NEW ROOMS OPENED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 16

NEW ROOMS OPENED

PIONEER CLUB'S VENTURE

REFERENCES TO THE WAR

The seriousness of the war situation cast a certain gloom oyer the opening yesterday afternoon o ( f the Pioneer Club's new. quarters in the M.L.C. Building. Each of the three speakers, Miss Amy Kane (president of thedub), Mrs. Peter Fraser, and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, referred to it, Miss Kane saying that people might wonder at the club, at a time like the present, undertaking this new venture, but that it was merely honouring its . obligations as the .club had entered into a contract for the rooms over twelve months ago.

The new rooms are situatedi at the top of the building. The main room is. long and L-stiaped. Yesterday it was crowded with members and looked very attractive with /its comfortable furnishings and wall brackets holding big bowls of flowers. The official party was seated on- the platform, and included Lady Elliott, president of the Wellington Women's Club, wb.om Miss Kane thanked for the courtesy extended by the Women's Club in allowing members to use the club during the period when the Pioneer Club, had been closed.

Miss Kane also thanked the staff, nd furnishing and house committees, specially, mentioning Mrs. F. /Ross, /ho had spent the past four weeks upervising the work of putting in the tttings. ■ . ' ' FRIEND'S BRAVE WORDS. Mrs. Peter Fraser, who declared the ;lub officially open, said that she wished the opening had taken place under happier circumstances. All were feelirig depressed, but that just

before she came out she had received a letter from a friend which had cheered her up considerably. This friend had three sons in the Great War and one had been killed. The other- two were on active service once again in the present war, and a younger son was just about to_ enlist. In her letter this woman had said that those who were going through the sorrow of separation from their loved ones for a second time in their lives should give all the love and encouragement they could to the women who were travelling this hard, sad path of war for the first time. Mrs. Fraser said it had cheered and encouraged her to j know that there were such brave, unselfish women in our Empire. [ Mrs. Fraser went on to speak of what club life meant- to women. Women, she said, had shown great executive ability, and in the future they would undoubtedly wield a great power in the world. Most advertising was aimed at women as they did most of the spending, and it was their duty to discuss and understand all sorts of economic problems. No better place co.uld be • found for these discussions than in a club. "TREMENDOUS LOT TO DO." The Mayoress, Mrs. Hislop, congratulated the club on its venture. "You have something worthy of you all in this grand up-to-date new building," she said. She thanked those who had helped in. connection with the, Mayoress's Working Bee; "but," she stated, there is still a tremendous lot to do, not only in . sewing and knitting, but in sending your menfolk to serve their country. Many of you, I.know, have been very- fine and have. sent your sons, but there are still many who have not. 5'- -■■ * . ': Solos were sung by Mrs. Anna Ginn, accompanied by Miss Nora Gray and pianoforte solos were played by Mrs. Hamilton, Dickson. Tea was served arid , afterwards . the members had the 'opportunity of inspecting the fine new I rooms. • '; ; ;■■■' '■