MOTHERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 11

MOTHERS' UNION.

INCREASING MEMBERSHIP.

At the annual meeting of the Mothers' Union held in St. Mary's Church Hall, Parnell, yesterday afternoon, it was reported that steady progress had been made in the growtn of the union, the total membership now being 2040, an increase of 94 for the year. Archbishop Averill presided. Mention was!also made of the advance in the work among the Maoris; the Mothers' Union litany had been translated into Maori and printed and was proving a great help to Maori mothers. A branch of the union had been formed at Ahipara in the North, and also at Alfriston in the Clevedon parish. A motion of eympathy was paseed with the relatives of the late Mrs. Rewa Bennett and Mrs. C. F. R. Harrison, members standing in silence. A motion of sympathy was also passed with Miss Griffen, organising secretary, who has been compelled to give up some of her Mothers' Union work owing to illhealth. The report mentioned that the members of the Mothers' Union had participated in the celebration of the jubilee of the consecratio/i of the Archbishop to the episcopal office and expressed its appreciation of the interest the Archbishop had always shown in the work of the Mothers' Union and its gratitude for all Mrs. Averill had don© for the union. "I look upon the Mothers' Union almost ae the backbone of the diocese," said the Archbishop, in moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet. "Without this strong body of women, I would not be so optimistic as to the futuro of the diocese." The speaker reminded the gathering that they existed for a definite purpose and J warned them against departing from the aims and objecte laid down. He believed that collecting money for outside purposes constituted a danger. Houses or Flats? The Archbishop referred to the proposal of the Auckland City Council to build blocks of cottage homes or flats, and expressed the opinion that the erection of cottage homes was more desirable than flats. "We are interested in homes where there is sunshine, light and fresh air," lie said, "and tenants of flats are sometimes in danger of being deprived of these. The danger of the development of slums in Auckland is not so remote as many people think."

■ A motion was proposed by the Archbishop that the Mothers' Union tshould send a resolution to the City Council expressing its appreciation of the council's proposal to begin building, its satisfaction that the council proposed to' pay standard wages for the work, and its hope that the buildings should be cottage homes and not flats. The resolution was earried unanimously.

A short address was given by Sister Judson, who also sang two hymns to her own accompaniment.