Y.W.C.A. CONVENTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21968, 21 May 1941, Page 8

Y.W.C.A. CONVENTION

WAR SERVICES SESSION The war services of the Y.W.C.A. in New Zealand were discussed at the Convention now being held in Auckland. Miss Evelyn Watson, Wellington, was in the chair and she gave a comprehensive report of the work of the World’s Y.W.C.A. office, which previous to the outbreak of war, functioned at Geneva, and is now stationed in Washington, U.S.A. Miss Elsie Bennet (Auckland) spoke of the need of Great Britain and the help already given by the Y.W.C.A. New Zealand, through the National Patriotic Association. She mentioned the appeal cabled last month by Mrs Winston Churchill, president of the British Y.W.C.A. War-time Fund:— “Pressure of war effort and increased suffering resulting from recent raids means that we must redouble our efforts on behalf of women. Your support needed now more urgently than ever. We send deepest gratitude for the help you are giving us.” Miss Frances Ross (Dunedin) surveyed the activities of the European Y.W.C.A’s, in France, occupied and unocupied. in Rumania, Bulgaria, and Denmark. Miss Ethel Law, National General Secretary, spoke of the services given by the Y.W.C.A. in the Middle East as the organisation chosen by the British Government for work among uniformed women in England and Egypt. Two New Zealand Y.W.C.A. workers are already established in the recreation camps organised by Miss Jean Begg in Cairo, Ismailia, Jerusalem, a camp in the desert, and a house boat on the Nile. Miss Agnes Moncrieff (China) who is home on furlough, spoke of the education and health work as well as the war service, first aid and refugee work which is being carried on so valiantly by trained Chinese Y.W.C.A. leaders. Miss Moncrieff spoke also of the great work accomplished by foreign Y.W.CA. directors, and of the definitely successful scheme of educational training for Chinese Y.W.C.A. leaders, so that foreign direction will, in time, be unnecessary. A resolution was passed with great enthusiasm: “That Miss Moncrieff be asked to return to China for a third term of service.”