AUCKLAND TRAVEL CLUB

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 3

AUCKLAND TRAVEL CLUB

AUSTRALIAN GUESTS

The morning reception for overseas visit-ors given by the ladies' committee of the Auckland Travel Club on Friday was exceptionally well attended, a special guest being Mrs. Bessie M. Rischbieth, of Perth, president of the Australian Federation of Women Voters Association, and Australia s delegate last year to the League of Nations conference at Geneva. Mrs. Julie Rapke, J-P-, of Melbourne, a vice-president of the Federation of Women Voters, and a magistrate, of the Children's Court at St. Hilda, was also present. Mr. W. M. O Hara, ot Malang, Java, was a guest of honour and one of the speakers at the tea. Mrs. Itischbieth gave a short account of her recent tour of Eastern llitirope, her visit to Geneva and Ijondon, and her journey through the United States. Mrs. Rapke spoke of the work of the Federation of Women Voters, which was non-party, and described a model Parliament, complete with Prime Minister, which had come into being through the co-operation of some of the leading men's organisations with the women's societies, and groups who sent delegates to represent them. This model Parliament had 76 members, and questions of national importance were debated according to Parliamentary rules. Mrs. Rapke herself had been "Prime Minister" _ and had also been "Governor-General" in this very interesting government. The idea was to train men and women.for public life and ta discuss problems where both men and women could take part on equal ground. Mrs. Rapke said she was astonished that New Zealand women did not come forward more actively into political and national life. lhe men of Australia were co-operating in every way, and women were more and more taking their place in public affairs. Mr. W. M. O'Hara, a rubber planter of Java, who recently flew the 1 asm an in his own machine, gave au account of life in the Dutch Fast Indies. Mrs. Victor Macky presided and presented Mrs. Rischbieth, Mrs. Rapke and Miss B Rapke with shoulder sprays. Among tho visitors present were: — Mrs. R. J. Stark and Miss Stark (Queensland), Mrs. Brayne (Ceylon), Mrs. Axford (Melbourne), Mrs. A. B. Hindson (London), Airs. 1). G. Battersb.v (Calcutta), Miss Gould (Dargavilie), Mrs. Herbert Reynolds (Gisborne), Mrs. Bissell (Napier), Mrs. Hosking (Whangarei), Mrs. Gilchrist (Te Aroha), Mrs. Toogood, Mrs. W. Duncan and Mrs. Page (Wellington), Mr. and Mrs. Moffat (Picton).