UNITED GUILD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 218, 13 August 1940, Page 8

UNITED GUILD

REQUEST FOR PATRONAGE. KAIRANGA COUNCIL’S DECISION. After hearing a deputation from the United Guild, at its meeting to-day, the Kairanga County Council passed a resolution as follows: —“That this council gives authority to the United Guild to f unction under the patronage of the Kairanga County Council, providing its activities are confined to the country districts.” The deputation consisted h.y Mrs W. F. Field and Mrs W. A. Jacques, and had as its object the Kairanga Council granting the guild patronage to continue its activities. | Mrs Field said that all the council- , Id’s would have read in the newspapers of the recent controversy. The women concerned were perfectly happy and anxious to do their best, but owing to a slight difficulty which had arisen they had found it necessary to form a guild of their own under the title of United Guild. The same organisation as existed hefore was still available for .work, with a much larger committee and more supporters. They were offering the County Council the opportunity of having the organisation carry on with its headquarters in the Kairanga County. Instead of the United Guild getting credit for sending the goods, resulting from its war work, the Kairanga Council would get it. Mrs Field explained that Mrs Hopcroft would have to be appointed chairwoman of the guild, but she could appoint a deputy. Mrs J acques read the names_ of numerous organisations in* the Kairanga County which were supporting the United Guild, and also tho names of the town organisations. The chairman (Cr. W. It. Hopcroft) asked just why it was desired that the | County Council should enter into the matter. . . Mrs Field said that, until recognised by a county or a city, the guild did not have the 6ame status at headquarters. It could send all its goods to Wellington and would continue to do so. However, it could not bo called i a Lady Galway Guild unless it was under the patronage of a county. It ■was desired that tho Kairanga County Council should extend this patronage, j In reply to Cr. D. Collis, Mrs Field said that she considered there ivas i ample room in which. two guilds could ! operate. I Cr. W. G. Shannon said he did not think the women had been showing a good example in view of present conditions. Any little difficulties which they had should he overcome and forgiven, and they should pull together. Mrs Field said that members of the United Guild had tried every means in their power to obtain an amicable settlement. She added that the guild had sent 27 eases of materials to Government House, Wellington, and they were said to he the best of the goods handled. It was not a question of a quarrel. Cr. N. P. Nielsen said. it seemed that with the support the guild was receiving from the country it would be able to carry on, and he was prepared to support the request. | “I am quite sure that if the council accedes to our request it will never regret it.” said Mrs Field. | Cr. J.' Batchelar said that the request put the council in a rather awkward position by asking it to dissociate the guild from the city. The county and the city had previously alI wavs worked together. I Ors. F. J. Russell and M. W. Voss i both referred to the good work that tho women were doing. The latter said it was unfortunate that the trouble had arisen, but it was not for the j council to say who was in the right or the wrong. After the deputation had withdrawn the council discussed its attitude in committee. On resuming in open meeting. the motion, set out above, moved by Cr. D. Collis and seconded by Cr. Voss, was carried. HELP FOR REFUGEES.

Mrs Major Dick (president) and Mrs W A. Jacques (secretary) of the United Guild attended a gathering of the Russell Street Sunday school on Saturday evening when the annual prizegiving and accompanying programme were held. The children had agreed to forgo their annual tea and had devoted the money usually spent on this, amounting to £5 ss, to buying comforts for refugees which were banded over to Mrs Dick and Mrs Jacques. On Monday afternoon a very pleasant “at home” was given by Mrs A. Stewart, of Rangitane Street, president of St. David’s Ladies’ Guild, when the members handed over 200 wellmade garments to Mrs Dick and Mrs Jacques for the refugees.