USEFUL WORK DONE BY HASTINGS WOMEN'S COMMUNITY CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 74, 14 April 1937, Page 11

USEFUL WORK DONE BY HASTINGS WOMEN'S COMMUNITY CLUB

Over 60 members attended the annual meeting of the Hastings Women 's Community Club, which was held in their new rooms yesterday afternoon. The president, Mrs T. H. Lowry, was in the chair, and with her was t.be honorary secretary, Mrs H. LoveliSmith. The auditor, Mr J. A. Fraser, was also present, Mrs T. H. Lowry ajipealed to the members to do their best to have the . new and spaeious roonis linanced by members and asked them to take great eare to keep tliem as beautiful as they now. are. Hue saicl that the 'ciub had always been a great help to the district and asked the members, as their iirst oii'ort for this year, to support the Coronation Ball which is to be organised permanently , to better the Heaith Oaiups as a memorial to King George V. The annual report was theu preeeuted by the secretary, Mrs H. Loveil-iSmith. The adoption of this was proposed by Mrs George Davies and seconded by Miss Helen Ford, who congratulated the secretary on her excellent report. The auditor, Mr J. A. Fraser, read and carefully explained the balancesheet. He congratulated the club members on their work for the town and , gave them very high praise for their . careful oconomy in runniug the club ' and their generosity when helping a • worthy cause. He considered the finan- • cial position most satisfactory. JReporte were read from the various circles, music, literary, gardening, bridge, play-reading and also from the evening section, which gives so much pleasure to those who are busy during the day. Members were reminded that their help in selling poppies the Saturdsy' before Anzac Day would be most welcome and also that the official opening of the club would take place on April 21 in the evening when it was hoped to have a very large attendance. The officers for the ensuing year are as follow: — Warden, Mrs H. M. Campbell; president, Mrs T. H. Lowry; vicepresidents, Mesdames W. Mackenzie, W. G. Stead, H. W. C. Baird and Miss Fitzroy; honorary vice-presidents, Mrs G. A. Maddison and Mrs E. 0. Clarkson; committee, Mesdames K. E. Crompton, A. Giorgi, J. Harris, Hedley Harvey, K. Puflett, Gordon Boach, H. I. Simson, H. Stratton, J. Wright and the Misses Helen Pord, A. F. Lewis and

