THE MOTHERS' CHAIR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11128, 12 February 1930, Page 4

THE MOTHERS' CHAIR

Local effort to raise funds. TOCFA INTFRFST BEING ' DISPJ.A VED. Gisborne women are noi letting flie grass grow under their lc f .p hut are stepping out briskly, intent on raising the £ 1 COO which they wish to towards Auckland’s quota of £7500 in the Dominion effort tv> provide an -,ida„ qpate salary for a- Professor of Obstetrics, and attract a man of tlie. highest eminence. 'file omen, tive of the committee lately set U p met on ■ Monday in the Women’, Club. Mrs. J. Blair presiding over a gathering of 18 or 20. including members of the main committee. Some misunderstanding had amen, due partly to the fact that members had come into connection with the movement at different times without full explanation of the <j,.. cistops of *>arHei- meetings, ;ir ,,j partly to • different readings of the regulations governing the appeal tbrcMighoiff New Zealand. The giilotions provide for a democratic election of the executive in Auekland, Wellington, Christchurch arid Dunedin, by a committee of repre. sentafives of all local societies, lap in sub-centres local committee- nr( . to .be chosen by the executive corn.' rnitee. Before the regulations were adopted—or even seen in Gisborne— Dr. Doris Gordon had started Poverty Bay on the larger lines of the four centres. Almost simultaneously appointments from the Auckland executive committee were received by various ladies to organise the local campaign on their own lines. /Until Monday’s meeting this con. fiict of instructions was not realised, except in a vague feeling ot uncertainty as to the pro for procedure. All recognised ihat the c-.r-. entire committee (entrusted - with such important business, involving, it is hoped, a very large sum of money, and empowered to defray necessary incidental expenses) should have an •unassailable lr-g S [ position. Uncertainty a« to their possessing such status caused several ladies nominated, to decline to act. However, with full explanations and a summary of the cour-e adopted by earlier meeting. the continuity of the campaign was secured from the meeting addressed by Dr. Hall on the I.4th of January in preparation for Dr. Gordon's visit until the present time. This involved the decision that Poverty Bay must continue the system adopted in Auckland and the other three centres, and that the voting paperand circulars sent To representatives (or wives of representatives) of local societies by the Mayoress and Mrs Jiees as interim president and secretary still held good •as invitations to act on the mam committee. At the same time the meeting was un. animously of opinion that if the mc’.pients of these invitations did not reply, shows sympathy, or mane anv offer to iieln. withm a reason-

able time, they could not be re. garded indefinitely as committee members. ft was hoped that large numbers who had not yet accepted might do so without delay. Some alterations and adauions were made to the executive as pnhlished after the meeting of February 4. and a further vote confirming their appointment was taken to meet trie wishes of tlie most exacting stickler for legal form. A considerable amount of time spent on these matters was certainly net wasted. It resulted in -a etronc corporate feeling of unity, and the growth of optimism.

It was decided to work all the country districts under part 5 oi the regulations and the names of some twenty country ladies were given to Airs. Puflett. acting-secre-tary with instructions to write and ask each to undertake the organisation m her own district. A suggestion was made that if these ladies would like to gather some of their friends together to hear the proposals outlined by one of the Gisborne executive committee t might, perhaps, be possible to meet their wishes. A letter was received from Ah-. Lowry apologi.-ing for her mistake m treating Poverty Bay as in the Wellington district. She most generously offered to provide hooks of coupons free for the use of ihi> committee and for the benefit ef the Auckland funds. The offer was gratefully accepted and the secretary and treasurer (Mrs. Omhherr. was instructed to apply for one hundred books (representing £l<H): as an experiment.

It was resolved that an account in the Bank of New Zealand shorno be opened by the president and treasurer in the name of “The New Zealand Obstetrical Endowment Account. Poverty Bay Fund.” Great applause greeted a donation made by the Gisborne \\ omen’s Club to open the account. Instructions were given to obtain a supply of stationery with name of society and of officers—preferably as a donation, otherwise as cheaply as possible. Further supplies of the leaflets setting out. the appeal under eleven heads were sent for, and will son! be available for distribution. Any ladies wishing to help are invited to send their names to Mrs. Blair or Airs. Puflett. Those willing to sell coupons may get. them in a few days irom Airs. Cuthbert, Town ley's Buildings. Aleamvliile all societies are invited to consider what, form their own contribution will take. Ihe next meeting was fixed for* Monday, Eebniarv 24.