MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 23

MEETINGS.

Women Teachers’ Association. The Canterbury Women Teachers’ Association held their monthly meeting in the Chamber of Commerce rooms. Aliss AI. E. Harvey presided over a-good attendance of members. Brief reports of the work of the teachers’ conferences which were held in Wellington in Alay were given by two of the delegates, Aliss A. C. Finlayson and Aliss Al. V. Kennedy. Miss Al. E. Harvey then introduced the speaker for the evening, Professor J. Shelley, who gave an address on “Poetry.” Professor Shelley pointed out that success in teaching such a subject as poetry could not be measured by examination results, for appreciation of the arts could not be tested. It was for the teacher to present a poem in such a way that the child caught the spirit of it. The child might be taught to examine verses from an intellectual

point of view, but if he were not imbued with the spirit of the poem he could not appreciate the emotional forces in life which inspired poetry. Professor Shelley briefly outlined a method of presenting a poem and then delighted his listeners by reading several poems by Masefield, one by O’Shaughnessy, and finally an extract from Browning. On the motion of Miss I. Al’Kenzie a vote of thanks was accorded the speaker. Plunket Society. The monthly meeting of the Sum-ner-Redcliffs branch of the Plunket Society was held at the residence of Airs C. E. Claydon, Sumner. Mrs A. W. Beaven presided and there were also present: Mesdames T. Newburgh, A. Morten, W. C. Collins, G. H. Waller, K. G. Shrimpton, Morton and Miss Overton. A new member, Mrs Newburgh, was welcomed by the chairman on behalf of the society. It was decided that the president

write to the Plunket centre at Dunedin asking that the Sumner-Redcliffs branch be allowed to retain the services of Nurse Wilson, who was very highly thought of in the district. Letters were read with reference to arrangements for Violet Day, and accounts passed for payment. The nurse’s report for July showed that each district had been visited six times. Office attendances were: Sumner, 51 adults, 44 babies, 11 children; Redcliffs, 31 adults. 24 babies, 4 children. A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs Claydon for her hospitality. Papanui W.C.T.U. The Papanui branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union met on Thursday at St Giles Bible Class rooms, Mrs Graham presiding over a good attendance of members. A motion of sympathy to Mrs Carr in the death of her brother was carried. Volunteers were asked for in distributing literature at the Winter Show. It was

decided to hold the usual temperance essay competition in the three Papanui schools and to ask the Rev E. Bandy to act as judge. To commemorate “T. E. Taylor Day” Miss Harband spoke of other social reformers and the work for temperance that was going on in England. Mesdames Graham and Hopper thanked the speaker. The “ bring and buy ” afternoon realised £l.