LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 64, 15 March 1940, Page 11

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

IMPRESSIVE GATHERING AT

EXHIBITION

FtEAUSED"

"If bur beloved founder, Lady Alice Fergusson, could be with Us this afternoon, it would be in a spirit of thanksgiving* for her dreams would be realised/ said Mrs. S. 6, English, the new Dominion president of the League of Mothers, at the meeting held' in the Assembly Hall at the Centennial-Ex-hibition yesterday afternoon. The large hall, was crowded with members and friends from all parts of New Zealand, when most inspiring and excellent speeches were given by several members of the Executive and provincial presidents. A feature of the meeting was the impressive massed singing by twenty-five league choirs^ conducted by Mrs. Anna Ginn, choir members coming from many distant parts of trie Wellington Province. On the stage, which had been beautifully decorated With tropical palms, massed hydrangeas, and large bowls of [ilame and red-dahlias-by Mrs. Hobbs, 1 the official party included. Mrs. Engjlish (Dominion president) s Mrs. Charles White . (immediate past presijdent), Mesdames Harvey Turner and jH. H. Cornish (provincial presidents), I Mrs. P. Fraser (a foundation member of the league and vice-president of the Wellington provincial committee), Lady • Elliott,: Miss Richmond, Miss Lorimer, Mrs. G. H. Flemmihg, Mi:s. E. Ni Merrington (Dominion executive members), Mrs. Leslie Wall (Dominion secretary and treasurer), Mrs. Stanley Harris (assistant Dominion secretary), and Mrs. H. St, Barbe Holland-, president of the Mothers' Union. The meeting opened with the singing of "God Defend New Zealand," the league hymn, and the prayer for peace. SERVICE IN TIME OF WAR. The new Dominion president, who presided, welcomed the many raemIjers present, who came from several provinces. The Centennial year, she said, was to have been a year of rejoicing, but instead we are a nation at war, and the nation's Call was extend- , ed /to the women as well as to the men, and they could answer it by service, even in the most homely ways such as domestic retrenchment and economy. Women, said Mt-s. English, should riot be lacking in faith, hope, 6r cburage, in whatever sacrifices might be necessary. Victory on land and sea would riot alone save the Erripire; the moral and spiritual forces of the people, too, were necessary. Mrs. Charles White, in a riiest inspiring farewell speech, thanked all Who had given her their assistance during her term of office, and paid great tribute to the singing df the cdriibiried choirs. She expressed pleasure at seeing so many creche workers present, for, she said; every branch president would .agree.that she could not hope,to fun her branch properly Unless she had a creche connected ;with it. Although she had retired from the presidency of the league, she had been a member from its foundation, and it had become a part of her life-. As a vice-president and member of the Dominion executive she would continue to do her utmost to further what she considered was one of the finest organisations in New Zealand. She paid tribute to her successor, Mrs. English, arid also praised the courage and fortitude of the pioneers, and asked "are We and our children working as hard as our fathers worked? Was this generation, in its various walks of life, giving honest and ungrudging work, or is it shirking its responsibilities and dodging the obligations of married life?" The pioneer's faith in their churches, and what the churches stood for, had made a fine people who had ftiade a wonderful country, said Mrs. White. The League of Mothers, she emphasised, was not connected with any Church, but was behind the churches arid Supported them. Lady Elliott, who had recently visited Lady Alice Fergusson at her beautifUl hbrile in Ayrshire, delivered a message sent by Lady Alide to the League of Mothers in New Zealand, and said that the knowledge that the work of the league in New Zealand progressed and developed in accordance With ,the principles upon which it had been founded was a great joy to its founder. In their beautiful home, Lady Alice, with her husband, Sir Charles Fergusson* lived a life of public service, based on religious faith and service to others, said the speaker. Short addresses were also given by the provincial presidents, Mrs. Harvey Turner (Auckland), Mrs. \E. N. Mer* rington (Otago), and Mrs. H. H. Cornish (Wellington). Thanks were expressed to the combined choirs; those who had assisted with arrangements for the very successful meeting; Miss Finlay, accompanist; Mrs. Pinn, the Press, Mrs* FalH Mrs. Hobbs. Mrs. L. Wall, and j several others. Bouquets were presented to Mrs. English, Mrs. Leslie Wall, and Mrs. Charles White. A charming gesture was the presentation of a modern armchair to Mrs. Charles White; Lady Elliott, on behalf of members from all Over New Zealand, making the presentation.

The A.N.A. Club will be holding its usual dances tonight and tomorrow night, also on Saturday of next week, at the R.S.A. rooms, Victoria Street. The club extends a cordial welcome to Wellington men now home on leave from camps in bther tentres*