VICTORIA LEAGUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 121, 25 May 1938, Page 2

VICTORIA LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING HELD The League room was filled with members and members of the Young Contingent of the League yesterday afternoon, when the annual meeting of the Victoria League of Wanganui was held and presided over by Mrs A. H. Boyes. On the mantelpiece and book stands were vases and bowls oi red berries, autumn foliage and feathery palm flowers. « Above the mantelpiece hung two large portraits of Their Majesties, King George and Queen Elizabeth, brought from England and presentea to the League by Mrs W. Birch. In the centre hung a pastel-coloured picture of Queen Victoria, after whom the League was named. As it was Empire Day the meeting commenced with the singing of th? National Anthem. Lovely bouquets were presented to Mrs A. H. Boyes (president) and Miss Newcombe, who has resigned the secretaryship of the league, but has consented to carry on until the newly-appointed secretary, Miss Armstrong, can take up office. The report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. Mrs A. McPhail paid a tribute to Mrs Boyes for her excellent work during the year. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mrs A. 11. Boyes (unanimously re-elected); vice-presidents, Mesdames N. R. Bain, H. D. Bates and Miss Gibbons (all re-elected). The outgoing committee was also reelected, the three vacancies being filled by Mrs Alan Millward, Miss Newcombe, and Miss Polson. Miss Lorraine Watkins read the report of the recently reorganised junior branch, named the Young Contingent, afterwards thanking the president, for the great help she had been to the junior branch. Miss Watkins’ report stated that a sub-com-mittee of the Victoria League was set up to reform the junior branch ana a number of young people were invited to Mrs Boyes’ home to meet the sub-committee consisting of Mesdames Boyes, Bain, Brinkman, Merewether, Adams, McPhail, and Miss Newcombe. About 15 young people were present and the following officers were elected: Secretary, Lorraine Watkins; chairwoman, Margaret Brinkman; treasurei, Joyce O’Neil; committee, June Strouts, Barbara Babbage, Betty Adams, Margery Peck, Jean Barton and Sybil Ross. membership campaign was held,

bringing the junior branch numbers up to 45. Social events in the form of bridge evenings, plays and play readings were arranged, Miss June Strouts to take charge of the latter. A small committee headed by Margery Peck was set up for organising concert parties, which will visit the children’s ward at the hospital and the Old People’s Home. Later, some kind of lessons or amusement will be arranged for the children in the infantile paralysis ward at the hospital. Mrs Boyes and Mrs Bain kindly donated 3 dozen cups ana saucers and crockery for use at gatherings. A vote of thanks was accorded to i the chair. Annual Report The annual report submitted by Mrs Boyes was as follows:--At our last annual meeting, Mrs Bain, who had been our president for six years, resigned. We all regretted this greatly as she had been most popular and a tower of strength to the league, which had flourished under her excellent guidance. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Mrs Bain for her willingness to advise me upon any matter at any time. It has been my exceeding good fortune to feel that I have had her expert judgment and good sense at my constant disposal. We have lost a very valuable member of our committee this year, Mrs Wotton. who passed away last Christmas. She was one of our foundation members and an untiring workei and will be greatly missed at our gatherings.

Our new members have increasea this year and we hope to welcome many more during the coming year. Our membership now stands at 281. including 27 life members and 45 junior members. It gives me great pleasure to state that during the last few months we have reorganised the Junior League, which is now called the Young Contingent Branch. The membership has grown to 45, which is a very excellent beginning, and I most heartily congratulate the girls on their mem-

bership campaign. We joined with the other New Zealand branches tn sending two wreaths to London. The first was placed on the Cenotaph in memory of our own men who fell during the Great War, and. the second on Queen Victoria's statue on Empire Day. Anzac Day.—The Victoria League Committee combined with the Plunket Society and other organisations to assist the Mayoress in providing afternoon tea for the returned soldiers.

