VICTORIA LEAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1933, Page 9

VICTORIA LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL YEAR’S WORK. FINANCE IN SOUND CONDITION. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth . Victoria League was held last night. Mr. T. C. List presided over a large number of members and friends. The annual report stated that 21 new members had been elected the year and membership was now 446, of which 54 were life members. Interest had been maintained in the house and book committees and play-reading and sewing circles. Meetings had been held regularly each month. On Anzac Day wreaths were placed on the cenotaph and the cross of sacrifice by the president, Mrs. A. C. H. Collins. The honorary life president, Mrs. C. H. Burgess, organised a morning service for school children at the cemetery, at which Major-General Sinclair Burgess gave an address. On Empire Day a children’s function was held in Pukekura Park at which Archdeacon Evans and Mr. H. Dempsey gave addresses and Mrs. Evans recited. The usual Empire tea was also held on Empire Day. Daffodil Day was very successful and the clubroom functions had been well attended. A donation was sent to the parent league towards wreaths for Anzac and Empire Days. A visit was received from a member of the London League, Miss E. Thompson, 0.8. E., in June. - ■

The book committee had continued its •work in distributing literature to the backblocks, the total number of books and magazines sent out being 3019. The play-reading circle had a membership of 26. It started the year with a credit balance of £4 2s 5d and closed with one of £2 ,7s lid. The Whakarata circle had acted as a sewing circle, having made over 300 articles of clothing for distribution among needy families in the country. '

The balance-sheet showed balance brought forward £B5 11s 3d, receipts £l6l 6s 9d, a total of £246 18s, and expenditure £175 13s, leaving a credit balance of £7l ss.

Moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the retiring president, Mrs. A. C. H. Collins thanked the members for their assistance. The League had done good work, she said. More than 2000 garments had been sent to families requiring help, and 36 cases of literature had been sent to the backblocks. Thanks were due to the auditor, Mr. J. M. Poynter, and all those who had assisted the league.

The chairman congratulated the league on its excellent balance-sheet and for the good work performed. Much of that could be traced to the efficient way in which Mrs. Collins had filled the position of president. He was sure all members regretted that Mrs. Collins could not, for personal reasons,, seek re-elec-tion. '

Archdeacon Evans and Mr. J. A. Valentine supported the chairman’s congratulations, both of them urging full support of the book committee. The work they were doing was of real value, especially if books suit:.’/? for children were sent.

The election of officers resulted: President, .Mrs. Thome; vice-presidents, eight elected; auditor, Mr. J. M. Poynter; council, Mesdames T. C. List, DennyBrown, A. S. Clarke, Roy, Monaghan, J. White, G. List, E. B. Davies, H. Avery, Edgecombe, J. L. Walton, V. H. Beal, ! J. G. Brash and F. Whitcombe, Messrs Denny-Brown, Valentine, R. L. Cooper, H. Dempsey, and L. M. Moss; secretary, Miss B. D. Baker. Thanks to the auditor and the Press > were expressed by resolution, the new president also thanking members for her election.

Mrs. Burgess congratulated the League * upon having reached its majority. She was pleased to see so good an attendance and that it included some of those who enrolled at the inaugural meeting. Membership of the league was well worth while. So soon as members began to help others they felt the joy of service before self and that they were doing something to bind together this great Empire. Mrs. Burgess concluded with an earnest appeal to the younger members of the league to see that the good work prospered and to give it their hearty and continuous support. After the business meeting a social evening was held, to which Mesdames McLeod and Bulmer and Mr. R. L. Cooper contributed songs, Mrs. R. C. Hughes recitations and Miss E. Sumner, Messrs Sheat and Robbins, members of the play-reading circle, a playlet, “The Maker of Dreams.” Mrs. R. L. Cooper was accompanist. Supper was served by the ladies.