WOMEN’S INSTITUTE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 152, 14 September 1928, Page 2

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE.

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. The monthly meeting of the Waipawa Women’s Institute was held on Wednesday afternoon in St. Peter’s Sehoohoom, when, in spite of the prevailing sickness, there was a good attendance of members and friends. The Institute were favored in having with them Mrs de Castro, who is now the New Zealand organiser of the E.S.U. (English Speaking Union). Mrs de Castro has travelled extensively in Europe and America, and during the war years was resident for a long time in Egypt, engaged in war work with our troops.

In introducing the speaker the president, Mrs Bibby, read a personal letter from Lord Balfour lo Mrs de Castro wishing l her every success in her work, and cordially commending the E.S.U.

Mrs de Castro spoke of the near ties of kinship between the two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race, and said that the had feeling shown and hard things said about the United Stales were doubtless duo to misunderstanding and not to enmity. The long delay of America in coming into the Great War was one of the chief causes of this had feeling, hut the British people scarcely realised the tremendous difficulties of a country with such a huge foreign population, and especially the large number of German residents, who had in 1914 a most elaborate organisation and spy system. Also it is well to remember that 50,000 Americans joined up with the Canadian and British forces immediately war was declared. Mrs de Castro was greatly impressed by the splendid work done for our soldiers in Egypt by the American missions there. The members of the missions were tireless workers and organisers, and could draw on any amount of money from their home country, and so rendered •rreat service at ifvery critical time. Right through the war extensive Red Cross and refugee work was carried on by Americans. Very little was said about it, hut she had travelled in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and many other war-ravaged countries, and had seen these great war relief organisations at work, supported by American money and organised and carried out by volunteer workers. These workers had the same ideals and aims as ourselves, and America and the British Empire must stand together for the rehabilitation of the nations and for the peace of the world. fhe membership of the E.S.U. was steadily and continuously increasing in both the British Empire and the United States, and it needed no other recommendation than its aims, which are set out as follows:—‘‘Believing that the peace of the world and the progress of mankind can he largely helped hv the unity in purpose of the English-speaking democracies, we pledge ourselves to promote, by every means in our power, a good understanding between the peoples of the United States of America and the British Commonwealth.” In closing, Mrs de Castro said that the beautiful headquarters of the E.S.U. were open to all New Zealand visitors, and she hoped that some Waipawa members would find their way there, for she could promise them a wonderful time. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mrs de Castro for her interesting address, being carried by acclamation.

A beautiful show of daffodils was a feature of the afternoon, Mrs Scarrott being awarded the points prize for a howl of daffodils and Mrs S. Bott taking the first place for the best blooms.

A competition for the best gardening apron brought in some good ex hibits, Miss Nan Bibby being awarded first prize.

The observation competition was won hv Miss Dons Liddell.

Afternoon tea was served, the hostesses being Mrs Collett, Mrs Fletcher and Miss Jull.