LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 18

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

LOWER HUTT BRANCH There was an excellent attendance qf wives and husbands at the annual meeting of the Lower Hutt branch of the League of Mothers held recently in the Horticultural Hall r Kose pink camellias, primus, lilies, and spring bulbs provided a colourful decoration for the, platform, and a warm, friendly spirit pervaded the meeting, Mrs. Barron leading community singing for a short interval. The president (Mrs. Charlesworth) extended a hearty welcome to the husbands of members and all visitors, after which the choir rendered "Greeting" and an appropriate local item "We're Glad to See You Here."

A popular member of the choir, Mrs. W. Burgess, »sang delightfully "The Swallows," responding with a good interpretation of "Life." Mrs. Burgess, who leaves shortly for a visit to England, was presented with a beautiful floral tribute, Mrs. Charlesworth taking the. opportunity of wishing ner "bon voyage." ; Mrs. Kersley, provincial president, conveyed greetings from the provincial executive, and gave a brief resume of league work throughout the DprninionV explaining,its aims and objects,; stressing the need for the sympathetic understanding of young people, arid enjoining parents to "Be yourselves what you would wish,your children to. be."" Two enjoyable, items followed, the choir contributing "Son of Mine," arid Mesdames McCallum, Potter, and Jensen, a trio '*Love Was Once a Little Boy." .. The platforfn was then "invaded" by the' mankind for the programme of addresses on "Vocations" for Young People." As the Mayor, Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mr:' F. Campbell, Major Weir, and Dr. Butchers mounted the platform they were each presented with a buttonhole and their wives received dainty posies. Mr. Andrews occupied the chair and introduced the speakers. In dealing With commerce as an avenue of employment, Mr. F. Campbell urged parents to allow their children to ,take any vocation towards which they had a natural leaning, without neglecting a, sound education, thus fitting; them-' for true citizenship. .He explained the* trend towards New Zealand becoming a rhanufacturing county emphasising the need for all to learn to appreciate the person \who makes from the raw material, and deploring the snobbish attitude often shown towards the man who works with his hands. Dwelling upon the joy of-creating, the romance of business, and the worlds yet to be con-' quered by both, boys and girls, Mr. Campbell concluded with a plea to mothers to make their daughters good housewives first. ' , •

In speaking of the "Armed Forces of the Crown" Major Weir'gave a comprehensive survey of the opportunities at home and abroad in the Air Force, Army, and Navy; contributing much interesting and helpful information. In a clear and concise manner he told of the limited number of entrants to the Air Force each year, and the position of honour attained by New Zealand boys; the prospects of advancement and the standard of education necessary for branches of service in the Army; concluding with a detailed account of the- possibilities of advancement in the Navy, the ages for entrants, years of service, and remuneration. ; : ■ ,

Dr. Butchers commenced his address on "Teaching as a Profession" in a humorous vein by reciting the: qualifications required;: following •■ on with.' a general outline of- future prospects,! the degrees, necessary for • secondary schools, the remuneration, wonderful field of service, and the high view of their calling taken by the majority of teachers. Dr. Butchers pointed out the disadvantage of large classes, the,difficulties of sole teachers,: and the loss of contacts when so much time is spent, with children. ' Before the platform was "surrendered/* Mr. J. W. Andrews expressed

