LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 22, 25 July 1936, Page 18

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

PETONE BRANCH MEETS

There was a large attendance at the July meeting of the Petone branch In spite of the wintry conditions outside, the hall presented a very gay appearance, with large bowls of holly, Iceland poppies, and spring bulbs.

Mrs. Peter Fraser gave an interesting and instructive address on social progress. On observing conditions in other countries, Mrs. Fraser said that their problems were much the same as ours here in New Zealand. Education, housing, and even unemployment were problems in ■ India, where wages were so pitifully low. Many large cotton mills there were forced to close down, being unable to compete with Japan. Of conditions in Britain, actual figures were quoted to show the progress made in education, housing, relief, and highways during the last 25 years. There was great activity in building, slyms being cleared and tenements being erected in their place. One experiment which particularly impressed Mrs. Fraser was the erection of a large health centre in Peckham, which was in the nature of a club, but having only whole families as members, not individuals. Everyone was catered for in every possible way, nurses for the children, dance hall, swimming pool, reading rooms, dramatic club, etc., but most important of all, members underwent periodical examination, which was most helpful in checking disease.

Reference was then made to the Cadbury village, the' clearing of slums in Glasgow, housing experiments in Leeds, where rents were based on the family's income,. a visit to the Burns memorial cottages, also a visit to Courtald's rayon factory, where, in what seemed a most miraculous way, shipments of Canadian spruce, were split and treated and turned into rayon garments

Mrs. Fraser was warmly thanked and presented, with a posy of winter lilies and daphne.

Much pleasure was given by solos by Miss Dick and elocutionary items by-Mrs, Dowse. Incidental music was supplied by Mrs. Pallister.