ENGLISH VISITOR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 20

ENGLISH VISITOR

ADDRESS TO WOMEN’S CLUB An English visitor to South Canterbury, is Mrs Eva M. Seward, who has been travelling about the world interesting her self in the different women’s associations and especially the Electrical Association for women, which was founded 13 years ago by Miss Caroline Haslett, C.8.E., England. Miss Haslett was keen to relieve womenkind from the drudgery of housework and in forming the association, which has now 90 branches and 12,000 members in England, Scotland and Wales, has helped to make the life of the housewife much easier When interviewed yesterday Mrs Seward spoke highly of the many different institutions in the world to-day bettering the conditions for women in the home. The Electrical Association for women, of which she Is a foundation member, provides demonstrators not only in cookery, and laundry work but provides instructors in salesmanship as well. Mrs Seward is also keenly interestd in the Kingsley Fairbridge Farm schools which have been established in Australia. Children, especially chosen from British Institutes, are by this organisation given an excellent chance in life and are taught to be good farmers. Up to the present time only two per cent, of the children have been returned to England. A new Fairbridge School has been established in New South Wales and Mr R. R? Beauchamp, formerly of the Mackenzie Country, will be its first warden. In New Zealand, Mrs Seward has dona much to gain a knowledge of conditions here, and has recently stayed in a bush felling camp in the North Island, where she saw beautiful trees, giants of the forest, felled in hundreds. When asked to give her Impressions of New Zealand, Mrs Seward said she felt she had not been long enough in the country to do so. So many people • made the mistake of criticising conditions in a country in which they were only making a short stay, those giving a wrong Impression to the out-side world.

A woman of many activities, Mrs Seward is a Fellow of the Royal Empire Society, vice-president of the Girl Guides, Ealing, London, president of the Townswomen’s Guild, Ealing, London, a member of the Victoria League and the overseas League. Yesterday afternoon, Mrs Seward was entertained by members of the South Canterbury Women’s Club at afternoon tea in the club rooms. She gave an interesting talk on the subject, she has most at heart, “The Electrical Association for Women.” A distinguished member of the Association at present on a visit to New Zealand is Lady Swathling, England.