Y.W.C.A.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20729, 14 December 1932, Page 3

Y.W.C.A.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MONTHLY MEETING. TLo Board of Directors of the Y.W.C.A. met on Monday, Mrs VV. Machrn presiding. It was arranged that no meeting would be held in January, and that any interim business would be transacted by the executive committee. The general secretary reported that during the past few weeks considerable time has been s|x;nt on conference preparation, including approaching possible leaders for the study in economics, folk dancing, etc. Twenty-two delegates had registered from Christchurch, and there were one or two other possibilities for whole time and part time. The week-end would be specially devoted to sports. There •.vould be special sessions for members of the Professional and Business "Women's Round Table Clubs at which a Dominion constitution and organisation would be evolved. The garden party was a very pleasant occasion and thanks were due to Mrs F. M. Warren for making things so easy for the Association. The amount realised, between £l6 and £l7, would go towards the £IOO goal of the I Girls' Finance Committee, of which j sum £77 had now been raised. The week-end camp at Diamond Harbour for Lyttelton gilds was very worth while, and moro would b© planned during the coming year. The activities of the senior department had been continued, much of the effort having been directed to the garden party. It was planned to ask for contributions of fruit, etc., for the Christmas cheer effort, to be distributed to women who otherwise were unlikelv to share in any festivity. The handicrafts group, which had lately included a Christmas gift class, under Miss E. Silby, broke up on Wednesday, December Cth, and the members presented Mrs Richards and Miss Grand with books as a token of their appreciation. The Senior Girls' Club room had been repapered and painted. At the invitation of tho headmistress the general secretary gave a talk to the Avonside High School girls, telling them something of the Y.W.C.A., activities, and a party of the girls were shown over the Association buildings. The School Sports Club had given £1 to be spent on work for unemployed girls. In the girls' department the Mother's Club held a bring and buy sale, also a coin evening for the Conference funds. The members made Miss Grand a Christmas gift. The Girl Citizen's concert was quite successful. The girls were collecting gifts to be given away to poor families at Christmas time. At the Lyttel,ton Club the pixies were practising a Christmas play to be given on the afternoon when tho Mother's Club was entertaining children under nine. Through the kindness of Mrs Paine, the Watawin Club held a week-end camp at Diamond Harbour with Miss Batt. A most enjoyable time was spent in discussions, swimming, and tramps. At a meeting held last week final arrangements were made for the Christmas fair to be held on December 16th. Vocational Guidance. A special report on the vocational guidance work of the Association was nresented and approved. It stated that the occupational classes for girls who were without employment opened at the beginning of June and ran until the end of October. The total enrolment during the period was 123, but the average attendance varied considerably. The most consistently popular classes were those in sewing and handicrafts, and the senior clerical class. A very considerable number of the girls obtained employment during the period either directly through the Y.W.C.A. or in other ways. The experience gained proved that it was well worth while to continue this part of the work in spite of the fluctuation in attendance and constant change of personnel. It had also been proved that it should be open to all girls under eighteen, and that a secretary »u clo j*j touch with the general activities should be closelv associated with it. Statistics for the past three months revealed that out of 139 applicants 84 were looking for domestic work, 21 for clerical work, 19 for shop work, six tor needle trades, and nine for factory occupation. The greater number of the applicants were over eighteen, showing

that there was a distinct need for getting into touch with the younger unemployed girl. Very little was being done in vocational guidance tor girls, but a promise of co-operation had been received from the vocational officer, Mr Keys. During the three months 12!) vacancies had been notified, and 54 had I been filled. The shortage of trained j domestic workers showed that there was need for a scheme to provide training, and something might bo done in co-operation with employers of daily and part-time workers.. Such _ schemes had been tried with success in other countries. - There seemed to bo no doubt that the Association should take up this question of vocational guidance for girls by establishing a bureau, and inviting the co-operation •of employers of all kinds of labour. Co-operation should be asked from the schools, lxKiause of their knowledge or school careers, and parents should also be consulted. "It should be definitely understood," concluded the report, "that this part of the Association's work would cover advice on further education and the right use of leisure, but that girls linked up with other organisations would be encouraged to continue their membership in these. The work would need to cover some follow-up work to find out the progress of applicants, and in this the co-operation of other organisations would be sought. It may be possible in the New Year to call a conference on this subject, and to lay the proposed plans for the establishment of a bureau of vocational advice before the leaders in Youth Movements for girls of 14 to 18 years." PARTY AT DUNS AN DEL. j A pleasant "break-up" party ot the pupils of Miss V. Butler, A.T.C.L., L.A.8., was held at Dunsandel. A very happy evening was spent with games and musical items. A party of friends from Christchurch helped to arrange an enjoyable programme. Messrs D. Broughton, W. Brunt, B. Bowling, and lion Butler contributed quartets and Miss Ina Mickle gave several humorous recitations. Items by the pupils were: Piano solo, "Ben Hur Chariot Race," Ella Chamberlain ; piano solo, 'Autumn Afternoon," Bonnie Brown; song, "Haere Ra," Ivan Happer; piano solos, "Peter Pan Waltz," Joyce Forster, "Song at Dusk." Ernie Torrance, "Snowdrops, Dorothy Johnson; piano duet, "Lilliputian Parade," Bonnie Brown and Sadie TJpston ; piano solos, "Christmas Chimes," Berta Caldwell; "JoIJy Darkies," Ivan Happer; "Ocean Spray," Mildred Sheat; "Eose Petals," Jessie Forster; and "Impromptu in Miss Butler. Mr R." H. Johnston thanked Miss Butler on behalf of those present for the interest she had taken in her pupils during the year. Amongst those present were Mr and Mrs' H. A. Brown, Mr and Mrs H. W. Johnson, Mr and Mrs E. Upston, Mr and Mrs Torrance, Mr and Mrs G. Sheat, Mesdames J. Walker, T. G. Butler, A. Macpherson, B. Watson, Happer, Chamberlain, Forster, and Caldwell, Misses Stainger (3), Fulton, Macpherson (2), Kime, M. Baker, and K. Johnston. TIMARU- NEWS. o SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. Miss D. Stubbs (Wai-iti avenue) left on Saturday to spend a fortnight in Invercargill. Mrs Findlay, who was the guest of Mrs E. Bowler (Wai-iti road), has returned to Ashburton. Mrs W, Fea and her children (Elizabeth street) have returned home after spending a fortnight at Albury. Eecent guests at the Empire Hotel include Messrs D. E. Macdonald, A. H. Hunter, J. E. Kent, E. W. Just, E. W. Ferguson, A. D. Tench, H. C. Cheesman, B. Pearce (Christchurch), W. A. Eitchie (Wellington), L. Adams (Auckland), Jas. Samson, H. M. Mackay, J. T. Gillan, and Mr and Mrs Geo". D. Wilson (Dunedin). Recent guests at the Grosvenor Hotel include Mr and Mrs B. Inder (Gore), Miss E. Hart (Lawrence), Mrs ■. M. Walker. (Ashburton), Messrs A. G. Macdonald (Auckland), H. V. Hodson (London), H. Montague (Wellington), G. E. Gregory, P. Gill, W. Worth, W. de Eenzy, and Misses J. Worth and E. Gill (Christchurch).