MOTHERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 210, 6 September 1938, Page 12

MOTHERS' UNION.

Annual Report Shows Increased Activity.

At the annual meeting of the Diocese of Auckland Mothers' Union, held yesterday afternoon in the Biehopscourt library, a year of steady progress with increased interest and activity in most of the branches was revealed. Archbishop Averill presided at the meeting. The report of the honorary diocesan secretary, Mrs. W. J. Simkin, showed that there were now eighty-eight branches, thirty-one of which were Maori branches. The work among the native mothers, stated the report, was showing marked progress, there beinj; 394 Maori members out of a total membership of 2.'i!W. During the past year a new branch had been established at St. Helier's Bay, and one was being formed at Warkworth. A branch at Kaipara Flats, in the same parish, had been amalgamated with the latter. Appreciation was expressed by the secretary of the help and interest taken in the work of the union by Archbishop and Mrs. Averill, the Rev. Canon and Mrs. Coats, and the clergy throughout the diocese. In speaking of the activities of the Mothers' Union, Archbishop Averill con> gratulated the members on the stead/ growth of the organisation, and thanked the council members for their sustained interest in the work of the union, which, he said, was needed to-day as never before. He stressed also the importance of link work, and the growth of the Maori work, and expressed appreciation of the splendid help given to both the Maori and pakeha branches by Mrs. R. G. Coats. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, Archbishop Averill paid a tribute to the memory of three members who had passed away, Mrs. Culpan, a life member of the council; Mrs. Nairn, secretary of St. Paul's branch; and Mrs. Keretene, the enrolling member of the Whangarei branch. The Archibishop also passed a motion of sympathy to Mother Hannah, who is at present in ill health. The value of the Mothers' Union in upholding the sanctity of marriage and the purity of home life was stressed by the Rev. Canon R. G. Coats, in a short talk on the work of the Mothers' Union. At the conclusion of the meeting an informal talk was given by Mrs. H. Mowll, wife of the Archbishop of Sydney, who passed through Auckland yesterday on her way to Canada. Mrs. Mowll .spoke of the work of the Mothers' Union in Sydney and of the wonderful link and fellowship that existed between the unions in every part of the world. Afternoon tea was j later served by council members.