WELCOME TO DR. SYLVIA CHAPMAN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 182, 30 April 1936, Page 4

WELCOME TO DR. SYLVIA CHAPMAN

The National Committee of the Y.W.C.A libld a delightful “family party” at the home of Mrs. H. D. Bennett this week, to welcome back Dr. Syvia Chapman, the national president, who has been travelling abroad for a year. Members of the board of the IVellington Y.W.C.A. were also present. Mrs. H. D. Bennett received the guests. During the evening Dr. Chapman chatted informally on her travels. As national president of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand she had attended the executive committee of the World’s Y.W.C.A. at Geneva, and had greatly enjoyed meeting the representatives of the various countries. She was particularly impressed by the personality of Miss Mary Dingman, formerly industrial secretary of the Y.W.C.A., but now the president of the Women’s International Peace and Disarmament Committee. Another outstanding personality was Miss Matouskova, a fullyordained Presbyterian minister of Czechoslovakia. ’With Miss Dingman she had attended a session of the 1.L.0. Conference.

While in Geneva, Dr. Chapman was the guest of Madame Bertrand, a vicepresident of the World’s Committee, at her beautiful home. Such was the summer weather that all meals were served on the piazza or in the lovely garden. Dr. Chapman also took part in the 80th birthday celebration of the Y.W.C.A. in the Albert Hall, London, and gave an amusing description of the preparations. As the 600 people who took part in the display came from all parts of England, and all countries of Europe, a rehearsal was only possible by their attending three hours before the actual ceremony. The organisation of the whole affair was quite marvellous. Queen Mary reviewed the pageant from the Royal box and then came to the floor through a guard of honour of members, to the platform where she was presented with the £BO purses collected for the work amounting in all to £16.000, the money being devoted to the Y.W.C.A. in various parts of England. Dr. Chapman also made a tour of the Y.W.C.A. branches in the Midlands during the World’s Week of Prayer, in November, and found the young people much interested to hear of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand, and particularly interested to hear about the Maori people and their arts. In Edinburgh Dr. Chapman stayed at the Y.W.C.A., but gave most of her time to medical work. In London she was the guest of Dr. Maud Royden one; week-end, and went with her to two’ functions —-the memorial service for Jane Addams at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, and the annual meeting of the Y.W.C.A. at Acton. The general secretary at Acton is Miss Nonie Hardie, a New Zealander, who was formerly ageneral secretary in Dunedin. Among the guests were Mrs. Gardner (president of the Wellington Y.W.C.A.), Mrs. Ernest Hunt, Mrs. Tweedie, Mrs. David Jones, Lady Poinarc, Mrs. David Smith, Mrs. Dawson, Miss Kvelyn Watson. Jlrs. Page, Mrs.. D. Martin, Miss H. Batham, Mrs. R. C. Ffltcli,’ Mrs. ,T. H. Clark, Mrs. .Schneider, Miss Ella Fair, Miss Lorna Hodder, Miss L. Bridgman, Miss J. Stevenson (national secretary).