Y.W.C.A. CONFERENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 246, 7 January 1928, Page 26

Y.W.C.A. CONFERENCE

A SECOND MILESTONE The Y.W.CA. of New Zealand opened its second annual conference at Wesley College, Paerata on Thursday. This is the second milestone in the history of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand, as an independent national organisation, the first conference being held near Dunedin in 1925, immediately following the separation from Australia. Delegates from eight of the principal towns of New Zealand are meeting at the college. Mrs. George Bowron. of Christchurch, the national president, occupies the chair. Assisting Mrs. Bowron are Mrs. David Smith and Mrs. H. D. Bennett, members of the National Board, who, with Miss Ethel Law, national general secretary have done much toward the preliminary organisation of the conference. Members of boards of directors from various associations are: Auckland, Mrs. C. W. Garrard (president), Mrs. J. C. Dickinson, Mrs. Charles Smith. Mrs. L. Clark, Mrs. C. Morrin, Mrs. J. A. Warnock and Miss D. Dempsey; Whangarei, Mrs. J. McCarroll (president), Mrs. Jones; Gisborne, Miss H. L. Brown, (treasurer); New Plymouth, Mrs. A. Alexander (president); Palmerston North, Miss MacLagan; Wellington, Mrs. J. Bennie, Mrs. Page; Dunedin, Mrs. Sutherland Ross (president), Miss M. Hare. The main themes of general discussion are broad questions of policy and the underlying principles on which the association is to build its work; also its purpose and relation to other social organisations in the community. For more specialised discussions the conference divides into two groups, members of boards and committees tackling problems of administration and finance, while the younger members discuss club programmes, leadership and service. These discussions, together with Bible study, interest groups for poetry and drama, rest and recreation, make a full and happy day for all the delegates, and the conference should give a great impetus to the progress of the Y.W.C.A. in New Zealand.