Poppy Day.—Once again our branch j organised the Poppy Day collection; I to the members of our committee, the | junior members, and all friends ano ■ helpers who assisted with the collecti ing, we extend our grateful thanks. Exhibition and Sale of Work.—Ths league and other women's organisations helped arrange an exhibition and sale of work for “Sasma," the Disabled Soldiers' and Sailors' Mutual Association; the surr. of 1140 was raised. Christmas Gifts.—Two cases o. Christmas comforts, packed by the book committee, for the adults, ana toys, books and sweets for the children, were sent to the leper station at Makogai Island. Mrs D. Mason very generously sent us a cheque tc help with this excellent work, anc. the thoughtful little pupils of Mist Craig's, St. Alban's School, gave a delightful entertainment at which they collected £2 to buy gifts for the children at Makogai. To these very kina friends of the league we owe our sincerest thanks. To the Maori children at Koriniti we dispatched toys and gifts to provide them with a Christmas tree. Book Committee.—Under Miss Stanford’s excellent management the book committee has had another most sucI cessfui year. Once a month this committee meets to do its useful work of distributing books, papers and magazines to baitkblock settlers, lighthouses and camjjs. Miss Stanford devotes a great deal of time and energy to this splendid work. She also superintends and helps collect and pack the Christmas boxes for the j leper island and the toys for the ; Maori children's Christmas treet. To i Miss Stanford and her hard-working | committee I extend my most grateful thanks. Hospitality.—We are exceedingly grateful to the parent league for the splendid hospitality showered upon our members visiting England this year with letters of introduction from us. The following overseas visitors were entertained by us during tlie year: Mrs Tom Garrat, of Sydney, Mrs Seaward, of London, and P.ev. Bull, of South Africa. Social Functions. During the winter we had several most successful bridge parties and in November the annual one for Queen Mary's Hospital at Roehampton, at which the splendid sum of £25 13s 6d was collected. Mrs Bain once again made a beautiful nightdress and Miss Gibbons aqpther of her delicious Christmas cakes to help swell the fund., and Mrs Bates generously paid the exchange on the money sent to London. Musical afternoons were also held and pleasant little talks by interesting visitors. Mr Hope Gibbons and Miss Gibbons once again lent their beautiful home and garden for a delightful party which was greatly enjoyed by all members and friencs of the league. Your president entertained the committee at afternoon tea in her home. Empire Tour.—We very much enjoyed the English public schoolboys’ visit; the Victoria League arranged for the billeting of the boys. Lora Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton (advance agent), Mr A. E. C. Cornwall (director), and Mr A. F, Philpotts (assistant) were delightfully interesting to meet, our only regret being that their stay with us was all too short. I should like here to thank all members and friends of the league who very kindly billeted the boys and took them through to Flock House the following day. Mrs Birch, a member who has always taken a great interest in theleague, when she returned from England brought, us two beautifal portraits of U.e King and Queen to hang in our room. We extend to her out sincere thanks for her kindly action. Your president donated a picture ot Queen Victoria for the room as our league is named after her. I regret to say that our wonderful secretary and treasurer, Miss Newcombe, has resigned. I am truly grateful to her for helping me through this year so splendidly. Her expert ability and untiring energy has been most helpful. During this week your president gave a morning tea party for Miss Newcombe to meet the vice-presi-dents and committee. A presentation of an inscribed silver dish was made to Miss Newcombe as a small token of their esteem. We would also like to congratulate her, also Mrs H. D. Robertson, a life member ot our league, on being elected to the Hospital Board. I also wish to thank most heartily for their many kindnesses, Miss Gibbons, convener ci. the entertainment committee, and her helpers; Miss Laird for ringing the entire committee for me whenever necessary; Mrs Bain, convener of the hospitality committee, and helper?., the hard-worked and ever-willing bridge committee, and the general committee for their wonderful devotion, co-operation and support.

Once again we wish to thank Mi Ronald Hatrick, of the River Services, Ltd., for his most generous gift of free transport of our books and parcels to the river settlers all the year. We have to thank, also, Mr Dix, for his kindness in delivering a large number of our book parcels in country districts; Mr Palmer Jones, who gives us his valuable time each year to audit our balance-sheet, and Mr N. R. Bain for his helpful advice on many occasions.

To all those whom I have mentioned by name, and to all members and kind friends who have given their generous and unstinted help, we extend our grateful thanks. Their efforts have made the past year a most prosperous and successful one.