AUCKLAND MOTHERS' UNION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20713, 5 November 1930, Page 4

AUCKLAND MOTHERS' UNION

WORLD-WIDE CONFERENCE. The last quarterly meeting for 1930 of tho Auckland Council of tlio Mothers' Union was hold ,in tho Bishopscourt library on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Coats, tho vice-president, was in tlio chair. A lottor from tho Minister of Internal Affairs, acknowledging tho receipt of a communication from Mrs. Simkin, diocesan secretary, on behalf of tlio Mothers' Union, rotating to theatre posters, was read, stating that censorship had beon arranged. Tho annual Mothers' Union festival is fixed for Novomber 19, after a service in tho cathedral church, nfc 2.30, when the vicar-general, tho Venerable Archdeacon Mac Murray, will preach. The members will bo entertained to tea in

tho Parish Hall by Mrs. Coals. A welcome to Mrs. Avcrill, the president, on her return to New Zealand from tho Mothers' Union World-wide Conference, will bo given in St. Matthew's Parish Hall in Deeembor. All branches in tho Auckland Diocoso will participate. An appeal to members was made ft helpers in the cuncer campaign and was readily responded to. Members from different branches will tako charge in the room in tho Queen's Arcade during next week. A wreath from Mothers' Union members will be placed on tho cenotaph on Armistice day. The links secretary announced that further links were being formed. Only five of tho branches in tho Auckland Diocese out of 39 had not yet applied for a link with a Home branch. An interesting lettor was read from Miss Griffon, one of the New Zealand delegates to tho World-Wide Conference in London in July. She wrote of tho wonderful feeling evidenced by the conference delegates in realising tho difficult problems which lay before them and their determination to tacklo them in the ideals of the Mothers' Union as laid down by the foundress, Mary Sumner, so many years ago. Before the close of tho meeting Mrs. West-Watson, wife of the Bishop of Christchurch, arrived. She had reached Auckland by tlio Niagara that day and had come to address the council meeting. While in England Mrs. West Watson had beon elected Dominion president of tho Mothers' Union, a position occupied by Lady Alice when in New Zealand, and this was her first public appearance in that capacity. Mrs. West-Watson spoke of different events at the conference. She drew a vivid picture of tho progress of the mothers' union as shown in tho first meeting in a small basement oflico in 1891, the only furniture a desk, table and chairs. Now, forty years later, the Mary Sumner Memorial House has been built, a beautiful building, with assembly hall, library, committee rooms, chapel, etc. I Each day during tho conference was devoted to the discussion of problems and papers were read by delegates from all parts of the world. A very strong sense of the responsibility of womanhood was shown at tho conference, she said,-espe-cially in morals and religious training, and in the ante-natal care of the mother and the attitude of the mother as affecting the character of tho child, also on character building, on tho influence of woman in civic life, even on Empire settlement, and on the art of good speaking and education. A thanksgiving service was held in Westminster Abbey at tho close of the conference. Two processions were formed —one of delegates in black with long silver veils, one of younger members, in uniform with long light blue veils. Wreaths were placed on the Unknown Warrior's grave and purses—7oo in all—were presented to the dean with gifts from all over the world, for the Mary Sumner Bouse and Chapel. After the conference was over, said Mrs. West-Wat-son, tho delegates were taken various expeditions to many cathedrals—besides other places of interest. It was felfc that the conference with its prayerful discussions on so many subjects for the good of womanhood, and so of tho family, must increase tho work and influence of the Mothers' Union.

A very cordial vote of thanks was given to Airs, West-Watson for her most interesting addross, and for her kindness in devoting her time to speaking to the Council of the Auckland Alothers' Union, especially after just landing from the Niagara, and before her night journey to Wellington.