CURRENT NOTES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27838, 10 December 1955, Page 2

CURRENT NOTES

Mrs Rose Spencer-Bower who has been a member of the Canterbury Society of Arts since 1888. announced her retirement in a letter to the annual meeting of the society. She was elected an honorary member and a resolution that she be elected a life ■ member was referred to the council of the society. I A motion of sympathy with the relatives of Miss Eleanor Godley, who ‘ died recently in England, was- passed at a meeting of the executive com- | mittee of the Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers Association. [ About 50 memoers of the Christchurch branch of Columba College Old [Girls’ Association held an enjoyable ■ Christmas luncheon party at Elizabeth ! House. Several new members were ’ welcomed by the president (Mrs G. •M. Robertson). An attractive shoulder ! spray was presented to Mrs Robertson ,by the committee in appreciation of , her work for the branch during the year. i Members of the Ham Garden Club ■ held their Christmas party at Eliza- ■ beth House and watched with interest i a demonstration given by Mrs : Shuttleworth on floral arrangements. The Christmas cake was made by Mrs | F. W. Wylde. Mrs E. Hume presided. .Competition results were: best rose. Miss G. Hegarty 1. Mrs M. Glasgoy 2 [Mrs I. Skipworth 3; best bloom, Miss I Hegarty 1, Mrs F. N. Wylde 2, Mrs H. i Sweney 3; floral necklace and earrings. Mrs R. J. Dendle 1. Mrs M. Glasgow i 2, Mrs E. Hume 3. ’ . A Christmas tree festooned with 1 tiny sparkling lights, multi-coloured ! balloons, and silver tinsel was a [special feature of the annual children’s Christmas party held recently bv the Papanui branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. More than 250 children I . Parents were present. Father : Christmas gave each child a gift from a huge bag he carried on his back. [ A mannequin parade, including a , bridal tableau., was presented recently by Mrs D. Small to raise funds for the St. Nicholas’ Church fair. The compere was Miss Edna Neville. During the evening a musical programme was given bv Mr T. Rabbage '■xylophone solos). Mrs E. Borland. Mrs V. Cox. Miss E. Sealey, and pupils of Mrs Small (vocal items). The accompanist, Mrs A. Downes, also played incidental music for the parade. The speakers were the vicar (the Ven. Archdeacon S. E. Woods) and Mr R. L. Rickerby.

The making of Christmas crackers and “snowballs” was demonstrated by Mrs G. Eastmond at a recent meeting of the West of England Women’s Association. Mrs Widgery presided. A talk and demonstration on the making of dried flower pictures and brooches was given by Mrs T. Taylor at the monthly meeting of the Mayfield Country Girls’ Club. Competition results were:—Article in crochet for a special prize, Miss E. Murdoch; cotton afternoon frock for the Bennett Memorial Trophy, judged by Mesdames K. L. Moore and Taylor, Miss F. Gallagher 1, Miss J. McKerrow 2, Miss Murdoch 3.

The December meeting of the Mount Pleasant Garden Club took the form of an evening Christmas party with a programme of coloured travel slides, songs, and humorous sketches presented by Mr W. Peers, Mrs I. R. Bennington, and Mrs T. Collins. Competitions resulted:—Most outstanding : exhibit: Mrs J. Norcliffe, decorative—A class: Mrs Norcliffe 1. Mrs N. Holst 2, Mrs R. P. Jameson 3; B class: Mrs L. Allen 1, Mrs F. M. Weymss 2, Mrs V. Edgar 3; shrub, Mrs Norcliffe 1, Mrs Allen 2, Mrs C. Allington 3; flower, Mrs Allington 1, Mrs M. Murphy 2, Mrs Norcliffe 3; fruit, Mrs Holst 1. Mrs H. A. Hunt 2 and 3; vegetable. Mrs W. M. Robinson 1, Mrs Holst 2, Mrs G. Stevenson 3.

Members of the garden circle of the National Club entertained at their Christmas party guests who had been demonstrators during the year. The cut flower competitions were won by Mrs Percy Wright and Mrs H. Kennedy. Mesdames W. E. Olds, Woolley, Jessie Hoskings, and Crocker provided the musical programme. “Women shouldn’t think that because they have done well in some organisation they’ll make a success of politics. To go into politics takes training—and to get it you join a party and work your way up from the bottom,” said South Australia’s first woman senator, Senator Nancy Buttfield, in Sydney recently. It was a case of who could do the job best—a man or a woman. A woman’s brain was as good as a man’s, except that while he was always developing his, the majority of women had to stay at home until their families were grown up. “You might say that women are retarded, due to circumstances,” added this housewife and mother of two. Senator Buttfield doesn’t believe that women politicians are necessarily better at dealing with things like social services and child welfare. “After all, men politicians are human beings, too.” she said. Last year 15,000 children attended school in America on the Tuition Plan, Incorporated. Tuition Plan pays fees to the school at the beginning of the academic year, leaving parents free to spread repayment over the rest of the year in monthly instalments. In return. it receives a 4 per cent, carrying charge, on which it exists. Instalment education was first started in America in 1938 by Rudolph Neuberger, now president of the plan. “Friends with college-age youngsters complained about the mountain of bills each year,” he said. “They wanted to know why they couldn’t pay by instalment, so I started to find out.” Few schools, he found, could afford to maintain the elaborate accounting system instalment plans demand. Cash was needed at the start of each school year to buy supplies, pay personnel, and for other operating expenses. More than 400 schools belong to the Tuition Plan, including some of America’s most exclusive private colleges. “Going to school on instalment” brings no stigma upon the children, says Mr Neuberger. He names a Supreme Court judge, and a Royal Princess as plan supporters who sent their children to school this way. Gentlemen and others! Take a tip—ladies love their dreamwear at two stores only, Hereford Court and 11 New Resent street —Advt POSTPONEMENT Garden Fete, Today, Mary Potter Hospice, until October 13, 1956. —Advt.