A RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 19

A RECEPTION

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

CONSULS' WIVES HONOURED

A reception .was - given yesterday afternoon by the Wellington branch of the League of Nations Union in the Lyceum Club, Room, in honour of the wives.of foreign consuls, among those present being Signora. • Dessaules (Italy), Madame Feng*Wang (China), Mrs. Bucklin and Mrs. Orebaugn (America); and the wives of. honorary consuls who also attended as guests of honour were Mrs. J. T. Martin (Sweden), Mrs. C. A. L. Treadwell (Brazil), Mrs. O. R. Bendall (France), and Mis David Allan (Uruguay). They were received by Mrs. J. Henderson, president of the Wellington council.

The large club room, which was filled to capacity with members and friends, was attractively decorated with autumn-tinted hydrangeas and dahlias

In the absence of the president, Mi P. J. O'Regan, the vice-president, Mr. W. B. Matheson, welcomed the guesti of honour. It gave, him immense satisfaction, he said, to see;so;many representatives -of different- nations meeting under one roof with such.evident pleasure, and he took it as a happy augury for the future of the:nations. eH also extended a welcome to.the. new president of the New Zealand League of Nations Union (Professor Wood), and Mrs. Gray, a member of. the executive of the Auckland branch. •• Professor Wood, he said, was not fresh to the work, having done fine work.lor many years on behalf: of the union in New South Wales. ' •■:■■-

In response to a request made by Mr. Matheson-, the Professor-made a brief but very interesting speech, in the course of which he said that someone had once remarked to him that they considered the League of Nations Union a propagandist institution. "In some ways," he said, "this is quite true. OUr job is propaganda in the sense of explaining more fully the possibilities of the League of Nations Union, and establishing certain points, of -view which we believe may in their small way help to bring about international co-operation and the solution to international problems."

Mrs. P. Doogan sang two charming songs accompanied at the piano- by Miss Pat Beckett, and after afternoon tea had been served Dr. Ada Paterson gave a most interesting address on her recent visit to Geneva as the New Zealand Government' delegate to- the International Labour Conference.

object of the conference. There were Dr. Paterson explained the aim and 388 delegates and over 50 countries represented, so it was truly an international affair. The problem- under discussion had .be.en. the .matter., of promoting better nutrition through the more equal distribution of the world's products. Her visit to Geneva; she said, was valuable and full of interest, and she came away convinced that the soundest procedure in these days was for the peoples of the world to get together and discuss their problems. There could be no-doubt that this made for.wider understanding. . Geneva itself was", a" most beautiful and interesting city, and anyone interested in medieval history would find there much to 'thrill them. It was once the stronghold of Calvinism, and it had association with many famous people, including Rousseau,. Shelly, and Byron. Lenin and Trotsky used to meet in a cafe she had visited, to discuss . their schemes lor the overthrow of Europe. Wild narcissi covered the mountain slopes, and there were numbers of other lovely wild flowcf's Vwhich grew in gfceiis'iitotusraH~eysty]y/herey'~f)t."P&tevson; brought, with.' her many large, coloured photographs of Geneva, and also others of the actual conference. These were passed around and. .inspected with great interest. Dr. J. H. Beaumont, a member of the executive, proposed, a vote-of thanks to the speakers,and also to.-- the . musicians which was carried •■with -enthusiastic acclamation, •/ ; .;, h-. ■ -->'■

Members of the executive present included Miss Ahearn (secretary), Mrs. T. B. Strong, Mrs. J. C. Andersen, Mrs. Lundius, Mrs. Israel, and Miss Morgan. Among others present were Miss Paterson, . Mrs. Braiigwin, Mr. and •Mrs. F. M. Renner, Mrs. Lowe, Mrs. Downey, Miss O'Donoghue, Mrs. E. E. Gillon, Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. H. B. Mason, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. J., A. Campbell, Mrs. Pollock (Marlborough), Mrs. MacMillan (Hawera), Mrs.'Wilkie, Mrs. J. Bennie, Mrs. Foreman, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Pollard, Mrs. Cohen, Mrs: W. J. Scott, Mrs. C. A. Berendsen, Miss Thompson, Miss Compton, Mrs.'lnnes, Miss Mary Seaton, Mrs. Alec Smith, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. -E- J. Moore, Mrs. Coleridge Farr, Mrs|. W. G. Crawford, Miss Taylor, Miss Lindegaard, Mrs... Seville, Mrs.. Christie,- Mr. Ward, Dn Butchers,: Mrs. J.Down j Miss Morgan, Mrs. and.Miss Goldsmith, Mrs. J. Huchisori, *<Irs. Nicholson, and Miss Donovan.