TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18819, 24 September 1935, Page 4

TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT KEEN INTEREST SHOWN A successful and enthusiastic meeting of women was held yesterday afternoon in the display room at Messrs. Petties', Limited, with the object of forming a Townswomen’s Guild in Gisborne. There were about. 70 women present, the chair being taken by Mrs. J. Blair. The organiser, Miss Jerome Spencer, of llissington, Hawke’s Bay, after being introduced by Mrs. Blair, gave a short talk on the aims and objects of the movement, which was heard with great interest by an appreciative audience. The chairman then proposed that the resolution passed at a previous meeting to form a Tpwnswomen’s Guild in Gisborne be confirmed. The motion having been adopted, the following committee was elected: Mesdamcs ,T. Blair, J. 6. Faulds, M. Verifier Jones, M. Martin, VV. Lissant Clayton, 11. B. Drummond, Bould, A. VV. Murray, N. Hooper, Wise, Bannister and Proudfoot. Miss Spencer was asked many questions by keen inembers-elect regarding the guild, and supplied informative) answers, telling of the activities and enterprise of several guilds in other New Zealand towns. Following the general meeting, the committee remained behind for its first meeting, when Mrs. Verifier Jones was elected chairman, Mrs. Bould actingsecretary, and Mrs. M. Martin treasurer. It was decided to hold the next meeting on October 10. The aims and objects of the Townswomen’s Guild are: (1) /To encourage the education of women to enable them as citizens to make their best contributions towards the common good; (2) to serve as a common meeting ground for women irrespective of creed and party for their wider education, including social intercourse. At the monthly meetings there are lectures and demonstrations, and the various tastes and interests of members are catered for by the formation of sections for the study and pursuit of drama, gardening, art, or any other subject. An interesting feature of the meetings is the discussion of any subject, provided botii sides of any question cr topic are exposed. Branches for "study are also formed in which a short course in some chosen subject is tqken, the following novel subjects having been, studied in this way by members of some of the Townswomen’s Guilds; Public speaking and debating, French, keeping fit, accompanied by suitable country dances and exercises, and town planning.