PLEASANT AT HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1936, Page 15

PLEASANT AT HOME

MISS EIPE AT THE Y.W.C.A

Lady Pomare and the world fellowship committee of the Y.W.C.A. gave an "At Home" in the Blue Triangle Hall yesterday afternoon in honour of Miss Cheicha Eipe, of India. Miss Bina Addy, who was also supposed to ge a guest of honour, was unable to be present. Lady Pomare: (who is.the chairman of the committee), Mrs. Kerry, and Mrs. R. Gardiner (committee members) and Miss Eipe received the guests. There was a large gathering of people, among whom were representatives of nearly all the women's organisations, including the church missionary societies and guilds. The hall was very attractively decorated with particularly large bowls of flpwers—roses, tree tulip magnolia, broom, and yellow and pink azaleas.

The programme opened with delightful violin solos and songs, given by Miss Olga Burton, who was accompanied at the piano by her sister, Miss Phyllis Burton, and Miss Edith Hind gave three charming recitations. The guest of honour was welcomed by Lady Pomare, who was wearing a black tailleur, a white fox fur, and a small black hat trimmed with white plumes. She said that the opportunity of meeting women from other parts of the world was what they most needed, as by getting to know and understand the peoples of other nations they could all do their bit towards ensuring the peace of the world. , Miss Eipe stood on the steps leading up to the stage to make her speech. She was a very picturesque figure in her turquoise gold bordered sari, which contrasted very strikingly -with the more sober Western clothes of the rest' of the gathering. Being a member of the staff of St. Christopher's Training College, Vepery, Madras (a large training college for women teachers) and also, for some years, chairman of the student Y.W.C.A. of India, Burma, and Ceylon, she had much to tell that was of interest to all those present. • : First of all she conveyed greetings from the Y.W.OA. in Madras and mentioned Miss Begg, their national- general secretary, whom she said had been instrumental in bringing Miss Eipe.to New Zealand. . .. Miss Eipe described some of the work being done by the Madras Y.W.OA;, and made her- audience realise the difficulties it had to contend with by, comparing New Zealand with India. Here, in New Zealand, she said, the customs, language, traditions, and religion were more .or less the same throughout the islands, but in India there was a conglomeration of almost everything. The association also had to cope with the conviction that a-woman's place is in the kitchen and that her voice should not even be heard through the walls. Incidentally, Miss Eipe said that on the whole the women in India were very good cooks, but she made this statement later on in her address and not when comparing conditions in India with conditions in New Zealand. She went on to describe the nursery school connected with the Y.W.C.A. and the "keep fit" classes, the latter being very popular with the married women who, until they: realised that it was not fashionable'to grow fat, had allowed themselves through lack of exercise to go to seed. Many other matters of interest were .touched on by Miss Eipe, wh<J was ■heartily thanked for-her address. Afternoon tea was served, and a pleasant time spent chatting with the guest of honour,.