HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 107, 9 May 1938, Page 14

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

LADIES'GUILD MEETS

INTERESTING R.S.A. DANCES

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

The annual meeting of the Methodist Ladies' Guild, Lower. Hutt, took place on Thursday afternoon in Wesley Hall, there being a large attendance of members. It was preceded by the monthly meeting, which was opened by the Rev. H. T. Peat, and presided over -by Mrs. J. D. King, with Mrs. P. Hyndman as acting secretary. Mrs. C. E. Crawford . was welcomed back after her illness. The committee received with regret 1 the resignation of the secretary, Mrs. 1 G. C. Heap, and a vote of appreciation 5 was passed for. her services. The business of the meeting, which included the discussion of plans for the coming Methodist Bi-centenary, was followed " by an interval for afternoon tea, served by the tea-hostesses, Mesdames H. F. Muir, E. A. Lambert, and C. A. Muir, . and after this the annual meeting opened. The election of officers re- . suited as follows:—Presidefit, Mrs. J. ® J>. King; vice-presidents, Mesdames W. " Hall, H. T. Peat, Routley, J. Garlick, * H. Hollard, E. J. Horman, H. Burgess, * J. Stonehouse; secretary, Mrs. C. A. Muir; assistant secretary, Mrs. P. Hynd- ' man; treasurer, Mrs. W. J. Eddie; exe- £ cutive, Mesdames King, C. Muir, Eddie (ex officio), with three conveners of " sub-committees, represented by Mesdames W. Hall, F. Teasdale, and H. T. Peat. Mrs. E. Stevens was appointed official pianist, and Mr, C. E. Crawford hon. auditor. Sub-committees were formed for sick visiting, and also hostesses, etc., and, after votes of thanks had been passed to Mrs. Peat and to the hostesses, the meeting was closed by the Rev. Mr. Peat, with the pronouncement of the Benediction. Cordial Welcome. The welcome back to the returned soldiers of the Hutt Valley who attended the Anzac celebrations in Sydney was celebrated by a special dance on Thursday at the R.S.A. Clubrooms, Lower Hutt. A large and enthusiastic gathering of members and friends took part in this successful function, which had been excellently organised by the social committee. Speaking on behalf of the contingent, the . members of which were all-wearing the distinguish- . ing black and white ties presented to them in Sydney, the president, Mr. A. E. Pattinson, gave an interesting resume of the celebrations, and mentioned with warm appreciation the boundless hospitality they had received. An excellent orchestra led the dancing, and a delicious supper provided by the ladies committee contributed much , to the enjoyment of the evening. On Saturday night the committee of the association were hosts at the annual social evening given for the assisting performers and all who have helped the work of the R.S.A. during the past year. In a speech of appreciation to their guests Mr. A. E. Pattinson thanked the helpers for their valued assistance. He said the R.S.A. was looking forward with keen anticipation to the return visit to New Zealand in 1940 of the Australian contingent of "Diggers," which would number, over 4000 visitors. A programme of music, which was greatly enjoyed, was finely rendered by Mesdames F. Potter and F. Stedman, and Messrs. W. Marshall and V. Jones, with Mrs. V. Wakelin accompanying. Dancing and a tempting supper helped' to make the happiest of entertainments. This gesture of appreciation and the cordial hospitality shown were highly esteemed by the guests. The committee comprised Mr. A: E. Pattinson (president) and Mrs. : Pattinson (-black and white georgette), Mr. P. McNicol and Mrs. McNicol (flame crepe de chine), Mrs. A. Robins (rust satin), Mr. and Mrs. W. Hamilton (brown chiffon velvet), Mr. and Mrs. J. O'Meara (pink satin), Mr, and Mrs. E. Edw;( - ds (scarlet taffetas), Mrs. F. Stedman (floral georgette), Mr. and Mrs. G. Shand (black cloque), Mr. and Mrs. E. Wilton (black lace and georgette), and Messrs. W. E. Garrett, H. A. Taylor, T. Unsworth, Poad, and G. Staples. The guests included Colonel and Mrs. Butchers, the Rev. H. E. K. Fry, Mr. and Mrs. G. Whiteman; Mr. and Mrs. G. Peck, Mr. and Mrs. Beard, Mr. and Mrs. J. Pointon, Mr. and Mrs. R. Parrant, Mr. and Mrs. W. Marshall, Miss Marshall, Mrs. H. A. Taylor, Mr. arid Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. W. Berry, Mr. and Mrs. D. Mac Lean, Mr. and Mrs. F. Potter, Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. O. Kibblewhite, Mrs. D. Maltby, Mr. and Mrs. Horwell, Mr. and Mrs. Redmond, Miss Redmond, Mrs. Brennan, Mr. and Mrs. Burdan (Wainui), and Mrs. W. E. Garrett. Missionary Work. .Miss Stella Purchase, in the course of her address on mission work in China on Friday, gave news of several New Zealand missionaries who are working in .different parts of the country. Miss V. Bargrove is in Hangchow, nursing in , the C.M.S. hospital under Dr. Phyllis Haddow, and Miss M. Woods, of Christchtirch, is doing good work nearby 'in feeding- the starving people of Hangchow. Miss M. Jennings is in Hong Kong. where the war has" not yet penetrated. As far as can-fee said.'they are all .well. ;; WORK IN HANGCHOW (Frdm "the Post's" Representative.) On furlong from her work, in the Mary Vaughan High School for Girls in Hangchow,' where she bjeeri' teaching for the past three years, Miss S. M. Purchase' spoke to a large' gathering in St. James Hall, Lower Hutt, yesterday, on some aspects of missionary activities in China today. "The vast size of China means that what I may tell you of one place may not be true of another," said Miss Purchase. The women of China, she said, could be divided into three main types (hot to be confused with castes), of which the wives and daughters of wealthy merchants were the smallest, and the "student class" (the most enlightened), while the almost illiterate field and factory workers formed the largest section, rougljily 75 per cent, of the women of the community. The name "Student Class"' was used in China for all who attended school from kindergarten upwards, while those who came back from studying abroad were known as "returned ' students." It was possible for women in China to enter any profession, and it was from this class that the women leaders of the country were supplied, and among whom Miss Purchase's work lay. As the millions of manual workers had no chance to go to school, and no education to help them to think and speak for themselves very much, it was this student class, not wealthy in the main, but educated by modern ideas, intensely patriotic and articulate, who were of the most importance in the future development of China. The Mary Vaughan High School for Girls, the first of its kind to be established in Hangchow, was a mission school, and therefore by , Government regulation the principal ■ must be Chinese. In comparison with the old idea of missionary work to j adapt it to the changed conditions and • I outlook of China today, one must go I and work with Chinese and under ) them to gain their confidence and support, said the speaker. Under these conditions they were very pleased and anxious to have missionaries. The girls who attended the school and whose ages ranged from twelve to eighteen, were very modern, having

