WORKERS' ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 5

WORKERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS The celebrations to mark the 21st anniversary of the foundation of the Workers' Educational Association in Auckland were continued last night, when a birthday social was held in the club rooms at the Old Grammar School, Symonds Street. The function, at which there were over 200 guests present, was arranged by the social committee, who are also responsible for the arranging of similar monthly evenings during the season. The hall was attractively decorated with streamers and multicoloured balloons in a canopy etfect, while the stage and corners were massed with tall stands of bamboo foliage and bowjs of rich autumn chrysanthemums and dahlias. A welcome was extended to the guests by Mr. H. It. Bodwell, who presided. Brief addrcsss on the work of tbe movement and what it meant to the workers were given by Professor A. B. Fitt, a past president of the association, Mr. Ernest Blair, another past president, and by Mr. H. Solomon, secretary of the first economics class. Interspersed with the addresses was an enjoyable musical programme, comprising songs by Mrs. H. McLellan and Miss Winifred Hill, violin solos by Mrs. B. L'\ Fisher, and humorous items by Mr. Dan Flood. The accompanist was Mr. Eric Bell.

A feature of the evening was the cutting of the birthday cake by Mrs. K. Lietz, who has taken an active part in the work of the association for 20 years. The lighting of 21 candles on the cake was undertaken by Mrs. Andrew Semple, one of the oldest members of the association, and a brother of the late Mr. W. Manson, the first secretary of the W.E.A. Boferonces were made by the chairman of the social committee, Mr. C. J. Bishop, to the work done by the late Mr. and Mrs. Manson. Mr. Bishop also spoke of the late Sir George Fowlds, who had helped to inaugurate the movement and who had been a very active and staunch supporter of the scheme until the time of his death. The members of the social committee present were: —Mrs. K. Lietz, Miss It. Blair, Miss M. Stehr, Miss H. Batty. Messrs. C. J. Bishop, G. Drake, H. Stewart, A. E. Knight and C. Hawthorn.