influential'as a mother's in the home! The highest quality established was | absolute sincerity. j A* hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, and floral tributes presented to Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Chapman. Afternoon tea was then served. KHANDALLAH MEMBERS' DAY "Members' Day" was celebra'ed at the September meeting of the Khandallah branch. Mrs. Neil Jack presided over a 'very large attendance of members, a .number of visitors from the Ngaio .branch being present. Mrs. Tindall gave the thought for the month, namely: "Youth embarks with a thousand sails on the ocean waves." Then followed a song by Mrs, Menzies, whose rendering of "Brown Eyes Beneath the Moon" was much appreciated. The feature of the meeting was an address by Mrs. Doctor, who, under the title of "Indian Journey" recounted irrfpressions Of a recent tour from Bombay to Calcutta. Although the speaker dealt principally with tram travel in India, her talk was interspersed with many vivid word pictures of Hindu life and scenes and customs. "In a- country so vast and so varied," said Mrs. Doctor, "one naturally forms ■a. multitude of impressions, but in looking back there were certain aspects which predominated. The stranger is first conscious'of the number of living beings, human and animal, which crowd the land—the' impression of teeming life. Even in the hotels bright green' lizards roam the walls by night, sleeping behind the pictures and ornaments during the day—a little terrifying at first; but recognised as friends when one realises that they devour the poisonous . spiders which haunt ; the habitations. Next comes the impression of colour—hard azure skies and blinding light, extreme contrasts, colours brilliant and intense and crude, daubed with a lavish' brush. Heat, of course, one expects. Through the day 'everyone is forced to rest and life is born again at sundown. There is also the impression of strange and often nauseating (though sometimes fascinating smells), even the dust , having a peculiar aroma of ,its own." , "India's cities," continued the speaker, •'"are cities of domes and towers and minarets, steeples and pinnacles, cities of bazaars and temples, and a maze of narrow streets, and always the hordes of noisy people, eternally yelling and jostling."

Mrs. Doctor mentioned the Towers of Silence, those edifices erected by the Parsees for' the reception of corpses of their dead. The vultures flock there and strip the bodies of flesh, and the bones fall through a grating into a pit, whence they are afterwards removed for burial. A somewhat gruesome place not over-pleasant to sensitive nostrils. As a contrast the speaker referred to the famous Taj Mahal, that elaborate and magnificent white marble niausoleum built at Agra/ in the sixteenth century, by Shah Jehan In memory of his favourite wife. "The trains are fast, roomy, and comfortable," continued Mrs. Doctor, "and once one learns the routine, travel in India is not unpleasant. Naturally certain things are at first a little puzzling, and sometimes disconcerting to the stranger! There is, for instance, no access from'-orie carriage to another, this being a safeguard 1 against thieving,' which is very prevalent. The gauge is very wide—almost twice that of New Zealand—with' the result' that the compartments are Spacious, permitting of full width' beds in the sleepers, each of which has its own private bathroom. Meals are served on the train, and the dining cars provide a service equal to that found at first-class hotels. One of the problems,, when travelling is to cope with thirst, much of the water being unsafe for drinking owing to the presence of disease germs. This means providing soda water or some other aerated water on all journeys. It is also cutomary to take one's own bedding. In addition one's native servant is not permitted, by his caste, to carry, luggage, but the railway stations are crowded with natives on the watch for this particular duty. The custom is one man to one package, and it is rather humorous to see a traveller threading his way through the throng which invariaby crowds the station platform, and followed by a train of say, a dozen natives, each with a bag on his head and all shouting vociferously for a clear passage." Mrs. Doctor also mentioned that from her carriage window could be seen marble pylons standing at intervals along the sides of the main highway. On inquiry she told that these marked the spot* where the British troops rested during the time of the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58. Truly a strange .country, she remarked, so much grandeur and magnificence, so much,- poverty. A hearty vote of appreciation to the speaker was,carried by acclamation. Mrs. Miram's, (president) congratulated the members on the successful afternoon, which 'closed with afternoon tea served by the committee. MIRAMAR MEETING A meeting of thte Miramar branch of the League of -Mothers was held recently, with Mrs. Wall presiding, and Mesdames Fulton arid Mac Donald as hostesses. A profusion of spring blooms made the hall gay, and- Mrs. Roach sang most appropriately of spring. Mrs. Wall took the opportunity to present the two vice-presidents of the branch (Mrs. Marshall and' Mrs. Fulton) with sprays. '■ Mrs. Chisholm ,was the speaker and took her hearers to spend'"A Day with Mrs. Brown." ' They • learnt how this little English lady spent a busy and useful day. They listened to a peace talk on the radio, and came away with patterns and recipes. i