Palmerston North Y.W.C.A Board Meeting

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 270, 2 November 1940, Page 5

Palmerston North Y.W.C.A Board Meeting

Mrs. C. A. Small presided over a good attendance of members at the monthly meeting held in the club rooms. Secretarial reports covered a varieity of activities, the most important being the following:— Miss M. Blanchard, after a trial period of six months, had decided to return to commercial work and tendered her resignation. This was accepted with regret and to express their appreciation of hor services the board of directors, through the courtesy of the president, held an evening party at her home, when a gift of books was made to Miss Blanchard. The junior girls also arranged a very happy function, in Miss Blanchard's honour.

At the invitation of the Napier Board the general secretary visited the newlyformed y.VV.C.A. there to speak at the younger girls' membership service. Miss Jones reported being impressed with the attractiveness of the club rooms placed at the disposal of the association by the Napier Council and with the enthusiastic plans being carried out by a varied membership. Ali sections of the younger girls of Palmerston North had presented plays at the annual drama festival, which has already been reported in the press. These girls are now busily planning for their delegation to the national conference to be held at Christmas and New Year at St. Andrew's College, Christchurch; there will be representatives from all the New Zealand Y.W.C.A.'s.

World Fellowship Week will be observed in all countries from November 10 to 16 and special plans were made including a sunrise service at Cliff Hill on the opening day, an international afternoon on the 11th and special ceremonies in clubs throughout the week. Reports from the World’s office are just to hand and include the news that, while some staff members are still in Switzerland, in order to maintain contact throughout the world the World's office has been set up in Washington; there are items of intense interest covering the work being carried out among refugees in France and Spain. The Bn tish Y.W.C.A. has established work in hundreds of centres all over Great Britain, contacting with women in the services. Canada reports the establishment of hostess houses right across tho country; its wartime work, since the establishment of Government Army and Air Force Training Camps, has increased enormously. Canada has already sent 61,000 dollars in response to the British Y.W.C.A. appeal, Australia £II,OOO, and New Zealand £2OOO. A letter from China tells “Our Y.W.C.A. in Chungking was hit by two bombs yesterday, but this morning we are established in what was the front reception room; our [ hostel is nothing but a pile of broken

lumber and tile." At the conclusion of the board meeting, another consignment of comforts was packed ft>r despatch to the Maori Battalion overseas.