LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 87, 9 October 1931, Page 13

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

A HAPPY AFTERNOON The Central League of Mothers had a very happy and interesting afternoon yesterday - when the members celebrated a "birthday" of the branch, which was honoured by the presence of Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe. The meeting was held as usual in the Y.W.C.A. building, and the hall upstairs was' crowdod to tbe doors. Her Excellency, who was accompanied by Lady Norah Jellicoe, was received at the entranco by Mrs. J. S. Elliott (Dominion president), Mrs. F. T. Clarke (president of the branch), and Mrs. Piaggi (hon. see-1 retary). Mrs. Clarke welcomed Her Excellency on behalf of the branch, and expressed the pleasure which_her visit gave to all, and Mrs. Elliott followed,' with an appreciation of the interest which Their Excellencies took in the home life of New Zealanders, and of tho help which such visits as the present ono were to the league, which stood for all that was fine and good in home and married life. Her Excellency, in thanking all for her cordial welcome, spoke of the

beauty of homo life, and of the necessity for parents to make the home as happy and bright as possible, and to givo the children an ideal of life, specially in the way of religious training. The belief in God and love of Him made life quite a different thing, and she could not speak too highly of this fact, of which sho had personal experience. Warm applause followed Her Excellency's touching little address. Mrs. Alhvright and Mrs. Dargaville sang delightfully, a solo and a duet, and afternoon toa was served and enjoyed, during which Her Excellency went round and spoke personally to several mothers; one of whom having successfully "raised" a family of fourteen received a special introduction. Her Excellency also cut the fine "birthday cake," and expressed approval of the quality. Then followed a very interesting and enlightening address from Mr. E. Darroch, secretary of the Navy League, who displayed the fine Empire posters which he exhibits at the schools. These are on the lines of those brought round the world by Miss Guy, and are really "works of art" expressing very beautifully the advertisement of Empire goods. He showed some charming ones which are used all over Great Britain to advertise the butter, cheese, honey, fruit, wool, and meat which come from New Zealand. It was ffllt that if attractive advertisement could produce buyers, nothing was being lqft undone. The; "hippo" and graceful "eland buck showed South Africa, the elephant India; there were some good Australian ones, and also some very beautiful English posters, of fine colouring and design. New Zealand was represented several times by a lifelike kiwi, and there were some splendid photo reproductions of the principal towns of the Dominion, 40 years ago and at present, showing the growth of the towns in the time. Mr. Darroch said that the Empire Board of Trade, of which His Excellency had been a member before he came to New Zealand, had done an immense work in bringing before the people the value of the goods within their own Empire, and had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in posters and advertising in other ways. Mr. Darroch closed with an appeal to all present to inquire, when they were buying, where the goods came from, and to remember the present slogan: "Buy from those who buy from you." He mentioned the splendid support which comes, and has come for many years, from Great Britain to New Zealand. He said that hehad taken a deep interest in this matter, partly on behalf of the Navy League, which represented the Mercantile Marine as well as the Royal Navy and had their interests at heart. Mr. Darroch also showed somo specimen woollen goods from some of the near-by factories, which were much admired. He, was cordially thanked for an interesting address. _ The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem.