ST. DAVID’S GUILD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 136, 9 May 1940, Page 12

ST. DAVID’S GUILD.

TALK ON INDIA. Mi ss M. Jones, secretary of the Palmerston North Y.AV.C.A., was the speaker at the monthly meeting of St. David’s Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild yesterday afternoon, and gave an interesting talk on “India.” Flowers and foliage decorated the Sunday school room. Mrs A. Stewart presided and welcomed members and visitors, particularly Mrs E. S. Hoddinott, of 'Wellington, a former member. She also thanked members and friends for their help in connection with the recent ‘/'trolley” evening, when over £l2 was raised, and with the patriotic shop, when St. David’s combined with the St. Andrew’s Guild to conduct the shop for a week. Thanks were also extended to. the members for making soup for members of the Maori Battalion in hospital. Mrs Gilchrist' was thanked for a donation of 10s. An invitation to the president, secretary and two members to attend the Centennial banquet of the AV.C.T.U. was received. A song was rendered by Mrs F. McLachlan (accompanied by Mrs W. E. Anderson) and Miss Eunice Scott gave 3 recitations. Posies were presented to both ladies, who were accorded the thanks of the members. ' Mrs Stewart introduced Miss Jones and welcomed her to the gathering. Miss Jones said it was some time since she had visited India. She had arrived in Bombay in December, the coldest month, although the heat was far more intense than in Sydney. _ The day’s routine was described in interesting detail. Office hours were from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Tiffin, or luncheon, always included curry, which was very hot but was supposed to counteract the'ill-effects of the climate. Concerts and evening entertainments always; began about 10 p.m., and it was never any use going to bed before midnight, as the heat was too great. The rumble of bullock waggons in the streets prevented sleep after about 4.30 a.m., and this was one of the reasons why people soon found the life in Bombay very tiring. Mi/ss Jones described various interesting personalities she had met, including the Parsees, who had been driven out of Persia centuries ago and mostly settled in Bombay. Nearly all the Parsees belonged to the professional classes, and they claimed that there were no poor amongst them. They did not regard it as giving charity when they helped one another, but as si natural duty. Some of their customs were very strange, as were many of the customs of India. The most striking things that Miss Jones had noticed were the contrasts of the country in people, ways of living and climate. She had been in places where the people had fires nine months of the year and were able to grow all the ’ flowers that were to be seen in New Zealand gardens, as well as places where the heat was so intense as t<s lie almost unbearable. In March the heat was intense and the country was parched and dry, but in the rainy season everything revived and became fresh and green. Miss Jones concluded by referring to the fact that though everyone who worked in India had to. make sacrifices, few wished to leave it lie cause of the magic that was India Miss Jones was presented with a posy and thanked for the talk by Mrs W. H. Moffatt, who also thanked the hostesses, Mesdames F. Anderson, AV. E. Anderson and It. Dcvey. The president and acting-secretary also, received posies, all of which were made by Mrs F. Anderson.