NAPIER TOWNSWOMEN REVIEW YEAR'S ACTIVITIES AND ELECT OFFICERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 42, 5 March 1937, Page 15

NAPIER TOWNSWOMEN REVIEW YEAR'S ACTIVITIES AND ELECT OFFICERS

The Napier Townswomaa's Guild iield its annual general meeting on Tkureday afternoon in the Foresters' llali, wben there rvas a large attendanee of members. Miss Spencer, was in the chair. The table waa prettily decorated >vitn a bowi of name and gold dahlias and golden-rod, the Guild cover inatciimg \Veil. Atter votmg .for the new coinmittee, members assembied to hoar .ue readmg of the report of the last annual meeting and the president'A uddress. ■ Miss Spencer first drew attention to Mrs Bagiey's splondid report. Bhe remarked on the heip given by Guiid inemuers to tlie fioj.tieultural Bocietv, tne inilueuco .tiirectftd towards a pare milk supply and other pmiantliropic aim» for the town. She empiiasised tho individual influence or eaelr mcmber as townswomon and (iitizens, and the encouragement of housewifely^arts, and quoted tne siogan "Bach for ail and au for each#,J all tcwns to becomo uu one in nauonal life. The following wero eiected as tho committee;— Mesdames liagiey, Bruco Barnett, C. H. Bisson, C. Corner, A. B. Dpvis, E.. A. Henley, G. Madigan, O. 0. Morse, K. O'iialloran, J. A. ltosewarne, Sorreli, L, Wood; Misses f'aulknor, i'annin, Leithead. Mrs H. A. W. Henley, retiring chairwoman, was re-elected with leave of absence for six monthg. The musical and literary sections entertained with the following numbers: — Mrs Tate, vocal soios", "The Land of the Leal" and "A May Morning"j\ Mrs Sorreli, "Barque .of Dr'eams" and "Yo Ban"; Mrs 3£. O'Halloran, "A Dickens Monologud. ■ Misa Lily Large delighted all witn her einging of "Annie liaurie." Membera all joined in community einging and hefore dispersing votes of thanks to the tellers of the eleetion, Mrs Alexander and Mrs Grant (Greenmeadows), and the Presa, were proposed and seeonded by all members. The singing of the National Anthem cloped the meoting. ANNUAL REPOBT. The report was as followsj — Another year of Guild work has ]ust drawn to a close and must be regarded as very satisfactory by those who have the welfare of the Guild at heart. The many Guild ac'tivities have beon carried out iu u capable and enthusiastic mahner by various committees with exeellent resultg. Xn. all, eleven monthly meetings have been held, at flrst in St. John'a Hall and later in the Foresters ' Hall. Tho number of finaneial members for the year was 287, an increase of 23. Secti.ons.-vdi'our" sections have beon eonducted for the study of musie, arts and -oratia, gardening and literature and drama. These conti'nue to be popular and attended. The arts and crafts section has the large membership of 140 members on its roll, the gardening 50, musical 39 and literary 50. Tho sections have helped with programmes for monthly meetings, their efEorts, parti,oularly of the musical section, being much appreciated, The following demonstrations have been giveh at monthly meetings during the yean-r-Pottery matdng, uses of deece wool in the making of quilts and mattresses, brass and light metal wotji, raaking of a paper dress model, preserving, of fruit aud hints on jam and jelly-making. Lectures given include: ' ' Preparation of Wool," Mr Cornishj ( ' Englis'h Potteries," Mr Oldham; " Women 's Work for Peace," Mrs de Castroj "Work for the League of Nations," Mr Penlington; "Modern T'rends in Education, ' ' Miss D. M. Arthur; "Motherhood Endowment," Miss.Gow; "Snapshots from Travel," Mrs Henley^ "Life in Western Queensland," Mrs Ghapman; "Institutions of Napier,"' Mrs Henley, A debate with the Napier Debating Society on the subject "That Sport looms too largely in the world to-day" proved most entertaining. - Though the work of the welfare subcommittee has to some extent reniained in abeyanee, members still take a keen interest in the Otaki Health Camp and other deserving causes. The sum of £6 7/- waa raised by the "arts and crafts section for Health Camp funds, books collected for France House, a collection of pound parcels sent to St. Mary's Home for Christmas, and assistance given with the selling of Health Stamps and Anzac stamps, The eommittee and some members have been vory interested in the literature received from the League of Nations Unlon, and the Women 's International League for Peace and Freodom, societies with whioh the Guild i« affiliated. A great number of these members added their signaturea to the People 's Mandate for Peace. The committee has not lost sight of the fact that some permanent clubroom is urgently needed for committee meetings and section meetings, eo, to raise money for this purpose, an entertainment sub-committee was eiected early in the year with Mrs A. B. Davis as convenor. The work of this committee in organising entertainmeuts has been one of the outstanding achievements of the year, adding a considerable amount to the Guild '« finances, and promoting good-fellowship among members. The "Townswomon" magazine continues to be valuable and interesting to all, and deserves better support. The committee thank Mr Madigan and the magazine committee who give so much time and thought to its production. The vi^it of Lady Cynthia Colville, hon, president of the National Union of Townswomen '» Guilds, England, was of great interest to Guild members, but, owing to it coming during Christttias week, it was imposeible to arrange a public meeting. We are proud to congratulate Miss Spencer on her well-cleserved honoiira for her work in conneetion with Women 's Inatitutes and Guilds, and hope ahe may long be spared carrv on her good work. •We regret the passing of Miss Rose Dinwiddie in .Tanud^y of this vear. She was the first secretary of the Guild but had to relinquish her position at the cnd of 1933 owing to ill-liealth. The committee thanks all those who have helped in the sections and in other 1 ways towards the suecessful functioTi- | ing Of the Guild. and trust*, -that as the f ycars' go by all members will help to build np a system of education which i is the active pursuit of knowledge, beauty and truth.