LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 45, 17 November 1936, Page 4

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Conference Opens To-morrow

Her Excellency, Viscount Galway, Dominion patroness of the League of Mothers, will open the Dominion conference, which will be held in the club rooms in the T. and G. Building, tomorrow morning.

The annual report shows a gratifying increase in both branches and members of the society, which has proved of such great value to thousands of New Zealand women. There are now 93 branches, with eight new ones. Total

membership numbers 7544. The financial membership has improved, there -being 5641 paid members, new ones numbering 1074. Special mention is made of the loss

to the league of the late Dominion secretary and magazine business editor, Mrs. Ena Dawson, whose 'work was everywhere deeply appreciated, and her personality admired. Of particular interest are the lighthouse branches, which are in charge of Miss Mary Richmond. Her sympathetic and understanding correspondence and other help mean a great deal to the lonely women. The Maori and scattered branches are under Mrs. Stanley Harris, who .reports steady work among them, and the fact that the members are much interested and find belonging to the-league is well worth while. The literary part of the magazine has been conducted by Miss Richmond, and iMesdames C. E. Wood and 11. I l ’. Norman have carried out the work done by the late Mrs. Dawson for the magazine.

Mention is made with pleasure that her Excellency Vfecountetss Galway lias shown an interest iu the league during the year, and also that Mrs. Charles White replaced Lady Elliott when tlie latter resigned the position of Dominion president, and Mrs. Leslie Wall, who was provincial secretary of Wellington for the past three years had accepted tlie position of Dominion secretary and treasurer. The dominion council meeting was gratifying as bringing many of those interested together, and at this meeting great appreciation was expressed at the excellence of the work doue i'or the league by Lady Elliott, who was made a life member and a Dominion vice-president of the league. The relationship with the Mothers' Union is maintained, Lady Elliott having attended their conference. Mrs. 11. E. K. Fry, who has'been a helpful' supporter of the league for some years, was appointed as Mothers' Union representative to the League of Mothers until the arrival of Mrs. 11. St. Barbe Holland. who, it was hoped, would attend the Dominion conference.

Thanks are expressed to the many friends who have helped the league aud co-operated in the work. In the ten years past great progress has been made, aud there is every prospect of this being not only maintained but increased.

There is an imposing roll of branches, taking up eight pages of the printed report. The balance-sheet shows a balance of 15.8, this being :1 remarkable fact considering the great amount of work accomplished by the league, and the benefits conferred o U the women of the Dominion. The expenses are remarkable also for being so small, and showing that the work is done voluntarily by women who have a high sense of duty toward their country and its people.

Recent guests at Foster’s Hotel, Manganui, include Mr. Hans Spriesterstach, Germany; Mrs. Ernest Bryant, Mrs. John G. Johnston. California; Mr. aud Mrs. W. A. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Nathan, Auckland; Mr. and Mrs. J. Wallace, Cambridge: Mr. and Mrs. F. Prideaux, Mr. aud Mrs. 8. C. Spence. Whakatane; Mr. and Mrs. Gillies, Taupo; Mr. aud Mrs. Beethum. Miss Beetham, Masterton; Mrs. C. Hunter, Miss Cowan. Wairoa: Mrs. Bausfield, Master Bruce Bausficld. Mr. C. Parsnons, Waipukurau; Mr. and Mrs. 11. N. Kebbell, Miss Barbara Kebbell. Alfredton; Mr. and Mrs. S, G. Perry, Miss Ruth Perry, Feilding; Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy, Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, Wanganui; Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Pilcher, Mr. and Mrs. H. O’Mara, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Press, Wellington; Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Tosswill, Christchurch; Miss J. Bailie, Westport; Mr. and Mrs' A. B. Maealister, Mr. and Mrs. John Macdonald, Mrs. IV. Maealister, Invercargill.