BUSINESS GIRLS’ CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 58, 5 February 1927, Page 2

BUSINESS GIRLS’ CLUB.

WEEKLY LUNCHEON MEETING

The first weekly meeting and luncheon of the Business Girls’ Club for this year was held this afternoon. Miss Rona Bennett presided and Mr G. H. Bennett spoke to the club members on his recent trip abroad. Mr Bennett stated that it was just a year ago that he left Wellington by the Marama, and after a four days' delightful trip reached the city ol Melbourne and -with it the open-hearted hospitality typical of the Australians. Thence the speaker proceeded to Hobart, with its beautilul harbour (comparing most favourably with that at Sydney) and historic associations, for Hobart was the original home .of tho convict settlers; then to South Australia, famous for its vineyards, and then on to Fremantle and delightful Perth, a prosperous city comparatively little known to New Zealanders, aud the capital of a State that w'ould in the near future be very much in the forefront. ‘‘The land in 'Western Australia docs not look very fertile,” continued the speaker, “yet it grows wonderful crops of wheat and grapes, and there the latter fruit is purchasable at lid per lb. There are millions and millions of acres of land and most New Zealanders would not look twice at it, yet tho possibilities, if one is content to wait ten yeans, are enormous.” A journey of 15 days across the Indian Ocean followed and Durban was reached—Durban with its hundreds of Zulus and Kaffirs fighting on the wharf for pennies thrown at them from the ship; Durban with its miles of promenade, its illuminated waterfront where people parade at night and surf in the moonlight; Durban with its attractive hotels and villas situated among hill gardens of tropical splendour.

Owing to the time limit Mr Bennett perforce could not take his hearers further than Durban, but the hope was expressed that lie would attend another meeting and give a further account of his touring. Miss Rona Bennett expressed tho club’s best thanks to the speaker.