UNIVERSITY WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 16

UNIVERSITY WOMEN

FEDERATION MEETING

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Miss V. M. Greig, president of the Federation of University Women (Wellington branch) presided for the last time at the annual meeting last night in view of her approaching depwture for an overseas tour. There ,was a fair attendance of members.

The annual report showed a record of monthly meetings at which addresses had been giv ; en, mostly on travel subjects. Visitors had been entertained, and various money-rais-ing efforts made. A small profit resulted on. the sale of calendars, and it was left to Uie executive to decide what should be done in the matter this year. The balance sheet disclosed a small credit, and it was stated that the Fellowship Fund stood at £111, Os 6d. . The report and balance sheet were adopted.

The election of officers resulted as follows: President,: Miss C. M, Heine; hon. vice-presidents, Miss M. Sutherland, Miss M-. C. Clachan, Dr. Agnes Bennett; vice-presidents, Miss V. M. Greig, Dr. Sylvia Chapman,' Miss A. M. Batham; hon. secretary, Miss G. F. Gibson; hon. treasurer, Mrs. C. Bosworth; committee, Miss M. Browne, Miss E. M. North, Mrs. HefTord, Miss I<. L. Simkin, Miss N. McLaren, arid Miss R. Ward. / %

Congratulations were given to Miss North on lisr appointment as Headmistress of Pipitea Wellington Girls' College, and pleasure was expressed at the presence of a number of the younger graduates, with sincere wishes that they would become part of the Federation and give it the benefit. of younger ' ideas. It was agreed to send a letter of sympathy to Miss Sutherland in her iliness, with good wishes for, recovery and thanks for her good work as hon. secretary of the Federation. Miss Greig thanked the executive and members of the Federation for their help and willingness to. forward the'interests of the association while she had been i;i office. Visitors welcomed were Mrs. Klolb (who is visiting Wellington- with her husband, Professor Kolb, of Wisconsin, U.S.A.), Miss Mill (Dunbar, Scotland), and Miss Thompson (Auckland).

WORK IN AMERICA.

After some discussion about the desirability of the Federation extending its work, and making the meeting more interesting- to younger members, by means of discussions on subjects of the day, whether political, or controversial, Mrs. Kolb was asked to give some idea of what the University women did in America; She spoke most interestingly of the many branches of i work they undertook, j They had made a powerful combiha- | tion to get a "Pure Food Bill", passed through Senate, this embodying a' clause which provided that in all canned food exact' details should be given of the contents including , the kind of preservatives used and the ! quantity. Tney had interested themselves in the milk question, its purity, delivery, and price,, and had gone so far as to open a depot where it could be obtained by the very poor folkN The price had been fixed by law, said the speaker with a smile, but they got over that by returning a small portion of the money as a gift. She showed'that the American women were not afraid of controversy, and entered into many kinds of social service for the good of their members and of* humanity. ' When University women married and had children they still remained members, and lectures were given on the upbringing of children healthily, and also "about making clothing by scientific methods of cutting out, as well as a number of other useful subjects for the married. In all, - the American plan succeeded in keeping members in touch \vith their universities in many interesting and useful ways.

Miss North gave a report from the Vigilance Committee which dealt with the desirability df having women representatives of the Fi^eration on the University Senate and Council. They could nominate for the Council, but not for the Senate. They , were pleased, accordingly, that the Government had nominated Dr. Sylvia Chapman for the Senate,'- and at was resolved to send congratulations to her. The Vigilance Commitl.ee advised that a candidate should be nominated in readiness for the next election of the

Co.uriciL

VISIT TO DEPRESSED AREAS. Miss G. F. Gibson,' the speaker for the evening, had something interesting to tell about her visit to Wales and parts of England where great efforts at reconstruction were going on. The population of many thousands had been living on the dole, especially in the mining districts. A great deal of fine work had been done in encouraging the people to gather self-respect by working at agriculture of various sorts. They had planted corn and had made great efforts to produce good vegetables of all kinds. These were finding a market as far as London, and were such a success that the people were coming within measurable distance of being self-supporting. i The great Rhondda Valley, once the Centre of the mining, was now a place occupied by the aged and children. The younger people ' were finding work outside. Arrangements had been made for those physically unfit to do agricultural work by providing centres for handcrafts. Oxford University a'ndthe Society of Friends had been particularly active in helping in these directions. They had established delightful little play places and clubs for the children, and these were a good preventive against their going to a very undesirable kind of cinemjjj which admitted children at all times for one penny each. Lord Davies had presented a delightful area for camps for girls where good bathing was to be had, and there was also a big "Hostel for Tired Mothers" where they received rest and care), mostly much-needed. There was a^ Labour Exchange. Adolescents were required to register there, to have wouk found for them, or else show good reason why they did not. The girls at Bhondda and other parts of Wales liked domestic service, and showed themselves ready and willing to take care of children, so much so that in some parts there were not enough children to go round! There were hostels and other places where the girls were specially trained for any kind of domestic work, with the result that the girls from Wales and also Scotland were in great demand in London. In Northumberland and- Durham there was the same kind of encouraging work going on, with excellent results. Miss Gibson showed photographs of these areas, and also of many delightful' places in Scandinavia which she had visited, and the hope was expressed that she would tell something about them another time. A- hearty vote of thanks to Miss Gibson and supper concluded the evening.