HASTINGS TOWNSWOMEN PLAN CORONATION MEETING FOR MAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 70, 9 April 1937, Page 14

HASTINGS TOWNSWOMEN PLAN CORONATION MEETING FOR MAY

Among the many subjects discussed by the members of the Hastings Townswomen's Guild at their monthly meeting wer© the plans which are. now well arranged for the Coronation programme to be presented in the Hastings Municipal Theatre on Thursday, _ May 13. This meeting will be open to all women, admission free, and Guild members are working busily to make it a wonderful gathering. J he Guild meeting was held yesterday afternoon in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hastings, where the stage was beautifully decorated with large brass bowls anl baskets of autumn flowers, dahlias, gailJardias, miniature sunflowers, nasturtiuirs with long trails of virginia creeper. - In the absence of the president, Mrs A. F . Glenny, Mrs E. V. Simpson, vice- cbairwoman, was in the chair, and the meeting opened with the National Anthem, followed by tlie Guild Ode. A report of the conference of the F ederation of Townswomen's Guilds, which was held recently in Wellington, was given by Mrs A. E. O'Meara, who, with Mrs Glenny, was a delegate from Hastings. It was announced that Mrs Rood had been co-opted to th© committee and was in charge of the tea-tickets. Members were reminded* of the Guild evening entertainment to be held on April 14, at which an excellent programme will be presented. Circle reports were then given by the leaders. xl'wo very delightful vocal solos, "Love's a Merchant," and "My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair," were sung by Miss Coleman, who reeeived hearty applanse. Afternoon tea was then enjoyed by everyone. The speaker for the afternoon was Mrs T. H. Lowry, president of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, who spoke about her recent travels abroad, with references to the Red" Cross Society'® work in various places which she visited. She also spoke of the coming visit to New Zealand of Mr de Guilgard, who will travei througjhout the country speaking about the Red Cross and helping to place the New Zealand organisation on a firm foundation,. and Mrs Lowry appealed to all the members to bear him speak when he visits this di»trict. .4 The first place about which Mrs Lowry spoke was Pago Pago~ a beautiful little island, which is an American naval base. Here they drove round the island and visited the native school, being very thrilled to find on the walls oue of the junior Red Cross object lessons. * "At Los Angeles we visited the Hollywood Bowl," feaid Mrs Lowry, "and thiB is a beautiful outdoor stage where wonderful music and acting may be seen on summer evenings. "After visiting Los Angeles we did a cruise which took us along the coast, through the canal and up to New York. We called at several ports and saw many parts of Mexico. At Guatemala

we were lowered into the launch and again had to b© lowered on to the pier as there are no harbours. We journeyed inland to Antigua and the city of Guatemala, which has been marvellously rebuilt since the earthquake in 1915. ' 'Bean and coffee growing are the maia industries of the people in this part of the land and the Gautemala coffee is very well boosted," said Mrs Lowry. "All visitors are giyen samples and we wondered why the New Zealanders do not try this idea with their fruit. Guatemala is quite a modern city and has very beautiful flowers and foliage, the climate being quite pleasant with cool nights. "We lunched at Antigua and there saw a new idea. Minced ehicken and vegetables were placed inside the leaves from a corn cob and cooked. However, uniike the Americans who enter into everything and try everything}, we felt that we sbould like someone else to try it first," Mrs Lowry told about many interesting people that they met while travelling, among them beiug a man who owned 3,000 acres used solely for bean growing, the average price at which the beans sell being about 8/- a sack. From Guatemala the cruise took them to Pauama, where they were iuterested in the spotless cleanliness and healthy surroundings which had been achieved wherever the Americans were in charge. Colon was also visited and at th© canai they saw the Pacifie fleet. with about 80 vessels. The next port wa s Havana, in Cuba, which was a most charming city with magnificent hospitals, Red Cross buildings, beautiful churches and boulevards. "In New York we visited the Red Cross Chapter House," continued Mrs Lowry, "where there are 10 floors devoted to all branches of Red Cross work. "We also went to Rockefeller Centre and very much admired the gardens of all nations, most beautifully carried out." Mrs Lowry spoke about the International ifed Cross conference in Paris, at which she was the New Zealand delegate, and in conclusion urged everyone to encourage their children to take part in the Junior Red Cross and to remember that the Red Cross was the window through which they looked for peace. Miss Helen Ford proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Lowry for the willingness to share her experir ences with others, and for what she had. told about the Red Cross, Mrs Lowry being a most enthusiastic and untiring worker for this wonderful movement. The meeting closed with the singing of "God Defend New Zealand." Prospective members of the new circle gnthered after the meeting and decided to hold their first meeting in fche Pasadena rooms next Friday evening.