A YEAR'S WORK

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 1, 26 September 1939, Page 4

A YEAR'S WORK

TheY.W.C.A. In Wellington

LADY GALWAY AT ANNUAL MEETING

The wide interest in the publicspirited work of the Young Women’s Christian Association in Wellington, was manifest last night in the large numbers of people, mostly women and girls, who lllled the Blue Triangle Hall to capacity for the annual meeting. There were present members of the board of directors, the advisory board, Y.W.C.A. members, and many friends. The occasion was of special importance because of the presence of her Excellency Lady Galway, and the meeting will also be remembered because of the unusually interesting plan of procedure. After the business, pageants and tableaux were presented by girl members of the various clubs sponsored by the Y.W.C.A., demonstrating the daily round of life, including work and the spending of leisure time, and the challenges of life faced by the youth of today. Lady Galway, who was received and escorted to the platform by Mrs. Robert Gardner, president, wore a Smart black metal lame tailored evening ensemble, with frothy oyster lace jabot at the neck finished with an emerald brooch and a single string of pearls. She also wore pendant diamond earrings. She was presented with an exquisite bouquet of crimson and gold freesias and polyanthus. Others on the platform were Mrs. P. Fraser, who was presented with a bouquet of deep red primroses and flamecoloured roses, Mrs. W. B. Matheson, vice-president, Mrs. D. A. Ewen, Dr. Sylvia Chapman, Mrs. C. Stevenson, Miss L. Bridgman, general secretary, and the Rey. 11. W. Newell. Mr. D. A. Ewen presided.

The meeting opened with the spontaneous singing of the National Anthem, and the hymn, “All People that on Earth do Dwell.” The Lord’s Prayer and a Litany was lead by the Rev. Mr. Newell.

Apologies received included those of the mayor and mayoress of Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, who were unable to attend. Mr. Hislop was to have addressed the meeting. Greetings were also received from the Y.W.C.A. in Christchurch and the Y.M.C.A. in Wellington.

Mr. Ewen, as chairman of the advisory board, said that 10 years of hardship, entailed mostly by mortgages, had been experienced by the association, but the finances were now being steadily consolidated, and the board was free from some of its worries. Though the extensive activities of the association were hampered by small premises, which were quite inadequate for the work, splendid progress had been made. In these times of stress there was greater need than ever for the Y.W.C.A., said Mr. Ewen, and there would be much work ahead in both town and country for association members. He paid a special tribute to the directors, who gave their time devotedly to furthering the work of the “Y.” To these women and the members of the staff, Wellington owed a deep debt of gratitude, said Mr. Ewen. In moving the adoption of the annual reports, Mrs. Gardner dwelt on the Y.W.C.A.’s rich diversity of interests' and the benefit derived by those women and girls who shared its service. Lady Galway’s Tribute. Though she had been present at the Y.W.C.A. on other occasions, Lady Galway said, this was the first annual meeting she had attended. She thought annual meetings of special interest to outsiders because of the insight they gave into an organization, and this was specially so of the Y.W.C.A. She congratulated the association on its revealing annual report, the striking feature of which, in her opinion, was the hostel work,' which showed that 28G2 women and girls had been transient guests during the year. Lady Galway dwelt on the social benefits of such a work, saying that it was a great tribute to the association. She would not dwell on the war, Lady Galway continued, but she would like to say that every organization, like everj’ individual, felt an urge to give of its very best at such a time as the present. If every organization would help itself up to the highest point of efficiency, it would be ready to do its part when it was called on. Individuals who belonged to such organizations as the Y.W.C.A. were already trained and would be better equipped for their part. A. vote of thanks was moved by Mrs. Knox Gilmer, who mentioned specially the members of the advisory board, many individual workers, and the hundreds of friends and helpers who had assisted the work of the association. President Ke-elected. Mrs. R. Gardner was unanimously re-elected president, and Mesdames H. St. B. Holland, W. B. Matheson, J. Mitchell and Miss M. Chappell were re-elected members of the board of directors. New members elected to the board were Mesdames J. S. Martin, 11. Rix-Trot, E. D. Sineock, and C. Fowler A violin solo was given by Miss Ava Symons, followed by the dramatic presentation of the association’s activities. This was entitled, “Here is Fellowship,” and was produced by Mrs. D. I’riestly, with Miss C. Norris as commentator Miss I. Hirst supplied the music.