WOMEN’S CLUB OPENED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1926, Page 14

WOMEN’S CLUB OPENED

AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING CEREMONY IN NEW PLYMOUTH. LARGE GATHERING OF MEMBERS. Attended by every omen of fair weather and a happy and successful voyage the Taranaki Women’s Club was launched, into the social life of New Plymouth on Saturday afternoon. More "than 200 of the 275 members were present, and one and all expressed themselves as delighted with the artistic furnishings and furniture and the ample provision made 'for the enjoyment of club life. Included among the guests were the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), a member of the advisory committee, Miss Kane, president of the Pioneer Ladies’ Club, Wellington, Mr. E. Hine, president of the Taranaki Club, and Mrs. Hine and Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, the architect. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. J. C. Nicholson and W. C. Weston, members of the advisory committee, Mr. D. Barry, the owner of the building, Mr. A. Boon, the contractor, Mesdames L. B. Webster and C. H. Weston, and Miss Douglas. Every piece of furniture in the rooms is designed for comfort and beauty, and the different decorative schemes all blend into one restful whole. But no decoration was more beautiful on Saturday than the flowers. They matched their surroundings so well that they were striking, and a special word of praise is due to Mrs. Brewster and R. H. George for their arrangement. Wonderful mauve and purple Spanish irises and sweet peas toned so finely with the colours in the lounge that they might have been specially tinted for the occasion. The same pleasing effect was obtained in the card room with red gladioli and poppies, in the writing room with blue delphiniums and in the tearooms with pink sweet peas.

A CENTRE FOR WOMEN. After all the members had assembled in the lounge, the Mayoress (Mrs. F. E. Wilson), president of the club, read congratulatory messages from Lady Fergusson, president of the Otago Ladies’ Club, and from the Canterbury Club and the Ranfurly Club at Masterton. About five months ago the movement was started to form a women’s club, for it had been felt for some time that there was a real need in the town for one, said Mrs. Wilson. Now, despite many initial difficulties, it was an accomplished fact. Their object as set out in the rules was to provide a centre for the women of New' Plymouth who were interested in social, public, professional, scientific and artistic affairs. But she hoped it would be in addition a cheerful, restful spot for mothers and a home for the many girls engaged in business who had no home in the town. The club would be open from 10 a.m. to XI p.m. every day except Sundays. The membership was already 275, including 53 country members, proceeded Mrs. Wilson. The rent amounted to £364 a year of which half was to be paid by the tearooms under Mrs. Grimstone. They were to be open to the public as well as club members. Debentures totalling £735 had been issued for the purchase of the furniture and all of them had been paid up. Including subscriptions, the sum of £1425 had been paid in, this showing a very satisfactory state of affairs' and indicating great interest in the project. The special thanks of members were due to the committee who had spent much time in the interests of the club, to Mrs. Brewster and the furnishing committee, to the secretary, who had been a tower of strength—without her there. would have been no club—to the advisory committee, and particularly Mr. J. C. Nicholson for acting as solicitor, to Mr. Barry who had agreed to the many suggestions regarding the plans and given reasonable terms in the lease, to Mr. Griffiths, the architect, and to Mr. Boon, the contractor.

FRIENDLINESS THE KEYNOTE. “I should like the keynote of the club life to be friendliness,” continued Mrs. Wilson after saying that no motto had yet been chosen. If they took that as their motto the club .could not fail to be a great success. She appealed to them to be friendly and to speak to others they found in the rooms without waiting for an introduction. Mrs. Wilson then formally declared the club open. Miss Kane said her club had gladly given all the advice sought from New Plymouth and would be glad to do so in the future. She congratulated the ladies of New Plymouth on forming a club and was sure it would flourish. The Pioneer Club, in Wellington, was started 17 years ago when women's clubs were new things in New Zealand., But the idea spread, women joined and the club flourished. Christchurch was the next to form a club and then Dunedin and Auckland. No,v there were clubs all over the country and it had seemed surprising that a town of the size of New Plymouth had not had a club before. She advised them not to be discouraged if some members dropped out, as that was common in all new clubs. Miss Kane offered her congratulations on the charming rooms they had obtained, on the arrangements for the commissariat and on the excellent finance, and concluded by wishing the club every success and prosperity in the years to come. The Mayor congratulated the ladies on their worthy, handsome and luxurious addition to the amenities of the town. The club rooms would fill a want and would be a suitable place for the entertainment of visitors to the town. As a clubman, he advised the ladies to ban all controversial discussions within the walls. They should show toleration for one another’s views and thus confound all the critics who had prophesied they would not last a year —needless to say they were men (laughter). He wished the club every success. On behalf of the members of the Taranaki Club, Mr. Hine welcomed the ladies into the realms of clubdom and said he was sure that the large numbers who had enrolled augured well for the future. Afternoon tea was then served and instrumental items were played by Miss Constance Leatham and the Misses Roes and Coleman. UP-TODATE PREMISES. The elub premises have been provided by the erection of an additional story on Barry's buildings in Devon Street. All the rooms are well lighted and ventilated, and particular care has been taken to design them for convenient arrangement. A wide stairway leads from the street on to a large landing. From this access is obtained, on one side, to the club rooms, through swing doors with bevelled glass panels, and on the other side to the tearooms overlooking the street. There is a secretary's office, lift, by Oft, fitted with a desk and all necessary adjuncts to a well-appointed office, and beyond this is an alcove, 17ft. by Bft, opening out into a

bright and commodious lounge, 29ft, by 25ft., lighted by means of large leadlight casement windows on the Devon Street frontage. From the lounge access is gained to the writing room. Two card rooms are provided, one 19ft. by lift, and one lift, by 10ft, Entrance to these is gained from the alcove, while the larger room is also fitted with swing doors which open out into the lounge, thus providing much additional accommodation there for special occasions. Cloak room accommodation with separate members’ lockers and all other necessary conveniences are provided, together with a kitchen which will enable members to make a cup of coffee for themselves when the tea rooms are closed. ATTRACTIVE INTERIOR FINISH. The public tea room is 41ft. by 30ft. and will provide accommodation for about 100 people. This, too, is beautifully lighted with leadlight casement window's along the Devon Street frontage and an additional window on the eastern elevation. There is a handsome rimu buffet and a sideboard and at the rear of the public room is a large kitchen fitted with gas stove and a special electric hot-water system. Ample cupboard accommodation is provided, and al) those necessary conveniences : : ch lead to quick and efficient service. There is a manager's office, and on either side of the pay desks will be attractive leadlight windows.

The walls throughout are in figured rimu, those in the alcove, lounge and writing room and in the tea room being panelled to a height of 7ft. The ceilings have also been broken into panels with beams and add to the general appearance of the rooms. Electric light has been installed throughout, and specially attractive fittings are being obtained. The furniture is in keeping with the elaborate interior finish and comfortable easy chairs and chesterfields are by no means few in number. Some are still uncovered, as a special cretonne from England has not yet arrived. Then there are, of course, all the small tables and chairs usual in a wellappointed club. Super-Wilton carpets have been used throughout and the fawn pattern tones well with the other furniture. Even the cane chairs have been painted to suit the decorative schemes followed out in the various rooms. The general effect is most satisfying and is a credit to the furnishing committee who were responsible for the colour scheme.