TWO YEARS OLD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20360, 18 July 1934, Page 10

TWO YEARS OLD.

Round Table Club is Now Consolidated. NEW OFFICERS ELECTED. The Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Club completed its second year of existence last evening, when the annual meeting was held in the Federation of University Women’s Club rooms, Montreal Street.

41 The aim of the Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Club has been to concentrate on getting the club firmly established as a c.lub, with a club spirit, rather than to endeavour to build up a large membership,” .stated the report presented by Miss B. Shackleton, the retiring president. The membership, it continued, stood at forty-four, an increase of six over last year. Teas, luncheons and evening meetings had been held during the year. It had bee'-i found that teas were convenient for the majority of members to attend and they had, therefore, been held more frequently than luncheons. The experiment of holding evening meetings in the Federation of University Women’s club rooms bad also proved a success. The club’s financial position showed a slight improvement.

“The club has, through its members, assisted with the relief of distress,” the report continued. “ A representative of tho club is on the Women’s Auxiliary of the Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund, and several members assist in a clerical capacity. Girls seeking clerical positions are interviewed by the club’s secretary and in some cases through the agency and help of club members positions have been obtained for these girls. A playreading circle has been formed under the guidance of Miss M’Leod and this should prove an acquisition to the club.” Thanks were expressed to the Y.W.C.A. for use of room for executive meetings; to the newspapers for reporting meetings; to Miss R. Thomas for auditing accounts, and to all others who had helped directly or indirectly to make the club a success. A report on the works of the Girls’ Employment Committee, was made by Miss F. L. Cooper, the club’s delegate on this committee, and Miss L. M. Wilkinson reported on the work done last winter by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Business Men’s .Committee. When this auxiliary was reformed this year under the title of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Mayor’s Relief of Distress Fund, Miss Wilkinson was appointed treasurer. Both these ladies were accorded a vote of thanks. President’s Address. Miss Shackleton, who has been president of the club since its formation, gave a short address to members on the occasion of her retirement. She expressed her gratitude to them for making her the foundation president. 41 We are now a well-established club.” she said, 44 unique in membership, embracing almost every' business and profession into which women have penetrated, - and representative of the best tendenoies of community life. The very fact that the club is the meeting ground for women of such varied interests will prevent it from becoming a militant, crusading organisation. That work is being done by: other bodies of women. I believe that the real emancipation of women will take place almost overnight as a result of the daily routine activities of women, who demand better ethical and business standards simply as a matter of course.”

Miss Shackleton concluded by thanking all those who had helped to make her term of office so pleasant, making special mention of Miss F. L. Cooper, the secretary, whom she described as a ” tower of strength.” Officers elected for the coming year were:—President, Miss Ellen Jones; vice-president. Miss F. D. Cooper; secretary' and treasurer, Miss L. Widdowson: executive, Misses L. M. Wilkinson. E. S. Bowden, Candy, P. Gross and M. M’Lean. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring president, secretary and executive.

When the business of the meeting was over a short play, “ The Spartan Girl,” by A. J. Talbot, was acted by members. Miss M’Leod was the producer and the principal players in the cast were Phoebe. Miss B. Shackleton; Dorcas, Miss Talbot; Neptune, Miss L. Widdowson; Eustace, Miss Colt-Williams; Stranger (a broker’s man). Miss F. L. Cooper: attendant. Miss Rountree. Supper was served.