MOTHERS' UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 250, 19 September 1940, Page 12

MOTHERS' UNION.

TALK ON BELGIUM. * The increasing attendances at the monthly meetings of All Saints’ Moth- . ers’ Union necessitated a move from the Girls’ Club room to the Sunday school room for the September meet- . ing, yesterday afternoon. Gold and : white spring blossom decorated, the tables. Mrs E. Dawick, who presided, , reminded members of their turn in charge of the patriotic shop next week, urging them to support the work. She also appealed for donations and help for a “bring and bujr” afternoon next month. An invitation was received from the Townswomen’s Guild for two representatives to attend their birthday party. This was left to the committee to arrange. Mesdames H. Wollerman and Pees were appointed hospital visitors for the mouth, two more to be found later. Items were given by Mrs G. Bird, songs (accompanied by Mrs Wollerman); Mrs C. J. Rowley, musical monologue (accompanied by Mrs W. R. Bigham) and recitations. Mrs E. McKain gave a travel talk on Belgium, describing first the beaches. At Ostend people before the war had dressed as for a fashion parade and picnic parties were far more formal than in New Zealand. Every facility for an enjoyable holiday was available at Ostend, and many English people went there. Zeebrugee and the former great city of Bruges were described. Ypres lay on a tiny little river where the British had fought on one side and the Germans on the other in the Great War. Afterwards Ypres was

dedicated to the memory of the British, with the Menin Gate as a special memorial. Nearby were the Great War cemeteries, and many of the relatives of English soldiers had settled there in order to be near their graves. Ghent was a cultural centre. Both Flemish and French were used in the schools, and German and other languages were taught. Mrs McKain next described the capital, Brussels, and the Great Exhibition there, held just before Queen Astrid was killed some years ago. The British pavilion gardens had been preserved as a memorial to her. Antwerp was Mrs McKain’s home town, and she recounted her escape when the Germans invaded Belgium in 1914. Antwerp had docks which were among the largest in the world, and it was from the canals of Antwerp that the barges had been taken which tlie Germans had commandeered and were now waiting to use for the invasion of England. The Albert Canal between the Meuse and the Scheldt was a great asset to Belgium. The country was self-supporting and had supplies from the Belgian Congo. Mrs McKain outlined the customs of the country, and exhibited pictures. The speaker and the performers were thanked. Afternoon tea was served by Mesdames T. Inglis, Hunt, Bigham, Belgrave, Drake and Bass. The service in the church prior to the meeting was conducted by Rev. Canon G. Y>Woodward.