League of Mothers’ Conference

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 174, 26 July 1938, Page 11

League of Mothers’ Conference

On Thursday last in All Saints’ club roqm, Palmerston North, members of the Wellington provincial executive met with the committees of the Wanganui, Palmerston North, Terrace End and Levin Leagues to discuss tho - different phases of league work. Mrs. 11. W. Kcrsley occupied the chair and opened, the meeting with the league prayer. Apologies were received from Mesdames ChaS. White, Wall, Guthrie, Cummings, Millward, McPhail, Hancox, Grigor, Piper, Christiansen, Livingston and Jarret. Mrs. Kersley extended greetings from the province and gave all present a very hearty welcome. She explained why the conference was being held—namely, to discuss methods of procedure in branch work with a view to fostering the spirit of co-operation among its members. Paying a tribute to the pioneers of tho branches, Mrs. Kersley urged all to approach their work with a sense of goodwill and fellowship to ono another. Mrs. Rollings, who had come up from Wellington the previous day to speak at Terrace End branch, again charmed all present with her quiet and forceful way of expressing herself. Her subject on this occasion was “What the League Stands For,” stressing the fact that the movement was an undenominational one, she proceeded to deal with the three objects of the League. First, to uphold the sanctity of marriage, by being a living example to your children and to train them up with tho idea that marriage when entered upon is a contract for life; secondly, to help parents to realise the greatness of their responsbility and the power of their influence in forming tho character of tho child. To illustrate her remarks on this, Mrs. Rollings used for examples of mother influence the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Bismarck. Abraham Lincoln, who had a kindly and sympathetic mother, to whom, he said, he owed his life, spent his time trying to help others and succeeded in freeing the slaves. While Bismarck, on tho other hand, had no respect for his mother, who could not find time to care for him, but left his upbringing in the hands of a hard schoolmaster with the result that Bismarck grew up hard and relentless and had no compunction in bringing three wars upon his country; thirdly, to establish a fellowship of mothers, who will strive for high ideals in tho home and seek to lead their families in purity of life and steadfastness of character. The League being now almost 8000 women strong throughout tho Dominion, Mrs. Rollings showed what a power for good the members could be in the community if they only lived up to these ideals which were their aims and objects. Mrs. Harris, assistant Dominion secretary, spoke on creche work in a very interesting and instructive way, commencing with tho preparation of the room she displayed an attractive unbleached covering which had been worked with nursery rhymes and was for use on the floor, pictures for tho walls, beautiful supplements obtained with the Child Education Magazine, suitable also for homo nursery uSc. Mrs. Harris’s collection of simple materials for entertaining the children was marvellous and after seeing these and hearing Mrs. Harris speak those present were most anxious to commence a crcche in their branch. Following this talk, Mrs. A. P. Young (provincial secretary) spoke on * ‘Finance,” explaining to those present the distribution of funds, and urging all branches to do things in a simple way and so be able to make ends meet on the small subscription charge. This talk made openings for a discussion which was entered into until luncheon adjournment at 1 p.m., when the executive enjoyed the hospitality of the committee present and resumed work again before 2 p.m. Mrs. H. W. Kersley then spoke on organisation, showing how the work of the branches should be divided and all working under the guidance of their president to whom absolute loyalty must be shown. Different topics of branch work were then dealt with in general discussion, and much benefit derived by all present. A hearty vote of thanks was passed by the visitors to Mrs. Daley and the hostesses for the day, special mention being made of the cosiness of tho room. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.