SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1930, Page 7

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

At the sessions of the general yearly meeting of the;' Society of Friends on Monday the .reports from Auckland, Christchurcli, Dunedin and Wellington were submitted!

The Auckland report opened with an expression of deep concern regarding unemployment and States: "We reach the end of a year chiefly remarkable for worldwide unemployment and distress. We suggest to Friends'individually that they consider this gipat problem of distress and poverty in a world that year by year sees an increase in I the ability to produce all the necessarief of life. . . . Nothing but. love of humanity will bring about a search into the question and find a remedy."

The Wellington report stated that there was an increased number of applications and admissions to membership. The new meeting-house 111 Moncrieff street had been opened free from debt. /■lncluded in jfche Wellington1 report was one from Wahganui. It emphasised the valuable . work [of the school. Since the building of the new dormitory wing the work of the staff had been made easier, and the accommodation for the boarders was now almost ideal.

The Ciiristc&urch report stated that meetings, though small, had been regularly held. Dunedin. reported that during the past, year (there had been visits of many Friends from England and Australia. The ciistoin of considered addresses on some' phases of Quaker doctrine, history, or biography had been revived.

The conference congratulated the Dunedin meeting on contrbuting £70 towards the Friends' Service Council for use in mission work andi the allevation of distress.

MILITARY SERVICE. The afternoon session was almost completely taken up by a discussion in connection with military -service. Several speakers emphasised the fact that New Zealand was the only country in the British Empire that still had an Act authorising the military' authorities to demand compulsory military training from its citizens. One speaker mentioned the large number of young men who had been brought before the Courts for refusing to drill. This, he considered, indicated a ravolt against this compulsory measure. At the, evening session two interesting addresses were delivered on South Africa. Mrs. Alexander, gave art account of the members of the. society that she met in South Africa. • At yesterday .morning's session Miss Bertha Harle read a further instalment of the History of the Society of Friends in New Zealand. This section of the lns v tory was of particular interest to .Wellington Friends, in that it dealt with the establishment of the Friends' Hostel. The conference concluded yesterday afternoon.