Y.W.C.A.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 33

Y.W.C.A.

NEW ZEALAND CONVENTION. On the 22nd ult. the Y.W.C.A. Convention for New Zealand began at Warrington. During the day delegates arrived from the different centres, and the proceedings opened with a brief session for devotions and the appointment of committees. All the delegates are delighted with the comf'rtaok: accommodation arranged for'them, and are grcteful to the many Dunedin people who have lent their cottages to the association. Mr Couper’s bear ding-house is the centre for the domestic arrangements while tho convention meetings are held in the Presbyterian Church. Among those present are delegates from the following places:—Auckland—Mrs Wilson (president of the Auckland Asso ciation), Mrs Dickinson (vice-presiden of the Dominion Committee), Miss Stevenson (general secretary), and 14 other representatives; Wellington—Mrs MT.ay (president), Mrs Pearson, and Miss Dunlop (general secretary); Christchurch— Mrs Bowron (acting president of the Dominion Committee), Mrs Robert Malcolm, and Miss Ethel Law (general secretary). Seven delegates are attending full time from Dunedin while others are hoping to be there for part of the time. Great regret is felt that the president of tho association (Mrs Sutherland Ross) is unable, through illness, to be present.

but the. delegation includes two vice-pre-sidents in Mrs W. B. Taverner and Mrs Muckie Bigg, in addition to Miss Ethel S. Batt, general secretary. All the smaller centres—Whangarei, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, and Invercargill—are represented, and will take part in the setting up of the new movement in New Zealand. The number of voting delegates trom each association is strictly proportioned to the number of its voting membership. The .Secretaries’ Conference ended on Tuesday, when Mr Donald Grant completed the religious study circle, and the Kcv. E. I*. Blamires continued his discussion on the “Beligious Approach to the Adoleseent.” He spoke of the need for careful nurture in the Christian life, and suggested that a graded church membership might be go d, beginning with child membership and passing through junior and intermediate grades to senior church membership. Both speakers received very heal ty thanks for the help they had given and for bringing the associations into touch with two other youth movements—. the student Christian Movement and the \ mmg Penides Department of the -Methodist Church in New Zealand. llie morning session of the YWCA Convention opened with a devotional period 1 a i‘ V rs ® owroD (president) 1 j a,” °' 9011,15 lcn «th was read from l.ady Alice Fergusson, patroness of the association, and a cable from the World’s Committee in London wishing all success v wi? a DoI P lnlon Convention of tho i.W.O A. was also read. Greetings were received from Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Auckland, Christchurch Gisborne and the National Y.W.C A of Australia, Hie main business of the morning was the. discussion of the constitution of the New Zealand Y.W.C.A., which is the most important matter to be dealt with by the convention. In the afternoon the delegates were addressed by Dr Marion Whyte of Dunedin, who spoke on “The Place of Health and Recreation in a Girl’s Development.” In a most interesting address she placed before members the ideal they should hold up before the girls—namely a vigorous vital womanhood, full of the joy living the joy of serving their fellow-creatois, and the joy of glorifying God. Health of body did not necessarily imply health of mind and soul, but it made such spiritual mental health more possible. At the conclusion of the lecture a discussion took place followed by a general outline of the practical health programme of the association by Miss Dunlop (general secretary of the Wellington Y.W.C.A.), Miss Batt opened the afternoon discussion on .Saturday by a talk on “The Choice of a Vocation, pointing out. how little thought was given in this country to the adjustment of a girl to her employment, 100 much emphasis was laid on the rata of pay and social position involved in the work, not on the suitability to the temperament of the girl. It was possible nowadays to make scientific tests to find out a girl s capabilities. The speaker outlined some interesting experiments along those I me? which were carried out in England by the National Institute of Industrial Research. Speaking on “The Girls in Industry, ™ Miss A. S. Perry (extension work secretary m the Dunedin Y.W.C.A.) explained that industrial conditions for. girls in New Zealand were somewhat unique, in that many industries were organised and somewhere about 90 per cent, of the industrial girls in New, 'Zealand were working under awards. The Factories Act secured many advantages for the workers, but, nevertheless, there was need for women in New Zealand to study industrial conditions in their country to understand the legislation and to interest the girls in industry in matters which affect them. Some time each year should be given to the study of the annual report of the Ministry of Labour. Women conversant with the New Zealand industrial situation would be able to give advice to girl 9 entering upon an industrial career Through thrift clubs a good start had been made in a direction in which there was need for much further development. There was need for health hospitals and other insurance securities for the girl in industry. Nothing had boen done so "far in New Zealand in gaining these necessities for the worker. Miss Perry otulined the aims of the extension department in the Dunedin Y.W.C.A.* and explained that they opened up wide fields, being in effect an interpretation of the Y.W.C.A. purpose on broad lines The importance of cooperating with existing organisations was stressed and also the need for the training of leadership among the industrial erirls. The scheme adopted at Beckenham in Kent was outlined. Here the plan is similar to that followed for men in Rusken College, Oxford; industrial girls are given a year in the university studying subjects which would fit them for a better understanding of industry and train them for leadership. Miss Jean Stevenson, general secretary of the Auckland Y.W.C.A., mentioned the conference on ‘‘The Human Factor in Industry” which had been called by the Rotary Club in Melbourne some time ago. This conference had been very popular and over 300 Rotarians had participated.