WOMAN'S WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25180, 18 April 1945, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

T.W.C.A. CONVENTION

NEW PRESI PENT ELECTED The eighth national convention of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand, which commenced at New Plymouth on April 12, concluded yesterday. Mrs Mackie Begg, of Dunedin, was elected national president. The appointment of \ Mrs Begg for the South Island and Mrs P. C. Davie, president of the New Plymouth association, for 'the North island, as world council members, was also ratified by the convention. Considerable time was devoted to a discussion of national youth work in the Y.W.C.A. and of the programme of a suggested training course for volunteer leaders to cover a period of six months, and to include such theoretical subjects as adolescent psychology, technique of group work and such practical subjects as national folk songs and dances, drama and crafts. Recommendations made by the twoday pre-convention conference of youth workers were presented by Miss Doris ! Allan, chairman of the national programme committee, and Miss Jean Campbell, youth secretary of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand, outlined the proposed national training scheme. Mrs Mackie Begg stated that 16 students were in Dunedin taking the training course already instituted by the Y.W.C.A. All were taking social group work under the tutorship of Miss .Jean Campbell, and seven were specialising in physical education the direction of Mrs Margaret Farr, physical director of the Y.W.C.A. Part of the training is being taken at the University of Otago and part at the Training College, the Dunedin School of Art and the Technical College. Lectures on the fundamentals of Christianity are given by Professor John Allen and other members of the faculty of divinity. A special course of lectures on industrial work_ and _ its effect on young adolescents will be given by Miss P. Wiench. The following resolution was passed by the convention:—That advisers be trained as a first step in developing and strengthening the youth work of the New Zealand Y.W.C.A., and that to this end there be established a national training scheme for voluntary youth advisers.