A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21981, 16 June 1933, Page 14

A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

MISS EDITH THOMPSON, C.B.E. The visit to Dunedin yesterday of Miss Edith Thompson, C.8.E., and Miss Olive Hargreaves was an event of importance to a number of societies the activities of which are of an international nature. Miss Thompson arrived at Port Chalmers on the Tamaroa, the boat on which she and Bliss Hargreaves are travelling round the coast of New Zealand, and under the arrangements of Miss Ethel Jackson, honorary secretary of the Victoria League, was met by Miss A. Stevenson, who brought her and her friend to the Otago Women’s Club, where a large gathering of women representing the Overseas’ League, the Victoria League, the International Federation of University Women, and the Y.W.C.A. were gathered to meet them. They were met on arrival by Mrs Sutherland Ross, who presented them with a bouquet of spring flowers, welcomed them to Dunedin, and said how much, on behalf of the women present, she appreciated their visit when their time in the city was so short. Miss Thompson, in reply, expressed her pleasure at being met by so large and representative a gathering, and said how greatly she had been impressed during her tour of the Dominion by the hospitality and efficiency of the women she had met. In answer to a request, she spoke of a proposed visit to the Dominion of a number of English school girls, but showed that such a visit might be attended by difficulties. Mrs W. N. Benson then said a few words of welcome, particularly stressing the importance to New Zealand women of visits from members of the British Empire overseas. She spoke chiefly ae a member of the Federation of University Women. Tea was later served, the visitors were met by those present, and views on matters of common interest discussed. Miss Thompson, after tea, in response to numerous requests, gave a very interesting talk on -the work of the Victoria League in various parts of the British Empire—Australia, South Africa, Canada, and England—telling how it had been of personal help to her, and relating several intimate anecdotes concerning her acquaintanceship with it. She then described equally fully her association with the International Federation of University Women, a foundation member of which, Professor Caroline Spurgeon, she knew personally. Her remarks about the Overseas’ League were also informative. At the close of her talk, Bliss Thompson was warmly thanked by Mrs Sutherland Ross.

Miss Thompson is interested in all sport, bub particularly in women’s hockey (she is an ex-president of the All-England Women’s Hockey Association), Accordingly, she and Miss Hargreaves were the guests of the executive of the Otago Women’s Hockey Association luncheon at the Otago Women’s Club. Mrs Hudson, president of the New Zealand Hockey Association, welcomed the guests, and presented Miss Thompson with a bouquet of yellow jonquils. In her reply. Miss Thompson described some of her experiences in connection with women's hockey teams in various parts of the world, and congratulated New Zealand on having produced the first team to defeat an English women’s hockey team in the Dominion a few years ago. The standard of hockey in New Zealand was a very high one. Miss Ethel Jackson, who was also the guest of the association at luncheon, spoke briefly of her pleasure at having Miss Thompson’s and wished her bon voyage on the remainder of her tour. During the afternoon Miss Thompson and Miss Hargreaves were the guests of Miss F. Cargill, -who drove them and Mrs Eardley Reynolds over Flagstaff to the Taieri Plain and to Fairfield, where they stopped for afternoon tea. They were the guests of Sir Lindo and Lady, Ferguson for dinner and then went to “Arana,” where_ they stayed with Lady Allen for the night. Miss Thompson has had a very interesting career. Assistant Chief Controller and Controller of Inspection of Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps during the Great War, she is now chairwoman and vicepresident of the Ex-service Women’s Association, which maintains a club at Buckingham Gate, London. For her services during the war she was awarded the 0.8. E. in 1918 and the C.B.E. in 1920. She is also a member of' the executive of the Society for Oversea Settlement of British Women, for which the Victoria League is agent. A graduate of London University, Miss Thompson is a member of the governing body of Bedford College, and is keenly interested in the Federation of University Women, of which organisation she is also a member. Her other public activities include membership of the Town Council of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, while she is an. expresident of the All England Women's Hockey Association, having held the last office from 1923 to 1929. She is an internationally-minded woman, seeing the dominions ; as members of a mighty'Empire family and urging each of them to make themselves perfect for the sake of the common cause; She also has a great fondness for young people, and feels the utmost confidence in the sincerity, efficiency, lack of humbug, and soundness of the rising generation. Though no longer young, she spends more of her time with young people than is generally the case witn single women, and regards them with complete optimism and trust.

The schools and the children of New Zealand please her very much, too. She likes their speech and their general level of culture, and has visited and spoken in several schools since her coming to the Dominion.

Miss Olive Hargreaves, who is accompanying Miss Thompson on her travels, does a groat amount of social work in London. She is on the executive of one of the oldest and biggest charitable organisations there, in which all kinds of social welfare work are co-ordinated within the one powerful body. ✓