RECEPTION AT OTAGO WOMEN'S CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 21319, 25 January 1933, Page 11

RECEPTION AT OTAGO WOMEN'S CLUB

DAME SYBIL TKOMDIXE WELCOMED The president (Lady Ferguson) and club inetnbers held a reception in the club lounge on Monday afternoon in honour of that distinguished artist, Dame Sybil Thorndike—" the Ellen Terry of the modern stage ” —who on rising to reply to the president’s words of welcome was greeted with tumultuous applause. Dame Sybil was attired in a charming three-piece suit of brilliant green, with horizontal stripes; the cape coatee had very full elbow sleeves, with which she wore long suedo gloves and the most becoming green straw sailor hat. Although our guest comes to us as a most distinguished actress, she has also taken a very active part in many women’s movements, and she greeted the women of Dunedin as part of that band of Now Zealand women who had been a beacon to their English sisters and spurred them on to demand the franchise. Since they had secured it they had leapt ahead of the Now Zealand women, and would bo now, sbe hoped, an inspiration to them to obtain seats in Parliament, on municipal councils, and other positions where they could help forward the work of the world.

During her travels, she said, it had been a great pleasure to meet the women of various parts of the Empire and to share for the time in their activities. She was therefore delighted to have the opportunity of meeting members of the Otago Women’s Club, which was affiliated with the. Forum Club in London, of which she was a member. The women’s dubs in London were, she said, doing a wonderful work in helping to promote a better Understanding between the nations by giving their members the opportunity of meeting representatives of foreign countries and hearing their views. In this way they were brought to realise that all were members of the great human race. In her own municipality of Chelsea women were strongly represented on the council, and a woman had held the position of mayor for two sessions. There they worked hard to find a remedy for social problems, especially that of housing* which was particularly woman’s sphere. In conclusion, Dame Sybil said how delighted she had been with the quick response given by the Dunedin audience on Saturday night, aiicl particularly thanked the Otago Club members for their warm welcome and wholehearted support.