LABOUR PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1937, Page 12

LABOUR PARTY.

EPSOM-OAK BRANCH HOLD SOCIAL AFTERNOON. Inaugurating regular meetings of the social committee of the Epsom-Oak branch of the New Zealand Labour party, a. delightful social afternoon was held in the branch rooms at the corner of Manukau Road and Mount Albert Road last Saturday afternoon. There was a large attendance, Mrs. Mere Newton, secretary of the branch and of the social committee, being in the chair. The afternoon commenced with community singing, followed by an address by Mrs. Mary M. Dreaver, J.P., who spoke on New Zealand movements of interest to women ,for building a new social order. Among others she mentioned the work of the Physical and Mental Welfare Society, also the People's Health Society, of which she is president. One of the helpful activities of the latter was the Young Mothers' Club for those who need friendly help and advice both ante and post-natal, also help with making babies' clothes. Dealing with the work of the Hospital Boards, Mrs. Dreaver spoke of their desire to have the most modern methods of treating illness, for example, the treatment of cancer. She spoke of the Labour Government's intention to give every mother, married or unmarried, full maternity benefits and assistance. Already thousands of women had benefited by the invalidity pensions and extension of the widows' pension to deserted wives. Widows, whose pension stops when the children grow up, must also be provided for.

Songs, more community singing, and recitations by Miss Archibald, followed the serving of afternoon tea by members of the social committee. The meeting, which was the outcome of Mrs. Mere Newton's wish to develop the social side of the branch work and link Labour women members together, should prove the forerunner of many such pleasant and instructive gatherings.

Among those present were: Mesdames M. M. Dreaver, J.P., Mere Newton, M. Hurst, Harris, J. R. Loney, Booth, Fast, Pickering, Ardern, Jacob Elliott, Lyons, Mmnean, Stenlake, M. M. Lowe, Evans, Manuel, Laity, G. Garlick, N. P. Killip E. Killip, Briggs, Fitzpatrick, Hollings, Miller, Wolf, J. Hall, P. Jacobs, McDonald, O. Gibson, C. Briggs, and the Misses Booth, Harris, and Archibald.