THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY

“A USEFUL SERVICE” I ANNUAL MEETING HELD (FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 25. “This society is performing a useful service for New Zealand in London. What, it- does, it does very well, and its prestige stands very high with the New Zealand colony here,” Mr R. S. Forsyth, retiring chairman of the committee of the New Zealand Society, said at the annual meeting in New Zealand House. Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner, presided. A letter was received from the New Zealand Women’s Association inquiring whether financial assistance could be given for providing warm clothing for refugees in Central Europe. Members of the association, it was said, would do the work of making the garments. The sum of £SO was suggested. Mr Jordan said that the committee had considered the appeal and had decided that, under the rules of the society, no grant could be made from its funds. While expressing sympathy for the appeal and admiration for the work done, it was suggested that New Zealanders in London should be circularised asking for their individual assistance.

Mr Forsyth, who has been chairman of the committee for the last two years, retired in accordance with the rules ’of the society. He also retired by rotation from the committee for a period of 12 months. Mr D. F. Reid was elected chairman. Other officers appointed were:—President, Mr W. J. Jordan: vice-presidents, Viscount Bledisloe, Sir Charles Fergusson, the Earl of Liverpool, Mr C. J. Cowan, and Mr J. Macmillan; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr M. Smith: committee, Mr F. T. Sandford, Mr Hal Williams, Mr A. E. Baron, Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Myers, Mr W. F. Narbey, Mr H. T. B. Drew, Mr H. R. Hull, Colonel E. ff. W. Lascelles, Messrs Sydney Jacobs, Cecil J. Wray, Walter H. Young, T. B. Ching, W. L. James, H. E. Davis, F. S. Arthur, and M. B. Esson.

After arranging for receptions, a dinner and ball, a garden party, and a smoking concert last year, the society’s credit balance stands’ at more than £220.

NEW ZEALANDER’S RETURN

WELL-KNOWN PIANIST

Mrs J. Swain (Perth, Western Australia) and her daughters, Vernon and Gloria, will be among the tourist passengers who will pass through Wellington on the Orient liner Otranto on January 9, Mrs Swain was formerly Miss Rima Young, a member of a well-known Christchurch family. She is a sister of Mrs Winter Hall, who died in Hollywood tivo years ago, and of Mrs Aldridge, formerly of Wellington, and now of London. She is an aunt of Miss Kara Aldridge, who was a member of the Wellington Repertory Society before she went on the stage professionally in England. Mrs Swain is a pianist, and is at present on the staff of the National Broadcasting station in Perth, Western Australia. Some years ago she was known throughout New Zealand as the accompanist for the English Pierrots. Both daughters have won scholarships at the Modern School, Perth, and are gifted musically