Y.W.C.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18609, 3 July 1930, Page 7

Y.W.C.A.

NATIONAL BOARD MEETING. The National Board of the Young Women’s Christian Association, of New Zealand has concluded its mid-year meeting. Representatives from Auckland, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch. Timaru and Dunedin, were present, the National President, Dr. Sylvia Chapman presiding. Lady Bledisloe. Dominion patroness, was unable to be present on account of indisposition, but appointed a time to visit the officers of the Association at the new headquarters office. Business connected with the World’s Y.W.C.A. was presented by Miss Ella Fair, who reported on the recent move of the international headquarters to Geneva.

Consideration of the Association’s World Fellowship policy occupied much of the time of the conference, matters connected with Miss Moncrieff’s work in China and Miss Gavin’s work in India being dealt with. A letter was received from the Association in Japan, expressing thanks for New Zealand hospitality to Miss Kimura, and the conference unanimously decided to assure the Japanese Association that Miss Kimura's visit had served to develop and strengthen the sense of friendliness in New Zealand towards Japanese women and girls. Miss Jean Be~g, general secretary of the Auckland A 3sociation, was commissioned to make inquiries about the conditions A Indian girls in Fiji on her forthcoming journey to Honolulu, where she is to undertake the duties of director of the international social service section of the Pan Pacific Conference.

Mrs Ernest Dawson, chairman of the National Girls’ Work Committee, reported on the marked development of the Girl Citizen movement, an increase of four hundred new girl members being recorded during the month of June. An outstanding achievement was the publication “The Girl Citizen,” a New Zealand book for New Zealand girls, written by Miss Leila Bridgman, National Girls’ Work Secretary. The Conference put on record its deep appreciation of Miss Bridgman’s work. A discussion on the sports policy of the Association, was opened by Miss Begg, a resolution being carried that each Association be recommended to a sports department. An important session of the conference dealt with the question of cooperating with the Y.ta.C.A. to provide a programme of social and cultural activities for young men and young women. This discussion was opened by Mrs H. D. Bennett and Miss Annie Tocker, who emphasised the need to provide opportunity for wholesome intercourse for later adolescents, with a view to friendship and mutual development and respect. The conference considered a scheme for the training of secretaries, and resolved that a short theoretic M course should be arranged to follow a six months’ period of directed pra ical work. The advisability of a Uni\ „ sity course for social service was discussed, and it was decided to co-operate on this matter with the Women’s National Council and the Federation of University Women.

The following were the delegates:— Mrs Bradstreet. Miss Dempsey, Miss J. Begg, Miss A. M. Bentham, from Auckland. Mrs A. Turnbull and Miss Widdowson, from Christchurch. Mrs Sinclair (Palmerston North). Mrs T. E. Holdgate (Timaru), Mrs Bridgman, Mrs Mackie Begg, Miss Connor and Miss N. Hardie (Dunedin). F. Pvm (New Plymouth), Mrs R. Pearson, Miss E. Macdonald, Miss Speedy (Wellington), Mrs Taverner (Dunedin), Dr. S. Chapman, Mrs H. D. Bennett, Miss E. Fair, Mesdames J. Clark, J. Carmichael, E. Dawson, R. Fitch, Nash, Temple, White, Dr. Houghton.