x. vjnambers. Among the many members present were: Mrs T. H. Lowry, Mrs H. LovellSmith, Mre W. G. Stead, Mrs W. Mackenzie, Mrs H. W. C. Baird, Miss Helen Ford, Mrs R. Puflett, Mrs F, Perrin, Mrs E. V. Simpson, Mrs H. M. Biskop, Mrs W. J. White, Mrs F. S. Budd, Mrs C. Duff, Miss M. Lankovsky, Miss A. E. Lewie, Mrs N. Beamish, Mrs ^A. M. Brodie, Mts J. Miller, Mts E. C. Cuming, Mrs A. E. O'Meara, Mrs G. T. Dyer, Mrs D. W. Hursthouse, Miss E. Pickett, Miss Seal, Mrs E.'M. MaTshall, Mrs O. C. Moller, Mrs W. Georgetti, Mrs H. I. Simson, Mrs Gordon Boach, Mrs C. G. Wilkinson, Mrs Taylor, Mrs H. S. Moss, Mrs G. Eochfort, Mrs W. A. Greer, Mrs E. Sunderland, Mrs W. Eichmond., Mrs H. Stratton, Mrs McNeill, Mrs G. C. Glenny, Mrs »T. Harris, Mrs J. B, Piekermg, Mrs A. Giorgi, Mrs A. J. Foot, Mrs E. Ballautyne, Mrs C. Gardner, Mrs Dawsou, Mrs G. Stevens, Mrs Donald Bobertson, Mrs H. Gilbertson, Miss I. Chambers, Mrs J. Wright, Mrs Nairn, Mrs George Davies, Mrs E. Gurlett, Mrs Lawlor, Mrs L. J. Harvey, Mrs A. Lockie, Mrs D. H. Hooker, Mrs J. Simson, Mrs J. Craig, Mrs T., Boulston. Extracts from the annual report, which was read by Mrs H. LovcllSmith, are as follows: — The Hastings Women' s Cqmmunity Club ,has 140 financial members, resiginations total nine, and, so far, new members total gix old memhers rejoined, , five new members and three evening members. We have to reeord with great regret the passing of a foundation and one of our mpst beloved members, Mrs J. N. Williams. AU.the usual.work and activities of the club have had to be subservient to the re-building of the premjses and from August to March we were indebted to the Women' s Division of the Faruiers' Union for the use of their room. Little has yet been done but furnishing in the last month, though some members have managed to play bridge. The building 'committee appointed at the last annual meeting had numerous meetings and we feel that some reward for their efforts in this connection may now be seen. A large number of loans have been promised to assist the ncnv furnishing and many memhers have given generous gifts, among them being six wall baskets from Mrs W. G. Stead, two cushions from Miss Evans, a crystal bowl fromi Mrs R. Puflett, a vase and ash trays from I\frs D. W. Hursthouse, and two valuable pictures from Mrs F. Perrin. The covering of the passages, which was far too expensive for your committee to consider, was made possible by the generous offer of the president to pa,v half the cost. amounting to £32 18/-. The evening sertion under tlie lcadei*ship of Miss Zeta Wright eontinues to make good progress and is rndh appreciated by the members, For nine years the office'o? secretar.\> treasurer of the club lias been combined and hold by Mrs H. Lovell-Smith. but after a serious spel] of ill-liealth, Mrs Lovell-Smith asked to be relieved of some of her dntios and the club is now grateful to Mrs R. Puflett for acting as treasurer. Yonr club. has affiliated with the Kedorated Club» of America and a maga-

zine, "The Clubwoman" brings news every month of the doings of club- women in America. Your committee deeided to support the Queen Mary Portrait Fund aiiu a contribution has now been forwarde.l. During the year Her Excellency Lady Galway paid an informal ^ isit to the club and was entertained at mo.niug tea. Dr- Janet Macphail was an iiieresting visitor from lndia, who was entertained and spoke to the mem bers about her mission work in that country. The members of the club have given support by service and money to the Health Stamp Ca*vipaigu) the Blind lustitute Band Concert, the R.S.A, Ball, and the Chinese Fair, orgauised by the Hastings Progress League. Our thanks are due to those. who sa willingly give timo and trouble to uphold the club in its aim of "MutUal Help." Mrs T. H. Lowry on behalf of the Bed Cross Society, appealed for assistance for the wai* orphans of Spain and members did their share of the hundred outfits that were sent from Hawke's Bay. A bridge party was organised at the home of one of the members for the Hawke's Bay Children' s Homes. Your committee still eontinues to be affiliated with the Hawke's Bay Draina League, with Mrs 0. C. Moller "and 5 Miss Ford as delegates, the Hastings ^ Horticultural Society, with Mrs Hedley Harvey as delegate, and the Hastings Progress League, with Mrs Lovell Smith as delegate. Your club was represented at a meeting called to hear Mr Hammond speak on Town Planning and convened by the Hastings Townswomen's Guild to try to discover a remedy for ejce&sivo drinking at dances. 'Our thanks are due to all the members for the helpful spirit they have shown throughout this trying year and to all who have assisted its progfess in any way. Your club is entering another stage of life in the occupaney of larger and more comfortable rooms and it should welcome the opportunity of rendering a higber standard of service to the community. 0ur founder, Mrs T. W- Lewis, had that standard in mind vhen she started this club in -her own garden in 1924 at a subscription of 5/-. Whether we have achieved what she desired remains for members to show. It is hoped that the memoers will always be willing to help any vital movement for progress in the district and bear in mind always our motto, "Mutual help, education and entertiiumeiit.".