LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1930, Page 12

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

ACTIVITIES IN NEW PLYMOUTH. BRANCH MEMBERSHIP DOUBLED. The year the New Plymouth branch of the League of Nations Union concludes tomorrow night has seen the branch’s membership doubled. This gives only 75 members, but when the five corporate bodies are taken into . consideration the union represents approximately 1500 per-’ sons. In view of the antipathy of the general public to all new proposals apd the lack of an organised effort towards increasing the membership, the result is considered satisfactory.

Following the visit paid by Mr. A. H. Featherston, Invercargill, to the schools of the district, the headmasters’ association •was unsuccessfully approached with aview to holding an essay competition- on the League of Nations. One of the league’s maps, however, has been ordered from Britain. It will be lent to various schools and it is hoped that with the sympathetic co-operation of the teachers the pupils will be more fully informed upon the all-important work. Mrs. C. J. Harris gave an interesting talk on the Kellogg Pact on’ August 27 (Kellogg Day.)/during the interval at a concert given by the Choral, Society in the Empire Theatre. On Armistice night Miss Jennie Street, England, gave a fine address in the Y.W.C.A. Hall. - ’ Singers gave their assistance and young ladies of the Y.W.C.A. staged splendid tableaux representiye of. the various States which are members of the League of Nations. On the same evening Miss Street spoke from the New Plymouth Broadcasting, station. The chairman delivered an address on “peace” to the members of the , W.C.T.U. and the secretary spoke at a meeting of the Oakura branch of the " Women's Division. It is hoped to do more in this direction next year. The committee' re-, cords the death of two staunch supporters of. the world peace movement, Mrs. Scott of the W.C.T.U. and Mr. Bowen of the Labour Party. The annual ,• conference was ■ held at Timaru, New Plymouth being represented by a member of the Timaru branch. The compulsory clause of the Military Service Act was fully discussed at the conference and it was ultimately decided by 21 votes to 8 to approach the Government to have the clause repealed. The clause has been suspended for twelve months, which has led to the resuscitation of the National Service Defence League. An invitation was. sent to the conference to hold the next. annual conference at New Plymouth. It was thought inadvisable to hold it elsewhere than at Wellington. next -year, but it was hoped to accept the .invitation at some future date. . . ..... •’ . With regard to education, a deputation from the Dominion executive waited on the Director of Education, Mr. T. * B, Strong, to' enlist his sympathies. The executive also gave evidence • before the Parliamentary Committee on education. It has been learned that the deputation favourably impressed the committee and that in the report the committee recommends that the suggestions of the union should be adopted.

There are in New Zealand 24 branches with a total membership of 18,500 persons. It is hoped by a.. systematic drive this year to increase this membership.