Esperanto Club

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 55, 7 March 1935, Page 10

Esperanto Club

EIRST ANNUAL MEETING HELD “The first year of our existence has been a very eventful' one,” said the •president to the first annual meeting of the Palmerston ' North Esperanto Club, at which Mr 11. E. Eacer presided. “At tho end of 1933 I received a letter from tho secretary of tho New Zealand Esperanto Association, asking if it would be possiblo to hold the sixth anuual congress in Palmerston North. At that time, as far as I knew, tho only two active Esperantists in .the city wero the late Mr R. Ross and myself. Mr Ross was very keen to accept tho congress, and, acting on his advice, I invited the sixth congress to be held at Palmerston North when I was attending the fifth congress at Wellington. To my own personal sorrow, and to the Tegret of all Esperantists in tho Dominion, Mr Ross died in January, 1934. It was with some trepidation that, after consulting a few of Mr Ross’s former class members, I called a public meeting to see if a class could bo formed to study Esperanto. As a result a fairly strong class started activities early in March, 1934. The enthusiasm shown by tho members was very cncouragiug aud soon tho Palmerston North Esperanto Club came into existence, when I was elected president with Mrs I. MacLeod secretary. Then, as a club, we formally invited tho congress to Palmerston North. The members were very keen and they soon had a working knowlcdgo of tho language. As timo passed preparations wero made for tho congress, tho bulk of tho work falling on the shoulders of our esteemed secretary. Tho conference was voted a great success by everyone who attended, and wo have received many letters of congratulation. My thanks are due, not only to tho committee, but also to the members of the club as a body for tho splendid way in which they worked to make tho congress a success. Mrs Ross kindly donated to tho club the Esperanto books of the iato Mr Ross, and these havo formed a very fine foundation for a library. We extend our best thanks to Mrs Ross for her generosity. A scries of Esperanto lessons wero published, these being prepared by our club. Wo received a visit from Mr >S. Andrew, Eeilding, who gave a very interesting public lecture. Mr Toolejq Christchurch, also visited us several times, and Mr Pranks and Mr Shepherd, Masterton, spent a week-end hero and were able to meet our members. These visits wero much appreciated. A successful social was held and recently a few of us travelled to Plimmerton where we met many members of the Wellington club and spent a most enjoyable day. In conclusion, I would like to thank every member for the patience and sympathy shown mo as the club’s instructor. I believe the club can I’ook forward to a very successful future if tho same enthusiasm and good feeling of the past are shown.”—Tho report was adopted. The balance-sheet, which was adopted, showed that the year’s income totalled £0 10s 2d, whilo the expenses wero £(5 3s 54d, thus leaving a small credit balance. It was reported that the congress at Palmerston North had shown a profit of £1 Os 3Jd. Tho officers appointed were as follow:—President, Mr W. Caution; vicepresident, Mrs J. De Clcene; secretary, Mrs I. McLeod (pro-tern); librarian, Mrs J. W.'Bennett; committee, Mesdames MacLeod, Do Ci'eeno, J. Thomson, Bennett' and Messrs Cantlon, H. E. Eacer arid E. Lewis; instructor, Mr Facer.

It was. decided that the meeting night be Wednesday of each week. A beginners’ class is to bo formed.

The broad principles of the language were explained for tho benefit of prospective members by Mr Facer. He pointed out that it was very simple and by its use communication could be enjoyed with people of other lands where English was a foreign tongue. A short discussion took placo on the admission of junior members, it being decided that all children under 16 years of age should bo admitted free. Mr Facer said several of the Scouts from Palmerston North who attended (lie jamboree at Melbourne had found they could not speak with foreigners, and had also heard of Esperanto. There was a possibility that a number of Scouts might wclcomo the opportunity of learning Esperanto as a number of Scouts of foreign countries could speak tho language.—The new president was requested to interview tho leaders of the Scout movement in tho city and ask them to acquaint Scouts of tho opportunity 'offering.