Palmerston North Branch Of League of Mothers

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 187, 8 August 1941, Page 3

Palmerston North Branch Of League of Mothers

14th ANNUAL MEETING HELD Mimosa, jonquils and Iceland poppies formed the springlike decorations in the Empire Hall yesterday when the 14th annual meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the League of Mothers was held. Mrs. A. McPherson presided and opened the meeting with the League prayer. Pleasure was expressed in the return of Mrs. O. Christiansen, who has been absent through illness, and also in the presence of Miss P. Harman w'ho has been ill. The president conveyed greetings from Airs. Whitehead, former member, and from Airs. V. Btagpoole, of Christchurch, former member who had been a visitor to the city. The report presented by Airs. Thomas (secretary), previously published in “The Times," and balance-sheet presented by Airs. Clarke, were received without discussion. Aioving their adoption, the president thanked Airs. Thomas for the excellent report prepared and read a letter of commendation from Air. Goddard (auditor) on the work of the treasurer, Airs. Clarke. A report from the Wellington Provincial read to the meeting stressed the point made in the League that the officers be elected in committee from nominations received. This had been carried out, the president said, announcing the following appointments: President, Airs. W. AI. Garner; vicepresidents, Mesdames J. Barsanti, O. Christiansen, A. McPherson, R. Alclver, Petrie, F. Wilkinson; secretary, Mrs. E. Drake; assistant secretary, Airs. Pascoe; treasurer, Airs. Clarke; assistant treasurer, Mrs. C. Thomas; committee, Alesdames Anderson, Aiken, Coleman, Duffin, 11. Drake, Iloare, Humphrey Koberstein, Alatthcws, Nicliolls, Proctor. Stubbs, "Whittaker, Wass and Miss Ivillick.

Before vacating the chair, Mr 3. McPherson said hers had been a wonderful experience over the past three years. The goodwill and co-operation of the members had meant ft lot for the president’s was quite a big job. She added her personal thanks to the secretary, Mrs. Thomas, for a very pleasant association, and to the committee for their wonderful work. The committee owed its success largely to the good organisation of Airs. G. G. Hancox in forming sub-committees who relieved the president. In conclusion, Airs. AlcPherson said she could not ask more for Airs. Garner than that the members give their new president the support accorded her. She then invited the new officers to the stage who were warmly greeted by the rryjeting. Mrs. J. Barsanti presented shoulder sprays to the retiring officers as tokens of affectionate appreciation, and to the new officers with good wishes for a happy term of office. Returning thanks, Mrs. Garner paid tribute to Airs. AlcPherson for many kindnesses, and to the secretary. She thanked the members for the honour conferred on her which she assured them she was not accepting lightly. She felt a little like “Christian" that day. With regard to the ideals of the League, if anyone could show her anything higher, she would like to see it. The League hymn presented the ideal ol the perfect home, the perfect wife and mother, and she asked the members to memorise this. She cautioned them that the ideals were not too high but were hard, that the way was uphill to the end, and there were hobgoblins, giants, the Slough of Despond and even the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Only brave women could reach the ideals but she was not afraid to place them before members and to challenge them to walk this road which she would walk with them, helping as she could that they might be a very happy family. The League choir led by Lyon with Airs. W. H. Boon at the piano entertained with two bright -selections. Door hostesses were Alesdames F. Wilkinson and J. Barsanti and tea hostesses Alesdames Wilton, E. White, E. Winter, H. White, Wiggins, Warren, Yeo, Ashcroft, Aikmon, L. and F. Anderson. Mrs. F. Anderson was the convener for the decorations. During the afternoon a telegram o± good wishes for the new officers and committee was received from Mrs. D. Dredge, of Nelson, former vice-presi-dent.

Welcoming Miss Alary Greenwell, general secretary of the Palmerston North Y.W.C.A., the speaker for the afternoon, Mrs. McPherson said there was a great bond of sympathy between the League of Alothers and the association which did so much for their girls. She asked Miss Greenwell’s acceptance of a shoulder spray, expressing the hope that her sojourn in Palmerston North would be happy.

Miss Greenwell returned thanks for the warm welcome, the dowers and the opportunity of speaking to the branch, inrough her work and travel she lnade contacts with mothers’ clubs in various ports which had brought the realisation of a diverse and interesting movement of which the women in Palmerston North were a small part of the whole. Women all over the world were moving from somewhere to something. Wnerever she had been she had found that women had a tendency for getting together in fellowship or culiturai growth—there was the same progress of a desire for something beyond tnemseives. Miss Greenwell went on to particularise the various groups she had contacted, such as Alothers’ Unions, service clubs in England and Wales, to the groups in India banded to help women less fortunate than themselves. All this had been interesting in that she had the opportunity of observing the women’s movement in its large proportions rather than the limited view in one country. Since she had returned to New Zealand after an absence of some four years sho had become more/ aware of the distinctive characteristics of the women of New Zealand. Their care and love for the flora as a whole, keeping to botanical names, which one would not hear in any other country, and the pretty gesture of presenting posies, were some of the distinctive things, the speaker said. In fact, since her arrival just ten days ago her room had been constantly decorated with the flowers she had received. Miss Greenwell then contrasted some of the homes she had been privileged to stay in while away from New Zealand, bring- 1 ing vividly to her audience iirst the home of a Welsh miner who had been

out of employment foj 30 years. Sho outlined its characteristics as in a previous address, stressing the fact that there was a warm welcome to the visitor with glowing coals and shining brass despite the little money coming in. Aliss Greenwell digressed to speax of a great service for wives of unemployed in the villages in Wales by the formation of some 27 clubs by the National Council of (Services, wnicli was

one of the biggest groups of women she had contacted. The National “Keep Fit" Movement hud brought a new vision of life to the women, who were

eagerly and happily learning poise and using their bodies scientifically. The next house described was a chalet m Garman Switzerland in a lovely valley with steep asconding hills. This chalet was 4UU years old, the speaker said, describing some of its characteristics. Aliss Greenwell described washing day at the village pool, which was usually once a month, when acres of ground would be occupied with linos of clothes. Contrasting the gardening of tlie Swiss which was a duty assigned to the women, she said this was a necessity for the garden had to yield enougti fruit and vegetables in the season for; winter preserving. This meant that the housewife was busy indeed during spring and summer. In conclusion, Alisa Greenwell spoke briefly of the Y.YV.C.A. as the greatest Christian internationai movement in the whole world, and of the thrill it gave her just to be a member. What counted was that cue met it in every corner of the earth—the Blue Triangle with its message for all. Airs. AlcPherson thanked the speaker and the meeting terminated with the National Anthem.