WOMEN’S CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25546, 14 July 1948, Page 2

WOMEN’S CLUB

NEWS FOR WOMEN

LUNCHEON MEETING About 200 members and friends who attended a luncheon meeting of the Canterbury Women’s Club yesterday were welcomed by the president (Mrs G. H. Watts). Songs were sung by Mrs Cara Cogswell and Miss Yvonne Watson, for both of whom Miss Claire Neale played the accompaniments. The speakers were Miss M. Enright, who described the work and administration of Glenelg Health Camp, and Mrs O. T. J. Alpers, who described some of her experiences in Germany. after the war. Miss Enright quoted from a report published in 1946 by the School Hygiene section of the Department of Health, which stated that a medical survey of about a quarter of the primary school children of the Dominion showed that 40 per cent, were suffering from defects, nearly 29 per cent, showed defects marked enough to require corrective attention, and nearly 10 per cent, were suffering from malnutrition. Some of these children, she said, were admitted to health camps with the object of correcting defects before they became too serious, so enabling the children to grow into healthy citizens instead of becoming patients in hospitals and sanatoria.

Mrs Alpers, who for four and a half years during the war worked in a branch of the Ministry of Information in London, described some aspects of life which she experienced when, after the war, she worked for the Control Commission in Germany. The Commission dealt with education, food, fuel, censorship, and almost every aspect of life, she said. She was stationed at Peine, where she and her fellow-workers were billeted in homes formerly occupied by Nazis. The Nazi owners came to the houses and kept them clean and in good order. At first the residents were sullen and timid, but gradually they became friendly towards the commission. “I do not attempt to generalise,” said Mrs Alpers, “I speak only of the Germans I met. I found them houseproud, clean, thrifty, industrious, and very fond of their children. Since I returned to New Zealand 18 months ago, I have found more bitterness towards the Germans than I found in England. I feel that until we get that bitter feeling out of our heart, there will be no real peace in the world.” Mrs Watts thanked the speakers and ■artists and complimented the music circle, of which Mrs A. Ledsham is director and Miss Mackintosh secretary, on the excellence of their arrangements for the luncheon.

MISS HELEN KELLER PLANS FOR CHRISTCHURCH VISIT Miss Helen Keller, the blind American authoress, is expected to arrive in Christchurch by air on Thursday, August 5. The provisional itinerary arranged for her includes a civic reception at noon on August 6, and a reception in her honour, under the auspieces of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, commencing at 2.30 that afternoon. On Saturday, August 7/ at 2.30 p.m., she will visit the Burwood Girls’ Training Centre, and at 8 p.m. that evening she will be the’ guest of the Hard of Hearing League in “The Press” building. She will have no engagements on Sunday. On Monday, August 9, at 10 a.m., she will visit the School for the Deaf at Sumner, and in the evening she will be the guest of Canterbury University College. She will leave by air on Tuesday for- her return to Auckland. She will be accompanied by her secretary, Miss Polly Thompson, and Mr Brennan, of the Department of Internal Affairs. Miss Keller is expected to arrive in Auckland from Australia on July 28. SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF WOMEN PAST PRESIDENT HONOURED The Rev. I. L. Richards, who since 1942 has been president of the Christchurch branch of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, and who did not seek re-election at the last annual meeting, was the guest of honour at an afternoon gathering held at the D.I.C. yesterday. Miss E. J. M. Cardale, who succeeded Mr Richards as president of the branch, presided at the party, which had been arranged by the committee of the society. Specially invited guests included representatives, of welfare societies in the city. Miss Cardale said that Mr Richards had taken the presidency of the branch at short notice and had steered it successfully through many difficult years. It was a great pleasure to the committee, she said, to know that Mr Richards would continue as a member.

