LEAGUE OF MOTHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 274, 18 November 1936, Page 13

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS.

DOMINION CONFERENCE OPENS,

Her Excellency, Viscountess Galway, Dominion patroness of the League of Mothers, opened the Dominion conference of the League of Mothers in Wellington this morning.

The annual report showed a gratifying increase in both branches and members of the society, which has proved of such great value to thousands of New Zealand women. There were now 93 branches, with eight new ones. Total nlembership numbered 7544. The financial membership had improved, there being 5041 paid members, new ones numbering 1074.

Special mention was made of the loss to the league of the late Dominion secretary and magazine business editor, Mrs. Ena Dawson, whose work was everywhere deeply Appreciated, and her personality admired.

Of particular interest were the lighthouse branches, which were in charge of Miss Mary Richmond. Her sympathetic and understanding correspondence and other help - meant a great deal to the lonely women. The Maori and scattered branches were- under Mrs. Stanley Harris, who reported steady work among them, and the fact that the members were much interested and found belonging to the league was well worth while.

Mention was made with pleasure that her Excellency Viscountess Galway had shown as interest in the league during the year, and also that Mrs. Charles White replaced Lady Elliott when the latter resigned the position of Dominion president, and Mrs. Leslie Wall, who was provincial secretary of Wellington for the past three years had accepted the position of Dominion secretary and treasurer. The Dominion council meeting was gratifying as bringing many of those interested together, and at this meeting great appreciation was expressed at the excellence of the work done for the league by Lady Elliott, who was made a life member and a Dominion vice-president of the league.

There was an imposing roll of branches, taking up eight pages of the printed report. The "balance-sheet showed a balance of £58, this being a remarkable fact considering the great amount of work accomplished •by the league, and the benefits conferred on the women of the Dominion. The expenses were remarkable also for being so small, and showing that the work was done voluntarily by women who had a high sense of duty toward their country and its people.