benefited by what you are doing here." Afterwards Miss Royden met and conversted with a number of the guests, including several friends from her old school, Cheltenham College.

Miss Royden wore a frock of gold and floral lame, with a band of cerise ribbon reaching from the shoulder to the hip, where it was finished with a handsome diamante buckle. Miss Collisson worfe a frock of gold georgette, with longsleeved tunic of gold lame with fur collar. The Mayoress, Mrs. Campbell, was in rose georgette, embossed in chenille in tone of bronze and blue, and Mrs. W. H. Parkea wore a black satin frock, beaded fringe, and large shoulder posy. Among those present were; Mrs. J. Cook, representing the Mother's League; Mrs. A. E. Mulgan, representing the University women; Miss B. E. Carnachan, president of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women; Miss Jean Begg, secretary of the V.W.C.A.; Mrs. B. Cadoux, president of the Exservice Women's League; Mrs. V. Macky, secretary of the Pen women's League; Mrs. A. M. Ferguson, Mrs. G. H. Wilson, Mrs. Mansbridge, Mrs. A. Kidd, Mrs. McKay Grant, Mrs. Cluett, Miss Flatt, Mrs. Buttle, Mrs. C. D. McLean, Mrs. Mahon, Mrs. Stuart Boyd, Mrs. Bartriim, Dr. Mildred Staley, Mrs. Mingay, Dr. Hilda Northcroft, Mrs. McNair, Mrs. Tracey Inglis, Mrs. W. E. Bush, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Bruce Mackenzie, Mrs. Wieksteed, Mrs. N. E. Ferner, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Hirst,. Mrs. Axford, Mrs. Dickinson, Mrs. Reyburn, Mr?. FVV. Wilson, Mrs. Duncan Clark, Mrs. H. Cook, Miss Clouston, Miss Luxford, Miss Johnston, Miss E. Morton, Miss Wilson, Miss Quayle, Miss V. Hay, Miss E. Robertson, Miss Barton, Miss B. Knight, Miss Ernest.

During the eveiling a most enjoyable programme was contributed. An instrumental trio was given by Mrs. F. Hutchinson (piano), Mrs. Hesketh (violin), and Miss O. Lloyd ('cello); Miss Mavis Grevatt gave a harp solo; songs were given by Mrs. H. King and Miss Berta Carr, and a pianoforte =010 by Miss Maida Hooker.