The Rev. C. E. B. Muschamp, who had been president of the branch until he went on active service, said the committee was grateful to Mr Richards, who had shown tact and firmness in dealing with the affairs of the society. Mr A. J. McEldowney and Major V. Wood praised Mr Richards’s wisdom, his Christian outlook and the fine team spirit he fostered in the committee.

In thanking the committee for a small gift presented to him by Miss Cardale, Mr Richards said he appreciated the kindness, friendship and help he had received from members, and he would give his strongest support to Miss Cardale, who had an extensive knowledge of the work of the society. ENGAGEMENT The engagement is announced of Yettchen Ardern. youngest daughter of Mr W. H. Pinhey (Second avenue, Mangere), and the late Mrs Pinhey, to Harold Ernest, son of Mr and Mrs J. Lilly, Kaponga, Taranaki. CURRENT NOTES Miss E. J. M. Cardale (president of the Christchurch branch of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children), Mrs L. I. Cattell (secretary), and Miss D. Campbell (Welfare Officer) will leave for Wellington on July 24 to attend a Dominion conference of the society, which will open on July 26. Mrs R. W. Morgan and Miss Margaret Morgan will leave Christchurch to-morrow with Mr Morgan for Auckland, where they will join the Rimutaka for England.. In October they will leave England for the United States, and will visit Canada before Returning to New Zealand in February next year. Miss Margaret Morgan recently returned to Christchurch from Sydney, where she spent a few months. When Sir Leonard Isitt leaves Wellington early next month for England, Lady Isitt will travel to Sydney, where she will stay,with her daughter. Mrs J. Thodey (Neutral Bay). Her elder daughter, Mrs Michael Wood, who lives at Ouse, Tasmania, will meet her in Sydney, and together they wilj travel by air to Tasmania, where Ladv Isitt will spend some time. Mrs A. Whitwell (president of the Nelson district executive of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers) Mrs O’Connor (district secretary), and Mrs Hooker (president of the Nelson branch) will be amongst delegates who will attend the Dominion conference of the division, which will open in Dunedin next week. Permanent help in the homes of country people was almost unprocurable, said Mrs K. Groves, president of the Wairarapa Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, at a sitting of the Royal Commission investigating the sheep industry at Masterton recently. She added that the Government’s Home Aid Service had adversely affected the position. The wages offered home pids —£4 or £4 10s for a 40-hour week —had forced up the price of that labour, and country women had to compete with it. To-day. Women’s Division housekeepers could not be obtained at £5 a week, she said.

The July meeting of the Fendalton Garden Club was held yesterday at the home of the new president (Mrs F. C. Penfold), Chester street west. The speaker was Mr F. J. Shanks, who gave an interesting address on early flowering bulbs and shrubs that give colour to the garden during the winter. Mrs Penfold welcomed a large number of members, including new members. The winners of the monthly competitions were as follows: posy bowl, Mrs Athol Winterbourn 1, Mrs L. R. Webley 2. Mrs W. M. McClure 3; helebours: A class. Mrs R. Woods 1, Mrs J. W. N. Mclntosh 2, Mrs E. Somers 3; B class. Mrs C. Paterson 1. Mrs J. L. Hewland 2, Mrs J. Roy Smith, 3: best bloom: A class. Mrs H. Lee 1, Mrs R. Woods 2, Mrs Mclntosh 3; B class, Mrs P. McNicol 1, Mrs A. K. Davis 2, Mrs H. Dowling 3; vegetables: leeks, Mrs Webley 1. Mrs J. Roy Smith 2, Mrs Woods 3. The lady editor of “The Press” gratefully acknowledges receipt of a box of ditty bags and hotwater bottle covers from the girls at Rangi-ruru School and magazines from Pauline Wallis (Linwood) for patients in the Sanatorium. Ladies! Fur Coats Remodelled. Repaired. or Dyed. A. S. Cantrell. 205 High street (Opp. Knight’s Butchery' Advt. NEW SPRING MILLINERY. The New Models at Deaths will be shown on request. Beaths Millinery Salon. Advt