League of Mothers Loses its President

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 183, 5 August 1938, Page 11

League of Mothers Loses its President

RESIGNATION OF MRS. T. A. DAIEY RECEIVED WITH REGRET Despite the wintry conditions which prevailed without, there was a good attendance at the Palmerston North branch of tho League of Mothers’ monthly meeting, held yesterday afternoon in tho Empiro Hall. Tho stago had been transformed with greenery and spring bulbs, tho tea tables also bearing vases of bulbs. Mrs. T. A. Daley presided and extended a welcome to a ndmber of visitors, including Mrs. Templeton, a former member, now residing on tho West Coast. Items by tho, glee circle, led by Mrs. O. Christianson, were much enjoyed. Mrs. D. Williams was the accompanist, and Mrs. G. A. Bird was the soloist. It was reported that the beloved vicepresident, Miss M. McLagan, who is an inmate of a private hospital, was making good progress towards recovery. it was with very great regret that the president,. Mrs. Daley, announced that her resignation owing to the transference of her husband to Auckland had been handed in to the secretary. Mrs. Daley said how much she regretted having to resign from tho branch, where she had spent so many happy hours and gained so much inspiration from her work. Mrs. Daley then announced that the committeo had approved of the nomination of Mrs. A. McPherson as president in her place and this meeting with general enthusiasm, Mrs. McPherson was elected to office. Mrs. McPherson said she would endeavour, with the help of the members, to follow in the footsteps of the late presidents, Mrs. G. G. Hancox and Mrs. Daley, saying how deeply the league regretted losing Mrs. Daley, who had set such a high standard of efficiency. Contributing to the pleasure of the afternoon were elocutionary items by Miss Freda Whittaker, and vocal solos, by Mrs. F. Collis, who was accompanied by Mrs. L. O. Jones.

Mcsdaines F. Wilkinson and E. Herron were the door hostesses and Mesdames E. Ashcroft, Aitchißon, C. Anderson, F. Anderson* L. Anderson, A. G. Anderson, E. H. Alien, Annabel, F. Bee, F. Bennett, Barrett, A. Bloomfield and O. Christianson served a welcome afternoon tea.

The happy thought for the afternoon was given by Mrs. H. E. Drake. The speaker for the afternoon was Mr. C. Woods, whoso subject, “Physical Fitness in Middle Life,’’ was followed with interest.

At the outset Mr. Woods said the •whole world was becoming “health conscious” and the Government of New Zealand was helping a great deal in this respect. In the Great War only 18 per cent, of 400,000 men were certified A. 1., he said, but with physical fitness becoming a national endeavour,, this figure was being raised considerably. 11l health was economically unsound, the speaker went on to say, and womenfolk were primarily responsible for the health of the children, and as they grew up it was a mother's job to keep young in mind and body. To do this she must be healthy and well. To bo healthy one must have a bright outlook on life. For a mother particularly to go through the day more or less placidly and in the evening to greet her husband cheerfully was a true sign of good health. Family life revolved about the mother, and if a mother had the best interests of her family at heart she must bo healthy, Mr. Woods pointed out. Speaking of fads, Mr. Woods went on to say that a sense of proportion had to be observed. Spirit and body must go hand in hand; the body must not dominate tho mind, nor vico versa. Mr. Woods cited Miss Jean Batten as an example of this co-ordination. The body should be an instrument of the mind and the will. One could develop a health instinct, the speaker went on to say, and the body could bo trained to revolt from anything which might harm it. Health could only be gained by action and could, like a beautiful building, be built step by step. Provided the vital organs were sound, Mr. Woods continued, one could, by careful training, achieve perfect health. This required daily discipline. Movement was life, he said, and the body, to be healthy, must be kept free of the weeds of disease which clogged its action.

Modern methods of living were artificial, Mr. Woods said, and one had to use artificial action to counteract this. The speaker gave some points conducive to good health—skin airing, plenty of exposure to the health-giving' rays of the sun; lung breathing, proper abdominal breathing; tho spine—strengthening exercises for tho base; the control of tho abdominal muscles, and exercises for hip reduction. To illustrate his points, Mr. Woods called upon three members of his married ladies’ class to demonstrate several appropriate exercises.

Mrs. E. W. Drake thanked Mr. Woods for a very interesting address and his demonstrators for their part.

Mrs. W. E. Dredge thanked tho tea hostceses.

Members desiring to transfer to the Terrace End branch of the League of Mothers were asked to Bend in their names to the secretary. A reminder was given, that annual subscriptions were due.