Waikato Branches Of League Of Mothers Hold Well-Attended Conference

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 1, 25 November 1947, Page 5

Waikato Branches Of League Of Mothers Hold Well-Attended Conference

A large gathering of officers and members of the League of Mothers assembled at St. Andrew’s Church and Hall, Hamilton, recently, for the 11 ird conference in the history of the Waikato branches.

The conference was attended by Mrs Leslie . Wall, of Wellington, Dominion president; Mrs H. V. Jerred, Auckland provincial president; Mrs S. O English, Dominion vice-presi-dent, and president of Maori and scattered lighthouse branches, Mrs N. V. Le Petit, Auckland provincial secietary, Mrs Barnett, past-presi-dent of Tokanui, and a number of other Auckland executive officers and branch representatives. Delegates from Whakatane branch were Mesdames Metcalfe, Suckling, Checkley and K. Needham. The conference was opened with a most inspiring church service conducted by the Rev. D. M. Cattanach. The organist was Mr Apthorp, and the soloist in the church, Mrs E. J. Woodward. Mrs Leslie Wall led members in repeating the rules of the league, followed by the members’ prayer, and prayer for parents and childern.

Mr Cattanach in his address spoke of the simple home life of Jesus, the value of Christian examples of parents, and simplicity and kindliness in homes today. He concluded by paying a high tribute to the league’s founder and life patron, the Lady Alice Fergusson, to Sir Charles Fergusson, and to their simple Christian home, and its very evident effect for good on their family. At the gathering in the afternoon the Auckland visitors and visiting branches were welcomed by Mrs W. Fraser, of Hamilton, honorary Auckland provincial vice-president, after which Mrs Jerred presided. The Waikato branches reported on their activities. The choir of the combined Hamilton branches rendered delightfully Handel’s composition, “Now on Land and Sea Descending,” after which Mrs Wall addressed the gathering. Her, plea was that women should have faith and show love in family and community life. The hardships endured by families without homes, after, in-many cases, years of separation due to war, were spoken of with sympathy by Mrs Wall. All members were urged to show kindliness and to give help when possible to those whose tragedy was that they were getting such a bad start.

Mrs R. Street, president of Hamilton city branch, thanked Mrs Wall on behalf of the Waikato members, and said it was felt that all present would be greatly helped and inspired by the speakers, the personal contacts and exchange of ideas being also invaluable.