adopted with avidity Western ideas such as bicycles, permanently waved hair, and translations of the newest European books. They were eager to absorb everything modern, and the games and physical drill which they enjoyed under Miss Purchase were among the subjects compulsory for examinations. Their homes, however, were not modern, the bound feet of their grandmothers and the elder women typifying that old influences and force of tradition still remained, and there was a great deal to be done even to keep the influence of Christianity still vigorously alive in such surroundings. Bible classes were formed by the speaker both aiSiong the girls at school and for those who had left or worked in the city. Though one of the greatest difficulties was in the translation of ideas, as opposed to concrete facts, into the Chinese language, it was felt that, if one could become friendly with them first, much could be done. Miss Purchase stressed the necessity of keeping in touch with the girls after they left school, for the more this was done the less likely was the possibility of their slipping away from Christian ideals. Even more necessary was this "follow-up" now with Hangchow in Japanese hands, the city nine-tenths evacuated by the inhabitants, the schools closed, and the girls and women scattered. There were air raids every day in the months before Miss Purchase left, and of the remaining, girls who gathered in the school dug-out, scared but never panicked, it seemed that the Christian girls, found courage in faith in God., Now that they were scattered, and every day saw women and children dying of starvation, it was a hard thing for them to hold on to their belief. The majority of the missionaries were remaining to do ail that they could to aid and sustain them in the faith. Miss Purchase, who is returning to China, voiced the hope of the Chinese women that the women of this country would, as well as sending the greatly needed material aid, remember them in their prayers. The Rev. H. E. K. Fry presided. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to, the speaker. :

FORTNIGHTLY CARD PARTY

The fortnightly card party of the Wellington South African War Veterans' Association, held at ihe ', clubrooms, Lambton Quay, on Saturday night, was well attended, and the evening passed very pleasantly. At the close of play, the winners of the various contests were:—Bridge, Mrs. M. Lenhart and Mr. R. Scobie; "500," Mrs. Somerville and Mr. G: Yule; euchre, Mrs. M. Taylor and Mr. D. McGavin; competition, Mrs. Bogmuda. At the afternoon held by Mrs. G. d'Emden last Wednesday, Mesdames B. C. Cull and M. Savery won prizes for "500." . The next afternoon ,of the ladies' auxiliary will be .held at the clubrooms on May 18.