WIDE INTEREST

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 271, 12 August 1938, Page 4

WIDE INTEREST

Business And Professional Women's Report

A Wellington women's club which takes a very wide and active interest in national and international affairs is the Y.W.C.A. Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Club. At its

recent annual general meeting the president, Miss Elsie L. Harper, presented the sixth annual report of the clubs activities.

“Tlie membership at present stands at 50,” says the report, “many of which are consistent in iheir attendance and keenly interested in the welfare of the club.” Luncheons and various evening gatherings have been held, in addition to class meetings, and at the conclusion of the W.E.A. study course in October last, a speech evening was held. Referring to special activities, the report says: “One of the most significant undertakings of the club tn the past year was the organisation of a series of sex and life lectures, covering four phases of the subject. These were held on consecutive Wednesdays during the month of October, and the Blue Triangle Hall was packed to capacity, while hundreds were turned away. The lectures were-a great success and obviously met a very definite need in the community. In response to requests of many who were unable to gain admittance to the first series, arrangements were made to repeat the lectures during the month of November. The attendance was once again most gratifying, and indicated very clearly that the subject was one of great interest. The publication of these lectures is in hand, Mrs. B. S. Burns having undertaken the editing of the series, and We hope ere long to place thh booklet on the market. ‘‘The citizenship class was undertaken by Mrs. B. S. Burns, and about 20 members joined up and gained valuable knowledge in committee procedure and in the art of speaking. Much interesting discussion took- place over a very wide range of subjects, and homework was faithfully carried out. The progress made by the various mem- i bers of the class was shown at the | closing function for the year, which | took the form of a demonstration night, at which 15 members of the class gave excellent speeches.

‘‘Arising out of the Y.W.C.A. convention held in Dunedin in June, was the matter of the formation of a New Zealand Federation of Y.W.C.A. Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Clubs, and through this federation, an affiliation with the International Federation of Y.W.C.A. Business and Professional Women's Round filable Clubs. This has received the cordial support of our club.”

The report mentions a suggestion that, as the next pan-Pacific conference will be held in Wellington in 1940, some study might be undertaken in connection with subjects to be brought forward at the conference. Something has already been done in this way, for recently Miss Mary Seaton, who has been a delegate to a previous panPacific conference, gave the club an introduction to a study of economic inter-dependence in the Pacific. A hope was also expressed in tlie report of including in the programme something in lighter vein for those who do not fee] drawn toward a study of such problems. The report concluded by expressing thanks to the officers of the Y.W.C.A., who have helped the club in many directions, and to the cafeteria committee and Mrs. Mclnnes, for their willing assistance at luncheons and at other times. Miss Harper also personally thanked the executive officers of the club, especially the secretary, Miss McConchie, for carrying out her duties so willingly and efficiently, and also the committee and members generally for their loyal co-operation.