RECEPTION AT THE PIONEER CLUB

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 278, 20 August 1919, Page 4

RECEPTION AT THE PIONEER CLUB

■OVERSEAS IMPULSIONS. A most interesting and pleasant 'at homo" was held at the Pioneer Club by mombers yesterday afternoon to welconvs back to New Zealnnd after their travel!) ■lira. W. I''. Massey and Lady Ward. Unfortunately one of tho guests of the occasion, Lady Ward, was unable to attend, having been laid osido with a severe cold, and much regret 011 that' account was expressed by tho president, Lady Stout, when welcoming Mrs. Massey, who was accompanicd by Miss Massey. there ■ was a vory large attendance of members, and tho rooms looked very cliecrful and springlike with auantities of white and yellow narcissi and green hydrangeas. In addition to welcoming the returned tr.> rollers occasion was taken to faiewell one of the club members—Miss Edith Howes, who is leaving very ehortly (when boats permit) for Australia. After tea nad been handed, around Mb. Massey was asked to relate to thoso present some of her impressions of things she had seen while away, more particularly perhaps those impressions which she had gained of certain <n womon's activities at Homo. In doing so Mra. Massey' first of all gavo to her hoarers a message she had boon charged to give to the Women's National Council in Not' Zealand from the president of the Women's International Council at Home (Lady Aberdeen), in which 6he urged the -women of New Zealand to take an active intelest in world, affairs and for the New Zealand Women's Council to become affiliated with the international organisation at Home. New Zealand had not hitherto been officially represented at any of their conferences, and Lady Aberdeen hoped that at the next conference,. which was to be held in Norway towards, the C-ai'ly part of next year, the Dominion, having become affiliated, would have its own representative there. The Women a Interna-, tional Council, Mrs. Massey explained, had bronchus practically all over tho world, and it was hoped that New Zealand would no longer delay but take her place in-60 important a women s organisation. _ , Hw message given, Mrs. Massey wont 011 to speak of tho work of the Is&w land women patrols .of wluch she had seen practical examples. 0* J! 18 « done by Mrs. Macllugh and Miss Bannatyne, of New Zealand, Mrs. Massey spoke most highly. They woixj attached to the N.Z. X.M.C.A., as the military authorities.had not seen .their way to take oyer such work. " In dealing v lt.U the evils of tho streets (and what those evils-were New Zealand women had at least heard something) they wero wondorful. Two women patrols always worked together, usually from nino at night to two in the morning and •fiomotimes later, one doaling with the men and the! otiior as a rulo talking to tuo women and getting .them away from eacn other. For this work they wore .alwajs in uniform, "and their endeavours a counteracting, influence was brought to bear upon street ovils. ino work of the' wornon police was also touched upon. Tho latter' were 011 a totally different standing, their being official.' As' one result 01 then work public placcs 111 which' wornou had hitherto been liable to insult, if they were alone had now lest- their; unenviable reputation, and from all that she had been able to learn of lfe it• wou d seem that their work was highly thou ? M of Mjs. Massey also touched upon the Norfolk House Club, in which such admirablo work had been' done tor overseas men, one of tho most liard-woikm members being Lady Hardwicke A brie description was,also given of thoiunera proceiion through tho streets of the-body of Nurse Cavell,;.a spectade which was indescribably moving, and unforgettable. Interesting reforest> ,\vas also made to the. . Canadian , W<™9 ns Club, branches of which wero throughout, Canada, these clubs wero doing a wonderfully fine work and their members were exceedingly, acti\o, alert, and public spirited in thou* activities. speaker, of, tho afternoon was. Mrs Wilsori, tho .president 01 the ic-ccntiy-l'onned Auckland Club, who ga.ve some interesting information 111 to its' birth, and Lady Stout also.-made a brief spcech in which she expressed tho regfet' that all felt in losing Miss Howe.. In roply Mfes Howes said how much she had enjoyed being a member of thel cluts and that she would carry aivaj with her nmnv very pleasant recollections of times sWW spent there and of he women she had loarnt to know. Other enjoyable features sf tho afternoon weie the songs of Mi 63 Hiizel Fuller and tlle ,]' c "' tations of Misa Butler. Among those who 'word- present, 111 'addition to too guests of honour, were Mrs. ■G. \V,Rus foil, Mrs. Pomare the Mayoress (Mts. J. P Luke), Ladv- Inidlay, Mrs. A. it. At Hnson, Miss 'Phoebe _-Myera, Miss MacLean, Mrs. A. Gray, Mrs. M'Vicar, M». Porter, Mrs. Corliss, Mrs. Ivans-. Mifc. Montromeiy, Miss Helyer; Miss Mrs. Ponsonby, Miss Mowat, and many more. Afternoon tea was in tho hands of Mrs. J. Myers with her helpers and Mrs. Martirt. and Miss kano carried out all other arrangement. .

For St. Joseph's Parish Bazaar, I Yesterday afternoon Mrs. 0. V. Bllfe liold an "at home" a.t her residence. "Coorong," Tasman Street, in «« t> is Hineinoa and TuLuiekei stalls ioi ot. te# Parish Bazaar. Many friends and well-wishers were present, and a very pleasant as well as profitable alternoon was spent. A musical , names, and a missing word puzzle from well-known nursery nhynies gave.much entertainment .as well as p easure,.three contributing to the musical being: Miss Clark,. who sang; -Mi« Bojlan, who played a pianoforte solo; the l>ev. father Hoare, some clever conjuir ine- and two small boys, Reginald Bwyer and Oscar Johnson, u violin and piano duet. ' Beautiful spring flowers and delicious home-made pukes were for sate, and brought in very material results. Spring-flowers decorated the rooms and the tea-table, and Mrs. Lllis was assisted in all the arrangements by a. very hardworking committee, lhe winner of tho guessing competition was Miss Boyfan. In every way thp afternoon was thoroughly successful, and the Hinemoa and Tjitanekei stalls will benefit to a very satisfactory degree. Sister Brandon, formerly matron at tho Rotorua Sanatorium, is expected to return to Kotorua sliorllly. It is understood, states the "Herald," that she is to have charge of the mossouse staff at King George V Hospital.